Linden Stores Knutsford
Mouthwatering food & interesting wines at Knutsford's new wine bar & restaurant
Linden Stores Knutsford is a diners delight. Conversation-inducing plates of seasonal, often locally produced ingredients are served in a laid back manner, within surroundings to match. There's nowhere like it in Knutsford, which is why this charming Minshull Street wine bar & restaurant is quickly becoming one of the town's most sought after dining destinations.
I recently had the pleasure of being invited by owners Laura & Chris to experience their Chef's Menu - a selection of 6 sharing dishes which change on a regular basis. This was a complimentary evening, however, all impressions and opinions are my own.
A homely welcome
Stepping into Linden Stores is like being welcomed home. Natural, muted tones are used throughout the restaurant, enhanced by wood panelling, white brick walls, and stone flooring.
We were warmly greeted upon arrival, then shown straight to our table - a quirky set up with a cushioned window seat overlooking the street below.
Marble topped tables, simple wooden chairs, and stoneware plates create the perfect canvas for the style of food, and we couldn't wait to dig in. But first it was time to order some wine.
Around the world wines
Laura, the mastermind behind the wine list, has compiled an intriguing selection of grapes and producers from around the world, including some English wineries. Alongside rosé, whites and reds, there are even a couple of trendy orange wines to try.
My husband and I, both red wine drinkers, went with our wonderful server, Mia's, suggestion. A glass of an Italian Sangiovese to pair with the smoked duck dish on its way. It was the perfect recommendation, and one glass soon became the rest of the bottle!
You are welcome to pop along and try some of Linden Stores wines without a reservation. Simply turn up to snag one of the 3 upstairs tables or seat at the bar. They even serve a tasty looking cheeseboard and other small plates to order alongside.
Tonight, however, we were here for the full dining experience, and with the arrival of our first 2 courses, our culinary journey began.
The Linden Stores Chef's Menu
The Linden Stores Chef's Menu is an experience to be savoured.
A selection of 6 sharing dishes are served at intervals throughout the evening. Each plate, a mouthwatering combination of flavoursome food prepared by Chef Chris and his team.
There's a Vegetarian Chef's Menu which offers non-meat and fish alternatives. Plus optional extras, such as pate, and the most amazing layered crispy potatoes.
If you're looking for the same incredible food, but don't wish to try all 6 plates, Linden Stores also have an a la carte menu. Available during lunch and dinner sittings on Wednesdays and Thursdays, plus for walk-ins anytime, the a la carte menu includes a selection of dishes from the Chef's Menu for you to hand pick.
Chris's passion for using seasonal, British ingredients in his creations inevitably means some dishes regularly change. So if you're eager to try a particular one, you may want to check it's still available when you book. Although the new addition on the evening we visited turned out to be our favourite of the whole meal!
6 scrumptious plates of food
We began with 2 of the 6 dishes on the Chef's Menu. A beautifully light focaccia with quenelles of homemade rosemary & sea salt butter. Plus Cheshire smoked duck from the local Cheshire Smokehouse.
The flavour combinations of rich, smoky duck, pickled walnuts and peppery watercress was a taste sensation. We were immediately impressed by the high quality of ingredients, and how the relatively simple presentation really showcased just how flavoursome these plates of food are.
Next up was one of Linden Stores most popular dishes - squash, Yorkshire blue cheese, and raisin croquettes topped with aioli. These gooey spheres of deliciousness encased in a light, crunchy coating quickly gained another fan. My husband was lucky I didn't steal his too.
A fish alternative
As previously mentioned, any dishes on the Chef's Menu can be swapped for a vegetarian alternative. So when I told Laura that I don't eat fish, she assured me this was absolutely not a problem for the next course.
While my husband was served a beautifully cooked Cornish mackerel on a bed of fennel, bitter leaves, and apple, I enjoyed the same veggie flavours enhanced with cubes of quince and sprinkling of lancashire cheese.
Both generous portions provided a refreshingly lighter interlude before our final, and most substantial savoury dish arrived.
This contender for our top pick on the Chef's Menu was a Cheshire game bird, cooked to perfection. We loved the rich, earthy flavours combined with sweet parsnip, delicate quince and wild mushrooms. It really was an exceptional plate of food, and a true testament to Chef Chris's talent.
To finish
As any great meal should, the Linden Stores Chef's Menu concludes with dessert.
In our case, a sumptuous chocolate and peanut butter tart. Each mouthful a tastebud provoking combination of smooth & crunchy, sweet with a salty edge, and absolutely delicious. It was the perfect way to end a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Our Linden Stores experience was an absolute joy. The warm ambience, superb service, excellent wine list, and of course, sensational food, created a culinary journey that left us wanting to book our next table immediately.
As we chatted with fellow diners, many echoed our sentiments, saying 'this is just what Knutsford needs', and we all agreed that Laura, Chris, and the team have introduced something truly special to the town.
We wish them all the best of luck in their new venture, and will certainly be returning to enjoy more of the fabulous Linden Stores hospitality soon. Thank you Linden Stores for an excellent evening.
Useful Info
If you're planning to visit Linden Stores Knutsford, here's some handy information:
Address: 15 Minshull Street, Knutsford, WA16 6HG
Opening times: Weds-Sat: Bar 12noon-11pm | Kitchen 12noon-2pm & 6pm-9.30pm
How to book: Book online via the Linden Stores website
Website: www.lindenstores.co.uk
Spring/Summer 2024 update:
Since it's opening at the end of 2023, Linden Stores has firmly established itself on Knutsford's culinary map, and we've returned to dine with friends and family on a number of occasions.
I'm delighted to say food and service has been consistently exceptional, with seasonal ingredients regularly featuring on the everchanging menus.
Spring 2024 has brought with it the lighter flavours of colourful heritage tomatoes, a delicious dish of curing rebels aged ham, mustard frills & cornichon, plus a tender Cumbrian hogget breast with leek puree & wild garlic salsa.
There's also been a change to the dessert dish, from the chocolate & peanut butter tart to a beautifully sweet brown butter cake. And I'm reliably informed the menu will continue to alter over the summer. So there's the perfect excuse to return for another wonderful Linden Stores experience.
