Update: Click here to read my personal review of Clarkes restaurant

Well the title of this post is a bit misleading, as at the time of writing I’ve yet to eat at the new Clarkes restaurant in Peterborough.  Instead, this is a bit of a pre-review and comment based on a recent review by the Evening Telegraph’s Nigel Thornton.

Headed up by chef-patron Lee Clarke, Clarkes certainly has the potential to be one of the best restaurants in Peterborough.  We’ve seen the likes of Jim’s Beehive go from strength to strength (albeit with the closure of Jim’s Bistro) so there is hopefully a market in Peterborough for diners willing to pay a little bit more for a freshly cooked menu.

I’ve been following the progress of Clarkes on twitter and have been hearing nothing but good so far. In his review of Clarkes, Nigel rated the restaurant top marks of 10 out of 10 so there should be no question about the standard being set.  My only issue with a top scoring review is that it doesn’t leave any room for improvement – where do you go from here?  I’ve eaten at restaurants myself where I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the quality of food, the service from the staff and the experience as a whole, but to score ten out of ten can leave the restaurant vulnerable to undeserved criticism.  It wasn’t so long ago that another ET reviewer (this time John Baker) gave Ali’s Balti House on Lincoln Rd the top 10/10 score.  Are both restaurants equal?  Should reviewers for the same publication be following set rating guidelines?  As I’ve not yet eaten at either Ali’s Balti House or Clarkes I can’t comment, but I would be interested in seeing how the two restaurants compare.

Anyway, lets focus on Clarkes.

Tucked away off Lincoln Rd (the City Centre end) along North Street in the old Masonic Hall (formerly known as Mellilos and more recently Pussy Galores), I gather Clarkes has been completely gutted and refurbished to accommodate not only the restaurant but also the North Street Bar.  Parking is a breeze as it’s only a few feet away from both the Westgate (Beales) House carpark and an NCP.

Looking on the Clarkes restaurant website, they serve a “prix fixe” menu offering a set course selection of great sounding British dishes for a fixed price.  I’m not sure if they also have an À la carte menu, but at £30 for two courses or £40 for three, they’re definitely aiming at the top end of the dining market.

Currently Clarkes are running a promotion with daily-deal website Groupon who are offering a massive discount on the above menu price.  I’m always keen to get a bargain so have bought Groupon deals in the past, but I’m always cautious about whether restaurants can cope with the demand. Groupon is a fantastic way for people to test the waters with a new restaurant and first impressions count.  Customers getting a deal won’t hold back when telling their friends about the restaurant, good or bad.
My hope is that Clarkes use their Groupon promotion as a marketing exercise and can maintain their high standards for both Groupon diners and those paying full price.  The last thing Groupon diners want is to feel like they’re being treated any differently to other diners.

Lee Clarke is (understandably) keen to share his chef credentials, having previously worked for the Roux brothers and Marco Pierre-White so fine dining is something he has experience with.

Does Peterborough need another restaurant? In my opinion, absolutely.

We have a pretty vibrant restaurant scene with a good mix of both chain and independent restaurants as it is, but increasing the competition helps to raise the standard of good restaurants.

Not all diners are looking for fine(r) dining.  Some are on a budget, are looking for something casual or even just a fill-your-face style world buffet but one thing they all have in common is that they demand a better experience for their hard earned money.  Those that fail to deliver on top quality food or substandard service are doomed to failure.  If the ET’s review is anything to go by, Clarkes have a bright future ahead of them in Peterborough.

If you’ve eaten at Clarkes I’d love to hear from you – leave your comments in the box below!  Email and IP addresses are verified, so please don’t bother leaving libellous comments.

Clarkes Restaurant contact details

19 North Street, Peterborough
Tel. 01733 892 681
Email. bookings@clarkespeterborough.co.uk

Opening Times:
Lunch from 12.00pm to 3.00pm
Tuesday to saturday

Dinner from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Tuesday to Saturday

I’ve ordered a pizza delivery from Antonino’s a couple of times and apart from a few teething problems, would say their pizzas are some of the best in the Peterborough area.

Our first order was delayed because the driver was given the wrong address. Mistakes happen and they apologised, but it would have been nice for Antonino’s to have compensated us somehow.
Then to make matters worse, the pizza wasn’t cut into slices – hardly cause for concern as my parents taught me basic knife and fork skills as a child, but I can’t remember the last takeaway/delivery pizzeria that didn’t pre-slice their pizza. Those niggles aside, the pizza tasted good.

The second time we ordered, the pizzas arrived within 45 minutes and again, no slicing. I had made a mental note after the first instance to ask for the pizzas to be sliced, but in the excitement of ordering, I’d forgotten.

I’ve not eaten at their Yaxley restaurant, but if you’re in South Peterborough I’d happily recommend the Antonino’s takeaway.

I’ve just heard the news that the Tom Lock (Harvester) on Lincoln Road is currently being refurbished by new owners.

Information is scarce at the moment, but I’ve learned that the new restaurant will specialise in fish and seafood and be called The Vineyard.

You can find The Vineyard at 77 Lincoln Road, Peterborough – just a couple of minutes walk from Westgate.

I’ll update this post with more details as I hear them!

Update: 19/6/2011

Now you can read the review of The Vineyard

Update: 13/4/2011

According to a recent local radio report the Vineyard will actually be a wine bar, no mention of seafood so who knows what will be on offer when it opens tomorrow (14th April).

After breaking the news of rumours that Nandos might be looking at opening a Peterborough restaurant, it’s now been officially confirmed!

The Peterborough ET has spoken to the restaurant chain who have revealed that a 100-seat restaurant is planned for Cathedral Square and due to open by July.

I’m guessing the HMV store would be the ideal location (as HMV are due to close that this year) but the location’s still unconfirmed.

Rumour has it that Peterborough might be getting it’s own Nando’s restaurant!

You might have seen their spicy Piri-Piri hot-sauce and BBQ marinades in local supermarkets but outside of Peterborough Nando’s are known worldwide for their Portugese-themed chicken restaurants.  Nando’s is one of the first restaurant chains people think of that are missing from the Peterborough restaurant line-up so they would definitely be a welcome addition – and something new to the local dining scene.

MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson tweeted earlier that he’s heard rumours from a good source so only time will tell.

For those new to Nando’s why not pay a visit to their website – www.nandos.co.uk

Does Nando’s answer all your spicy chicken prayers or is there another restaurant you think Peterborough is missing out on?  Leave a comment below!

Note – this review took place during a staff training session with complimentary meals, only drinks were paid for.

I first heard Chiquito were planning on opening a restaurant in Peterborough back in May, so when they invited me to one of their pre-opening staff training sessions for their new Mexican restaurant near Hampton in Peterborough, I of course  jumped at the chance to review the restaurant and headed over to see what they had to offer.

Skip to the address and phone number or just read on…

The paint’s barely had time to dry but inside it’s plain to see a lot of time and thought has gone into the decor.  A high ceiling dotted with soft lighting and an extensive use of wood give the restaurant a rustic feel, almost that of a converted barn even though only a few months ago this part of Cygnet Park opposite Serpentine Green was undeveloped land.

The dining area has a large round table as a focal point in the centre which is surrounded by smaller tables. The large table is ideal for parties of around 6-8 people so ask for this table when you make a reservation!

We were given a complimentary portion of nacho chips whilst looking through the menu which is something I always appreciate from Mexican restaurants.  The cost to the restaurant is minimal, but it’s a nice touch and gets you into the Mexican spirit.

The Food

As a self-titled chilli head I usually hunt out the hottest thing on the menu…

Of course you don’t go to Chiquito’s just to admire the nicely upholstered chairs or their choice of building materials, you go there for the food and drink.  For many, Mexican food conjures up visions of sizzling fajitas, smoky burritos and baked enchiladas and here Chiquito doesn’t disappoint.  The menu still has more to offer however, including burgers, pastas and salads.

As a self-titled chilli head I usually hunt out the hottest thing on the menu – at Chiquito it’s the Pollo del Fuego (fiery chicken), but for those more sensitive to chilli and spice don’t worry, here the emphasis is definitely on flavour more than heat so it’s suitable for all the family.

For our starters we chose Chipotle meatballs and a portion of deep filled Potato skins.  Both were very tasty however the meatballs could have had a stronger chipotle chilli flavour for my tastes.  I would order the meatballs again but would ask for them to be made with extra chilli!  The grilled cornbread served with the meatballs was a surprise as it was slightly sweet, but it was nice and worked with the dish.

Next up, mains.

I ordered the sizzling combo fajitas (choosing classic chicken and steak) whilst my wife had the chimichangas, which are similar to a flour tortilla parcel like a burrito, but fried.  The fajitas certainly lived up to their sizzling description with the smoke setting off the fire alarms on several occasions, much to the amusement of other diners.
The meat was served on an incredibly hot skillet with roasted onions and peppers whilst the five flour tortillas were kept warm in a lidded bowl.  Accompanying the fajitas were servings of guacamole, soured cream and a salsa plus a bowl of salad and grated cheese.  There was so much going on with the fajitas it would be hard to find room on the table if you both ordered them!

The two large chimichanga’s were crisp on the outside and filled with soft shredded beef which had a really rich taste.  For me, the chimichanga’s had the edge on the fajitas, definitely less messing around (but that’s half the fun of the fajitas) and I preferred the taste.  I last had shredded beef in soft tacos whilst in Mexico and the chimichanga brought the memories back.

Both the fajita and the chimichanga portions were generous and could easily be shared between two if you added on a couple of side dishes.

As the mains were brought to our table I asked the server for some hot sauce but was disappointed to see the hottest they had was Cholula Original.  Yes I’m being fussy, but I feel there are much more suitable Mexican “hot” hot sauces available, so hopefully Chiquito will give this some consideration.  If a customer wants to burn their mouth with a super spicy sauce, let them – you’ll sell more bottles of Corona as a result…

By the time I finished my main course I was so full I was pretty sure I didn’t need a desert, but on spotting churros on the menu I soon found room – 8 doughnut style cinnamon fingers and a pot of warm chocolate sauce to dip them in. Pure heaven!  My wife ordered the single shot Banoffee Pie which surprised as it was warm.  The desert shots are a great option if you’re too full for a big desert but just want something sweet to finish your meal.

The cost of the food bill (including two side dishes) came to a reasonable £46.

Drinks

It’s not just about the food at Chiquito, they do a great selection of cocktails and beers too.  If you like your Tequila, you should try the Patron XO – a coffee flavoured tequila which is similar in taste to Tia Maria, but with a kick!

Summary

As this was only a training day, it’s hard to say how the experience will be on a regular night but from what I saw I think Peterborough is in for a treat.  Some of the staff were noticeably nervous at serving the public for the first time but considering some had no previous experience in the hospitality industry, everyone did a fantastic job.

If you like your food spicy, I would definitely recommend you ask for it to be made spicier.  Unfortunately Chiquito have to cater for wimps those more sensitive to chilli so the fire is toned down.  That said, this was still probably the best Mexican food I’ve had in Peterborough – and it’s a chain restaurant!

Chiquito is perfect for groups as well as a cosy table for two, I can imagine once the drinks start to flow the atmosphere will get quite energetic so if you’re after a quiet meal ask for a table away from the centre of the restaurant.

Contact Details

Cygnet Park
Hampton
Peterborough
PE7 8FD (map)
Telephone: 01733 898540
Website: Book online at www.chiquito.co.uk

With less than a week to go, Chiquito, Peterborough’s newest Mexican restaurant is looking good and almost ready for business well ahead of it’s December 6th opening date.  Don’t forget to visit and “like” the Chiquito Facebook page!

I know I’ve berated chain restaurants in the past and I would still prefer to see new independents than chains but I have to admit that they are a big draw for a lot of people.

Chain restaurants are often more clued up when it comes to embracing marketing and promotions and may invest more in staff training.  Many independents would struggle to keep their dining experience as consistent as the chains do.

So now I’ve made my opinion clear, you might be surprised to read I’m actually looking forward to the opening of a Chiquito mexican restaurant just opposite Serpentine Green in Peterborough!  I’ve been told that the opening is expected in eight weeks so approximately December 10th – just in time for your Christmas Parties!

Having spent time in Mexico on honeymoon I know nothing will compare to the food I ate out there but I’ve visited other Chiquito restaurants and found them really pleasant places to eat and especially good with a group of friends or family.

If anyone has any more info on the Peterborough restaurant, I’d love to hear it.