The Old Stables
Allerton Manor Golf Club, Liverpool
Review by Lawrence Saunders
The softly lit driveway leading towards Allerton Manor Golf Club, home to The Old Stables restaurant, had the feel of an exclusive American country club. Although I’ve never been to an exclusive American country club I’d like to imagine this is exactly what it would be like.
The revamped clubhouse which houses the new upmarket eatery is unrecognisable from its previous incarnation and looked splendid in the fading light as myself and my date parked up.
> Related News: New clubhouse opens at Allerton Manor Golf Club
The feeling of exclusivity continued inside with a minimal yet sophisticated décor complemented by imposing smoothed stone tables. Browsing the menu I was expecting to see prices to match the restaurant’s upmarket feel, but was pleasantly surprised to find it competitively priced.
After ordering a bottle of Castillo Clavijo Rioja Gran Reserva (£29.00), which proved a perfect accompaniment to our evening’s eating, it was time to begin. To start, myself and my dining partner decided to share a Meat Platter (£11.50), a combination of mini beef burgers, spicy chicken wings, chicken satay, smoked duck and cherry compote served with a selection of dips.
Although the name and list of components may not imply the most sophisticated of entrées, the platter was in fact exactly that, with the duck and cherry compotes offering a curious twist on some classic starters.
L to R: Baked New York Cheesecake; Meat Platter; Rib-eye Steak with peppercorn sauce
Moving on to the main event, I plumped for the Gressingham Duck Breast (£16.95) served with braised chilli and garlic pak choi, honey and sesame dressing, micro coriander and baby roast potatoes. As my only previous experience of eating duck involved pancakes and plenty of hoisin sauce, I was looking forward to trying a more substantial cut.
The East Anglia reared Gressingham Duck is famed for its superior taste and I’m happy to say this succulent morsel certainly didn’t let the side down on this front. The richness of the game combined well with the chilli and garlic pak choi. My culinary companion also kept things classic with a 10oz Rib-eye Steak (£17.95), served alongside hand-cut chips, a flat cap mushroom, grilled tomato and watercress. As it was served medium rare and drizzled with peppercorn sauce (extra £1), my date was pleased as Punch with her steak which was cooked just to her liking.
Suitably satisfied, I was ready for dessert – always my favourite part of any meal – thankfully this wasn’t about to change. A Crème Brûlée (£4.95) quickly soothed my sugar craving with a perfectly caramelised top giving way to the heavenly baked vanilla cream and shortbread biscuit beneath. My dinner date found her Baked New York Cheesecake (£4.95), served with fresh berry compote and crème Chantilly, an appropriately elegant finale. After stealing a slither for myself I can indeed vouch for its deliciousness.
A welcome addition to South Liverpool, The Old Stables is the perfect place for a proper ‘occasion’ meal in a truly unique setting, without the hair-raising bill to match.
