CityLife

We would love to here what you think. I have worked at Bar Wizards for over a year and we are always striving to improve our customer service, so give us your thoughts!

We dined at Barwizards on a Thursday evening, and I must say how thoroughly impressed I was. I was walked through the door to be met by a thoroughly sophisticated and very plush looking place (somebody has spent some serious money doing this place up).<br /> <br /> We were seated just off the main bar area, and so could absorb the cocktail bar atmosphere which that night was vibrant yet pleasant to be part of. Lots of adults of varying ages (not just professional thirty-somethings as you might expect of a place like this), all having fun and spending on the cocktails and champagne!<br /> <br /> The food was the main event for us since we were driving and so could not partake in the cocktails. The menu was concise (but NOT limited, I didn't feel) offering a variety of flavours and options to suit all tastes. Nothing was over fussy, and eveything tasted really fresh and cooked just right. We had the mexican style fish cakes with nacho crust which just melted in your mouth, and also the chicken liver parfait with chutney and farmhouse toast which was to die for! Main courses for us were the slow roasted shoulder of pork with creamy mash potato and green beans (tied in a little bundle... awww!) in a Calvados sauce (I think!?) which was tender and packed with flavour. I had the chicken breast with creamy bacon and leek linguine... again perfect! I felt you could taste the care and attention that had gone into everything... definitely no boil in the bag here, like so many awful pubs and restaurants these days. Desserts were Bakewell tart with homemade ice cream and a vanilla and saffron Creme Brulee which were yummy. The presentation was excellent and the atmosphere very pleasing. The bit I couldn't get over was the price -

I have eaten twice at the Bar Wizards Lounge, dinner and lunch.<br /> <br /> Dinner was amazing, the food and the wine are both reasonably priced and served with flair that you wouldn't expect from a "cocktail" bar environment.<br /> <br /> Lunch was fabulous, a totally different atmosphere from evening dining in the restaurant. Our meal was taken in the bar amongst families and the odd couple out for a relaxed Saturday lunch. The burger was exquisite, the only place I have been in the last 15 years where I've actually been asked how I'd like my burger cooking! I have given up on burgers from elsewhere, the meat is not blended correctly and has the consistency of shoe leather. Well done to the Chef!<br /> <br /> Those reviewers who have not had the courage of their conviction to put their names and remain anonymous are probably pub lunches 2 for 1 diners who obviously do not appreciate the work involved in creating such dishes with a well priced and placed menu.<br /> <br /> A place I would go to again and again (and yes I travelled over 100 miles each time!)<br />

This review is about the restaurant upstairs NOT the bar. The bar itself is very nice and a wide variety of cocktails on offer.<br /> <br /> The food is very limited upstairs in the restaurant area. I think we had a choice of 3 or 4 options for starters and mains. Very bizarre as most bars which serve food nowadays have more variety. The food itself was very tasty and was presented with such precision that I didn't want to eat the starter it looked so pretty!<br /> <br /> I asked for my main, a steak well done and it was just that, a little overcooked. I order steak in many restaurants well done and it is cooked but not tough and chewy which this was.<br /> <br /> Another comment is how the main was served directly on a wooden board.. you could see the knife marks from previous diners and this was a little offputting and unhygenic. No matter how you clean a wooden board there is always going to be bacteria inside. This I would say is a major problem with the presentation and if changed would be much more appealing. I would not consider going again until this has changed.<br /> <br /> The service was good and the price reasonable. However in this climate, eating establishments in particular have to work hard to keep their custom and with a few little changes this could be a good place to dine and carry on the night in the bar.<br /> <br /> EDIT as per comment from Rachael Ritchie above<br /> <br /> "Those reviewers who have not had the courage of their conviction to put their names and remain anonymous are probably pub lunches 2 for 1 diners who obviously do not appreciate the work involved in creating such dishes with a well priced and placed menu"<br /> <br /> For your information, I have dined at some of the best restaurants in the North West and would never entertain cheap food offers! I stand by what I say.<br />

I'm so impressed with these two local boys! They have been doing their thing for years, training, competing and serving thousands of people to all hours of the morning... It's so nice to see them in their own place, where they can truly be masters of their domain. I've been there several times and always enjoy going back. It's still fresh and new, but yet with a homely feeling that makes you feel like you belong. If only more bars were like this! Its a great breath of fresh air to the area.. with or without the bottle throwing.<br />