THE Ribble Valley boasts some fine restaurants and one with a growing reputation is The Plate.

It has been a popular draw for mums catching up with friends after the school run and business people taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

However, when we arrived the place was deserted as it has only just started opening in the evenings.

It meant we had the place to ourselves and the attentiveness of the waitere.

The restaurant is inside a converted barn and still has the original oak-beamed ceiling and stone walls, giving it a cosy ambience.

The menu was impressive and the prices reflected the locally sourced quality produce from Goosnargh, Blackburn, Longridge, Slaidburn and Clitheroe.

I chose the smoked haddock and crab fish cake starter which arrived looking like a tower of sumptuous art on a plate.

My other half devoured the olive special with cheese and malt loaf. Salty, sweet and cheesy was a perfect combination and she savoured every last crumb.

For mains I was torn between haddock and chips and the lamb shank. Our waiter recommended the confit of lamb with butternut squash and aubergine caviar and I am glad he did. It was a taste sensation. A succulent rib-eye steak melted in the mouth of my better half and the fluffy chunky chips, buttery garlic mushrooms and creamy peppercorn sauce were the perfect accompaniments.

We skipped dessert as the meal and bread board side order satisfied our hearty appetites and opted for two Irish coffees.

Despite a small error with the sinking cream, which didn’t spoil the taste, we topped off our meal with a lemoncello liqueur.

The Plate is a venue we will definitely visit again and full compliments to head chef Brian Healy and his team.

VERDICT

  • Food: 10
  • Drink: 8
  • Service: 9
  • Atmosphere: 7
  • Value: 9