UPSTAIRS AT THE GRILL by Si Hall & Nicky Rigby-Smith
Immersed in the history of one of Chester ’ s iconic buildings on Watergate Street , The Grill , which took inspiration from New York ’ s many famous steakhouses , balances tradition with the contemporary for a truly unique dining experience . It ’ s a story of great steaks , classic cocktails , fine wine and unparalleled service , delivered in elegant and relaxed surroundings .
On arrival , we were greeted by Assistant Manager and Sommelier , Mylo Southern , before being seated at the bar . Having undergone a refurbishment in 2022 , the restaurant ’ s ‘ speakeasy style ’ bar area is an indulgent space filled with rich decor and a relaxing atmosphere . It ’ s at this point you quickly come to realise that The Grill , albeit with luxurious surroundings , is a friendly environment thanks to a welcoming and passionate team .
Cocktails on Arrival Firstly , we started with cocktails .
The ‘ New York Solstice ’ with Vodka , Aperol , raspberry , peach and melon . This was the perfect blend of tropical , refreshing and sweet flavours , served long .
Followed by ‘ All That Jazz ’ a boozy , rich and smoky cocktail made up of primarily Bourbon sweetened with caramel and tobacco . This provides a throwback to the speakeasy days , reminiscent to when you could smoke indoors and even comes with a cigarette and an ashtray for added theatrics .
The Main Show
After enjoying our cocktails , we were invited to our table in the gorgeous terrace area . This was a carefully planned part of the recent redevelopment and is now fitted with a fully retractable roof and heaters so it can be enjoyed all year round .
The Grill ’ s wine list is both extensive and excellent value , as well as boasting some of California ’ s rarest and most sought-after wines . For this reason , we decided to opt for the Oak Farm Wine Flight , which celebrates some of the great wines from California .
We also ordered Homemade Cheese Scones with Marmite butter ( even if you ’ re not a Marmite fan , you ’ ll love this whipped treat ) and Half Dozen Fresh Oysters served over ice with Tabasco and sweet shallot vinegar . We love oysters and a unique take on accompaniments , this was arguably the most perfect we ’ ve had in a while . Flawless .
Starters
We ordered the rich French Onion Soup with Cheddar Gorge ‘ cave-aged ’ cheese and sourdough croutons . This is without a doubt the best we ’ ve had in our lives . Super rich but seriously satisfying , we nearly asked for 5litres to take home . You could have this every day and never get bored of it , which would explain why it ’ s remained on the menu for 22 years !
We also tried The Grill ’ s King Prawn Cocktail with charred Argentinian red prawns , crevettes , baby shrimps and a Bloody Mary aioli . This was such incredible value , and the description almost undersells it . This is not merely just a prawn cocktail of your childhood memories , it ’ s next level and all for one person , with beautiful presentation too ! This was the confirming realisation that these guys want you leave feeling well-fed and satisfied .
Mains
We opted for the 16oz Chateaubriand , a premium quality and consistent cut of beef , which is dry-aged on the bone for 7 days , before another 21 days of wet-aging , which produces a full flavoured steak with melt in the mouth texture . Cooked on charcoal giving it a beautiful crust and seasoned to perfection .
We also ordered the grain fed USDA Prime Delmonico ( Ribeye ) from the signature steak range . These steaks are all dry-aged on the bone in The Grill ’ s specially designed Himalayan salt maturation chamber resulting in a mouth-wateringly flavoursome and succulent steak .
To accompany the mains , we ordered Haggis Fritters , Creamed Spinach with a cheddar sable , Crisp Iceberg Lettuce with blue cheese espuma , as well as the incredibly moreish American Style Fries with chicken salt .
While everything had been incredibly top notch , the steaks are the point of Upstairs at The Grill , arguably the best in the North , from the theatrical showcase of the cuts presented on a block before cooking , to the quality and delivery . Just excellent .
Dessert
The Golden Peach – A technically beautiful dessert which is light and consists of layers of white chocolate , peach mousse and refreshing raspberry sorbet to give a modern twist on the traditional flavours of a peach melba .
Chocolate Galaxy - A rich chocolate brownie , orange scented dark chocolate fudge and hazelnut praline . Fantastic presentation and literally looks like Saturn .
We ended our experience with some lovely , sweet wines and cocktails back in the bar . We had not been since the lush and quite different refurbishment , but it is absolutely worth a revisit . Impeccable .
To find out more about Upstairs at the Grill , visit : www . upstairsathegrill . co . uk Booking advisable .
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