Try Warrington's Grill on the Square

FOR many of us, the main reason to head to Warrington is a plate of meatballs and a Billy bookcase that cost less than most of the books you'll put in it. But the opening of Grill on the Square should compel you to venture into the centre of town rather than just hanging out at the retail parks.

The exacting standards learnt in their previous positions are replicated here. They've just been awarded the highest rating possible from Taste Cheshire – the official visitor guide to restaurants in Cheshire.

This new restaurant and bar was set up by two of the crew from Michael Caines at Abode hotel in Manchester. Restaurant manager Charles Dobosz, a native French man, arrived in Manchester after training at the Grégoire-Ferrandi catering school in Paris, then working as an apprentice for Guy Savoy – one of the leading French chefs credited with inventing nouvelle cuisine.

Chef Adam Smith meanwhile built up his skills at Harvey Nichols and the one Michelin star Chester Grosvenor Hotel. After three years working together at Michael Caines they decided to team up – and last April opened Grill on the Square in the grand surroundings of the Warrington Old Post Office.

“We say it is Great British food served with style,” explains Charles. “We think food doesn't have to be expensive to be good. As an example, we've got great chips. They're just a portion of chips but they're fantastic. And our house wine is stunning wine for what it costs. We think that if the house wine is very good, it's an introduction to the rest of the wine.”

The wine list includes fine wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape Dom du Grand Tinel 2005 (£39) and Pouilly Fumé Château de Tracy 2006 (£45) alongside the Le Bosq house wines (£12.95) and an extensive list of new world and European wines.

“The quality is the same for the food,” says Charles. “If the simple food and drink are high quality, it's an indication of how good the rest will be. If the basics are right, it will work.”

Charles describes Adam's cooking style as, “Very meticulous with a great feeling for what to do with food. He makes a simple dish into a 'wow' dish. It might be just a burger, but it will make you think 'wow'. This is what people tell us.”

Ingredients are sourced from the North West when possible, and the exacting standards learnt in their previous positions are replicated here. They've just been awarded the highest rating possible from Taste Cheshire – the official visitor guide to restaurants in Cheshire.

Dishes that caught our eye on the a la carte menu include the Salt beef hash with fried hens eggs and cracked mustard sauce (£12.95) and the Melted leeks and wild mushroom tart (£10.95). They also have a gourmet lunch menu at £8.95 for two courses, and an express lunch menu at £4.95 for one course (there's meatballs on there – Swedish furniture stores watch out.)

Though the food is a big deal to them, Grill on the Square is also a bar and the kind of place you can stop by for a coffee during the day. High quality cocktails, premium spirits, and live music on Thursdays make it a good option for a night out.

Says Charles, “We believe the restaurant and bar is for everyone – every taste bud but also every social class. We want people to come and enjoy. It's what it's made for.

“And what we say, we deliver. It's best to come and see.”

Grill on the Square, 7 Palmyra Square North, Warrington, WA1 1JQ, 01925 234 077, info@grillonthesquare.co.uk.

Confidential readers currently get a free bottle of house wine when two people dine from the A La Carte menu at Grill on the Square. To find out how to get this deal, please click here.