Light, delicate and very Rococo

2:49pm Friday 20th April 2007

IT'S not often I get bullied, but my daughter, who was about to leave home, was insistent I should visit Cafe Rococo, Leigh, with her before she packed her tea chests and headed for her new house.

How could I refuse? She had waxed lyrical about the restaurant, especially the food, since an earlier visit with her friends.

We arrived early on a Tuesday evening, having booked a table, which we need not have worried about.

We were met by a friendly, welcoming waitress who allowed us to choose where to sit - we picked a table by the window - and let us keep our coats on.

The restaurant was warm enough, but the walk from the car had been freezing.

We were soon furnished with the menus and drinks list and the choice , while not cheap, was certainly interesting.

The decor is also interesting. Set in a character building with some original mouldings none of the tables, chairs or candlesticks matched in the Ikea, everything-the-same, manner, but were carefully chosen in the same colour woods and the similarities made it all work well together, creating a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.

We agreed we wouldn't manage three courses, so opted to start with a main course, hoping to try the tempting-looking desserts.

This meant passing up on starter choices such as seared scallops or salmon gravlax with potato creamed horseradish and watercress coulis.

My daughter loves duck and was happy to try the duck with noodles and hosin. Being a sucker for pulses, I chose the chicken with saffron and lentils with a side salad.

We ordered olives and bread to nibble on while we waited and were also presented with a complimentary vegetable soup, heavily spiced with cinnamon. Delicious.

Both our main courses were beautifully presented and came in a reasonable time, despite having been prepared fresh. The portions were generous as well as good looking.

For the dessert, I picked raspberry cream brulee - a variation on an old favourite, while my daughter chose a fresh summer fruit salad, packed with blackcurrents, blueberries and strawberries, in Malibu syrup with minted mascarpone. They too were delicious.

Although paying over £50 for a two-course meal for two is not the most economic way of dining, the food was excellent and the restaurant also offers a cheaper two or three-course set menu.

Cafe Rococo, 34-36 Elm Road, Leigh Tel: 01702 711141

What we ate Olives and bread £2.50

Chicken £16.

Duck £16.50

Salad £4.50

Brulee £5.50

Fruit £5.50

Total £50.50

Our verdict

Food 5

Service 4

Atmosphere 4

Decor 4

EDITOR'S CHOICE