MILAN by Si Hall & Nicky Rigby Smith
Milan restaurant situated on Banks Road , West Kirby is an extremely popular contemporary restaurant with a sophisticated feel , original works of art and a chilled and laid back jazz sound track playing subtly in the background .
Warmly greeted by Martyn - the restaurant owner and hands on manager , we were shown to our window table overlooking the bustling West Kirby high street and presented with the carefully selected menu and wine list . We asked Martyn to recommend a bottle of wine so he suggested his favourite bottle of white - the beautiful Cloudy Bay . Priced at £ 33 per bottle this Sauvignon Blanc is a pale straw green in colour with an exotic fusion of fresh ginger . It has a mouthwatering , juicy yet refreshing crispiness ... excellent choice .
To start , we decided to sample the Crispy Belly Pork , Chestnut Mushroom & Butterbean Tagliatelle and Pan Fried King Prawns & Chorizo . The Crispy Belly Pork was pretty and delicate – cooked in a crunchy batter and served with a plum and apple relish . It was delicious and incredibly tender . The Tagliatelle was stunningly presented with fabulous aromas – notably garlic . The butterbeans worked really well with the Chestnut mushrooms and rich tomato flavours . The King Prawns were spectacular - roasted with garlic and tomato , the intense flavours worked their magic with chorizo being the perfect added ingredient to this excellent starter .
For mains , we opted for Calves Liver , Grilled Salmon Supreme and the Honey Glazed Belly Pork . All dishes were of a generous portion size with excellent presentation . The Calves Liver was cooked perfectly pink - tender and served in a rich and delicious Marsala sauce . The Salmon was fresh and juicy with a buttery texture , served with a mixed salad of tomato , cucumber , onion and a balsamic glaze – this dish works great throughout all seasons . Finally , the Belly Pork … braised slowly for over 4 hours in cider and then pan fried in a delicious lemonade batter ... one word – outstanding ! We paired our meals with a fabulous Malbec ‘ Lunta ’. Reasonably priced at £ 29 per bottle – this is an intense and very fruity wine with notes of raspberries , plums , black cherries and cassis .
After a short rest … we decided to order desserts . We opted for the Classic Tiramisu , Homemade Chocolate Brownie and Lemon Cheesecake . The Tiramisu was light with rich flavours of Marsala and a subtle hint of coffee . The homemade chocolate brownie was sticky … gooey … chocolatey … orgasmic ! Perfectly crunchy on the outside with a melt in your mouth middle … served with vanilla ice cream , this dish was fabulous . Finally , lemon cheesecake … served in an individual demi jar – this dessert is made to order . Smooth and delicious with clean citrus flavours and accompanied by a wonderfully crunchy base ... top marks to Milan !
Our entire dining experience was excellent . Martyn and Head Chef , Rob really are great guys and totally dedicated to providing an excellent dining experience for all guests – their enthusiasm and love of Milan shines through , which is brilliant .
The restaurant is reasonably priced at £ 16 for a starter and main course and £ 20 on Friday and Saturdays . We will definitely be returning – this is a ‘ Wirral Life ’ gem !
To book call 0151 625 6767 or visit www . milantherestaurant . co . uk
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