We were relishing the thought of trying a new restaurant that had only been open a week, so we set out on Friday night with a sense of adventure.  There was a pay and display car park situated across the road from it.  Lucky for us it was free after six.  The restaurant is attached to the Huddersfield Hotel. 

 

As soon as we stepped into the entrance we could smell the new paint!  We went straight through the small bar area into the main restaurant.  Quickly a waiter came over and asked us whether we would like to go to a table or spend some time in the bar.  We decided to make our way into the bar.  Ralph ordered a bitter shandy and I asked for a dry white wine.  It was presumed that we would put the drinks on the bill.  We thought that £7.80 was quite pricey for two drinks.  The focal point of the room was a large old fireplace, although it was not in use.  A contemporary decoration of black and white had been used and the red leather high back chairs were very comfortable.  I was not impressed with the coat rack in the corner of the bar area, as this was not high enough and my long cream coat would definitely be brushing along the floor!  Am I the only person that still wears a long coat?  We leisurely perused the menu.  We became aware that the waiter had not notified us of the £13.95 offer for two courses between 6 and 8pm which we had noted on the A boards outside. 

 

After a while we wandered back to the dining area.  The waiter took us straight to a window table set for four and he offered to take my coat, which I accepted in the vain hope that there was another hanging rail!  Two other tables were occupied at the other side of the restaurant.  No chances there to check if we were making the right choices.  Our spare settings were taken and the waiter took our order.  Ralph plumped for the smoked salmon omelette starter and as I am partial to prawn dishes I ordered the tempura battered king prawns.  Both dishes were priced at £4.95.  I thought that I would be adventurous and went for the crab linguine with roast bell peppers and fresh chillies in a shallot and tarragon emulsion at £11.95.  Ralph opted for an 8oz fillet steak topped with duck fois gras, set on ciabatta crouton with a rich shallot and port sauce at £16.95.  We requested two glasses of iced water.  Before we had chance to take in the surroundings, a plate arrived with olives and fresh rolls accompanied by a small butter dish.  We eagerly partook of them.  By this time we were the only diners in the restaurant.  They could only offer Ralph sirloin steak as an alternative for the fillet.  Ralph agreed to this done ‘medium’ rare.

 

We now had time to relax in what seemed like our own private restaurant.  The décor included several original acrylics on canvas paintings by Marcus Levey, available for purchase at £550 each. Recessed ceiling lighting gave a contemporary atmosphere, whilst another bar was situated nearby.  Tables were circular, well spread and set with white tablecloths and cotton napkins.  The starters came in an acceptable space of time and were delicious.  The omelette was wafer thin with thick smoked salmon in the middle.  It had been cut into sections and was raised on a bed of fresh parsley and served on a square plate.   My prawns were served on a bed of tomatoes and lettuce with two chilli-dipping sauces.  The batter melted in my mouth and the sauces added quite an edge!  We eagerly awaited our main courses, as the quality of the starters was high.  As soon as the steak arrived Ralph realised that it looked a bit deserted, although it was beautifully presented there were no vegetables to add aesthetically pleasing colour to the dish.  He beckoned the waiter over and ordered some new potatoes and baby carrots for an extra £5.  These arrived halfway through the meal.  The carrots were sweet and delicious.  Ralph commented on the tender steak and how it was cooked to his liking, along with the rich port sauce.  My crab linguine was presented to a high standard but it was quite hot and spicy and not really to my taste.  Unfortunately the chillies overpowered the other flavours.  By this time the small table candle had burnt itself out!  Was this a sign it was time to go home?  Another couple arrived and were seated at the far side of the restaurant.  A party of six arrived and were escorted to a back room.  Bringing them into the main restaurant would have provided the place with a bit more atmosphere.  Ambient restaurant music needed the buzz of diners to create the right feeling of warmth!

 
It was decided to carry on and fill that last little space with a shared dessert.  Tiramisu is one of our favourites and we chose two lattes from the small range of coffees available.  While we waited I visited the toilets, which were situated, on the first floor.  This, along with the steps from the bar into the restaurant, could prove tricky for people with mobility problems.  Everything was modern but the lock on my cubicle proved to be faulty.  Ralph said the gents were clean.

 

The tiramisu came in a long stemmed glass with shavings of orange, which was a new twist on this dessert.  It was very sumptuous but unfortunately we had to admit defeat, as we were unable to finish it.  The coffees were nice but they lacked the finishing touch of an amaretto biscuit or chocolate mint.

 

The total bill came to £49.25, which was £12.20 for the drinks and £37.05 for the meal.  Would we go again?  The answer is we would probably reserve it for a special occasion, confident that the service would be efficient and friendly and the venue easily accessible.  It’s a fine dining experience in a comfy, contemporary environment.  We would expect this establishment to grow in popularity as the word gets round about it’s quality.  Several evenings are already fully booked.