Manchester is known for many things; from football to its lively music scene. However, sea food has never been high on the list, although Blue Lobster is one restaurant trying to change this.
Taking prime position on the trendy high-street of Alderley Edge, this swanky bar and eatery offers some of the finest seafood in the city.
The 80-cover establishment is owned by Andrea Zecchino, who also co-owns Italian wine bar group Veeno, and this is very clear from their impressive wine list. The drinks’ menu boasts many stunning Italian wines as well as beers, and, on the summer night that my friend Pearl and I attended, we opted for a bottle of Franciacorta’s Ca’del Bosco. This sparkling Italian wine was bursting with sweet flavours and was the perfect accompaniment to a night of seafood. It’s light and easy to drink, which explains why some tables in the restaurant are fitted with a ‘franciacorta, grazie’ button, to summon a top-up.
After a few glasses of Ca’del Bosco, we moved onto dinner. The food menu, like the drinks, has a heavy Italian influence. Think olive oil-based dressings, fresh pasta and balsamic. As a lover of seafood and Italian cuisine, I was in heaven.
For starters I tried the Lemon-marinated Sea bream with crispy, candied ginger – the bream was, to my surprise, served cold, but it was simply stunning, and unlike any I’ve tried before. Pearl opted for the chargrilled octopus, which was served on a crunchy bed of salad; again, it was delicious, and we couldn’t get enough.
A little while after the starters were cleared, our main courses arrived: Pearl went for the Lobster Linguine and I tried the Seared Tuna. The generous serving of lobster was cooked to perfection; seasoned with fresh herbs and smothered in butter, it was a pleasure to eat. The accompanying linguine pasta was equally as delicious, and, in keeping with traditional Italian cooking, was topped with fresh parsley and juicy cherry tomatoes. The chunky steak of seared tuna was cooked just as requested and drizzled in a light olive oil and chilli salsa. I’m not a huge fan of potatoes but the side of fluffy chips with a crispy coating were extremely tasty.
If you’re a fan of shellfish, Blue Lobster also offer an impressive selection of oyster dishes.
Dessert proved to be ‘the cherry on top’ of our amazing evening sampling superb food in delightful surroundings. We ordered the pistachio tiramisu and a wild berry panacotta; both were stunning, but it was the tiramisu which stole the show. The mousse was light and airy and oozed flavour, working well with the crunchy base of crushed pistachios. It was finest I’ve ever tasted! If Baileys is your thing, Blue Lobster also offer a Baileys’ mousse-I will definitely be trying it on my next visit!
The establishment is divided into two parts: the downstairs is a glitzy bar, whereas upstairs is a little more formal. The interior is beautiful and in keeping with the ocean-inspired menu; the lights hang off sailing rope and the walls are painted a turquoise blue, accentuated by navy wall lights. It really is a gorgeous venue. Despite the formal setting, the service is similar to what you would expect in Italy: the staff are professional but friendly and relaxed. Our waitress always served us with a smile and was able to recommend the best dishes to suit our taste buds.
Our evening at the Blue Lobster was really, very lovely. Everything from the food, to the setting has been carefully through to ensure guests have an extremely enjoyable night, and I can’t wait to return.
Address: 34 London Rd, Alderley Edge SK9 7DZ / 0800 233 5506
