Review: Courthouse, Blackburn (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Review: Courthouse, Blackburn

4:45pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Opinion By Anna Mansell, Features writer

I’d heard some good murmurs about the food at the Courthouse, so I rallied a couple of colleagues to escape for a lunch break.

A touch hidden in an office building, the restaurant is light and airy, although a little sparse and the chairs and tables are a touch dated. But there’s plenty of space to keep conversations private – which makes a lovely change from being crammed in as many places tend to be.

We were fairly spoilt for choice from the traditional-style choices on the menu, which had a healthy spattering of ‘homemade’ dishes too.

I’m not sure what the traditionalists will make of Giant Yorkshire Pudding and Steak Canadienne on the Lancashire Fare menu, but it also has hotpot with cabbage, fish and chips and various pies to put back the geographic balance.

We went for cheese and onion pie with chips and mushy peas, a Cajun chicken wrap with chips and a jacket potato with chilli – although that had run out and was replaced with cheese and coleslaw.

With two lattes and a canned drink, lunch came to £18 – and for the size and quality of the portions this was very good value.

The wrap was full to bursting with tasty chicken and peppers in a spiced sauce, while the cheese pie was an equal success. Both plates were uncleared as testament to the portions.

For me, jacket potatoes should be cooked long and slow to develop a deep-coloured, crispy skin - that’s what give the spud its flavour. So while the middle of the potato was soft, the outside was a let down although there was plenty of topping, including homemade coleslaw, and generous side salad.

Waiting to pay, we did notice that takeaways are available too. While a little out of the way from the town centre, it’s worth a try.