Sticky Walnut

Funky young chef (and crowd-funding success story several times over) Gary Usher has done a terrific job here, turning the Sticky Walnut into a brilliant local bistro that receives top marks for consistency, value and quality. Readers can’t get enough of the place, praising Sticky Walnut’s “great quality food” as well as its “good service”.

Gary’s upbeat, sparky cooking matches the restaurant’s offbeat vibe with a succession of creative ideas amalgamating influences from the Med and beyond – all served at very reasonable prices. The eponymous ‘sticky walnuts’ might appear in a roast beetroot salad with spiced pumpkin seeds and ricotta, but he doesn’t overplay the ‘nutty’ theme, preferring to channel his energies into intriguing dishes such as crispy pig’s head terrine with caramelised apple and barbecue sauce or salt baked turnip with Gouda mousse, maple butter, lemon herb crumb and wild garlic.

Some meaty mains are a tad more conventional (think a sharing dish of aged sirloin on the bone in red wine sauce and with a side of truffle and parmesan chips), while eclectic desserts might include baked pineapple and white chocolate cheesecake with poached pineapple and lime sorbet, or perhaps dark chocolate mousse with peanut brittle and banana ice cream. The food is complemented by some intriguing world beers, trendy aperitifs and plenty of wines with gentle mark-ups.

Sticky Walnut is a true all-rounder of a restaurant, offering up a good value set menu and a hearty Sunday lunch offering, which features the likes of rolled and stuffed pork belly served alongside roast potatoes, carrot and swede, broccoli, and apple sauce. Mini foodies meanwhile can enjoy the kids menu, which is sophisticated without being alienating to little ones – think chicken schnitzel with potato wedges and peas, followed by tonka bean ice cream topped with warm chocolate sauce and honeycomb.

The Sticky Walnut is an award winning bistro in Hoole, that focuses on using exceptional ingredients, to make exceptional dishes. You'll find that the menu changes up quite often, reflecting what is best available, without any fuss and frills. The Sticky Walnut isn't about pretention, instead focusing on set lunch and bistro menus, and delicious Sunday roasts.

The menu is relatively short for the bistro, but has everything you could need to enjoy a memorable experience. Snacks include fried and salted almonds, with charred corn on the cob rolled in lime, chilli and cotija cheese on the starters. For your main try the enchiladas with green pepper, or fried chicken with salsa macha and red mole sauce. You can upgrade to include truffle and parmesan chips on the side, or carrots roasted with smoked garlic honey and crispy onions. For dessert, try the flan de queso or dulce de leche ice cream.

On Sundays, the menu is a little longer. For your starter you can choose a crab cake with red fish butter sauce, saffron rouille and toasted sesame chilli oil, or the sticky belly bacon with parsnip puree, smoked garlic honey and sesame dukkah spice. Mains are largely focused on classic roasts, with options of roast beef, pave of cauliflower, and a confit duck leg. You'll enjoy your dish with roast potatoes, carrot and swede mash, buttered brassicas, a Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy. Last but not least, the desserts. Make it a perfect Sunday with a warm lemon and brown butter syrup pudding served with vanilla ice cream and double cream, or honeycomb ice cream topped with dark chocolate sauce and a wedge of honeycomb.