Eastern Revive

One of the most delicious Indian meals. We come here twice a year when visiting family in Lowton. Each time we arrive we are welcomed warmly by the owner and have excellent service. The food is always some of the tastiest and memorable. Highly recommend at least trying this place.

Formerly the Saffron
I took my family and my parents along last night to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Having seen it change hands towards the end of last year I thought I would try somewhere different, especially after reading the reviews of the Wilmslow restaurant.
Car parking is not a problem with spaces to the front and along the side.
I had booked a table for 4 adults and a child at 7pm, thinking it may be quiet ish. Upon entering it was packed with only a couple of seats for those waiting. Thankfully as we settled down to wait, we were shown straight to a table set for 4 at the back left of the dining room. The table would at best be comfortable for 2 adults giving them some elbow room and space for the accompanying dishes that would no doubt be served, let alone 4 adults and a child. We then had to pull up an additional chair positioned at the end as it was only set for 4.
We asked to move and were shown to a circular table to the left of what we found out to be the very busy main entrance to the kitchen after they had cleared it down. The dining room was fully seated. The walls and ceiling in our close proximity showed signs of an obvious recent water leak, as the white paintwork was stained with brown water marks. The glass partition that separated us from the kitchen walkway was spattered with food and there was the constant clank of cutlery as it was dropped into the large hopper behind our heads.
Adjacent to our table was a large party of 22+, all the tables pushed together. The atmosphere was loud, colourful and I have to say overpowering given the general background din (people shouting to be heard) and the continuous clatter of the food trolley transiting back and forth past our table at very frequent intervals. I found out in the morning that it had left samples of several dishes on the back of my coat.
Service was prompt, courteous and drinks were quickly brought to our table, though we had to wait 10 minutes for menus.
The starters and mains were brought in good time and I have to say the food was fantastic. My father approved and that is praise indeed. Sadly due to the close proximity of the large party my wife was continuously asked if she could move to allow party members up to get away from the table and then back in. Given the closeness (battery hens) she couldn’t just move her chair but had to get up, move her chair each time somebody came and went.
During our meal a large party of beer infused gentlemen were seated at anther larger circular table on the other side of the kitchen access way. They didn’t stay long as one possibly two of them started to racially abuse staff members. The staff were brilliant and quickly ejected them from the premises.
Once we had finished eating and drinking I asked for the bill and waited several minutes. When it arrived I thought it would be quicker to pay at the bar. However 4 members of staff there, 1 pouring drinks, 1 wondering which was the £40 bottle of champagne and the other 2 busy counting covers. Not one paid me any attention even though I had my silver platter in hand displaying my bill and debit card. Finally (4 minutes) a waiter asked if I needed anything and I paid. There was no cursory conversation about our experience, «everything all right sir, did you enjoy your meal, was this your first time here, hope to see you again etc»
It was the curtain close that could have been a fantastic evening. To summarise, the restaurant is a converted 19^th century pub and as such the layout does not lend itself to spacious dining given the number of tables and chairs squeezed in. The number of patrons packed in leads to excessive noise, busy staff coupled with the clanking dining cart equalled for us a painful eating experience. I have to say though the food was excellent and I would use the take away service if I lived nearer.