Dinner at Fox...

Fox Restaurant is a new concept by restaurateur Danny Fox, which features an open kitchen with a wood burning pizza oven and an open fire charcoal grill. The restaurant is located in Hale Barns, Cheshire which makes it easy to reach from Manchester and Liverpool and we went to have dinner there last night. The ethos of Fox is all about simplicity and the stylish interior design of the open plan space features marble tables, leather banquette seating and exposed brickwork, resulting in an appealing and relaxed ambience.

We started the evening with garlic bread with cheese and a selection of crudités and brassica served with hummus, which was a nice balance of appetisers. The garlic bread was one of the best I have tasted and believe me, I have eaten plenty! 

I selected the starter of chickpea and coriander cake with mango and pomegranate salsa, watercress, honey and lime dressing. The chickpea and coriander cake was crispy and satisfying and the salsa added light and tropical flavours. 

My dining companion enjoyed the Melanzane parmigiana with layers of aubergine, tomato, parmesan, provolone, and mozzarella as well as a topping of fresh basil and a side of crusty sourdough bread. This made a rustic, Mediterranean dish which tasted as good as it looked. 

I was eager to try the wood fired sourdough pizza, especially when I saw the chefs whirling around the kitchen as they prepared pizzas to pop in to the striking tiled oven. I went for the Rosso, topped with tomato, roasted red pepper, red chilli, red onion, mozzarella and garlic. The pizza was fiery and sweet, bursting with bold flavours on an irresistibly light base. This outstanding pizza highlighted the merits of cooking with a wood fired oven. 

We also shared a refreshing quinoa and tabbouleh salad which paired well with the rest of the meal, while a bottle of Tooma River reserve Chardonnay was a fresh and zesty wine choice. 

My dining companion ordered the 18oz rib eye steak, with Béarnaise sauce and triple cooked chips. The steaks at Fox are Black Angus beef and are locally sourced and 35 day aged. The rib eye showed off the talents of the open fire grill as the tender meat was perfectly cooked with an irresistible smoky charring. 

On to dessert and I can never resist classic crème brûlée and this was served in a generous portion, with a zesty and sweet berry compote which offset the creamy dessert. 

My dining companion rounded off the evening in indulgent style, with a chocolate fudge cake served with chocolate sauce and cream, a rich finale which was full of intense chocolate. 

FOX

The Square
Hale road

Hale Barns
 Cheshire

WA15 8ZN

http://foxrg.com/

Service was excellent throughout and diners are treated like old friends here, with a level of hospitality which is seldom seen. Fox is a warm and welcoming restaurant with contemporary style and delicious menus including a good choice of pizza, steak and seafood. The simplistic, fire based cooking techniques and carefully sourced produce translate well in to the dishes, which have sophisticated flavours. 

What do you all think, do you like the sound of Fox and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille 

xo