Intimate new restaurant serves shared dishes bursting with flavour

Owners chef Chris Boustead and partner Laura Christie, a wine connoisseur, have brought something completely different to Knutsford’s flourishing food scene.

The couple have 25 years of experience in hospitality, having run several restaurants together, and moved from London to Cheshire with son Ollie, to be closer to family and friends.

Linden Stores has transformed the former premises of Project 53 on Minshull Street into an intimate bistro (Image: Linden Stores)

Newly-opened Linden Stores on Minshull Street is full of rustic charm with exposed brick walls, oak beams and stone floors.

Intimate table for two (Image: Newsquest)

Smiling, enthusiastic staff greeted us and led us to a little table by the window, hanging up our coats to make us feel at home.

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming amid laughter and chatter from guests dotted in nooks and crannies round two small rooms.

Warm and welcoming with exposed brick walls, oak beams and stone floors (Image: Newsquest)

Only room for 40 customers in this homely eaterie, with one table beside the kitchen upstairs.

People can pop in for a drink at the bar (Image: Linden Stores)

The couple invited us to taste the Chef’s Menu, priced at £40 per person, celebrating Cheshire’s fresh seasonal produce.

Six dishes come out as sharing plates to serve yourself.

A great way to try something you perhaps otherwise wouldn’t choose and a refreshing change not having to ponder over an elaborate menu.

House focaccia with rosemary and sea salt butter in delicate chunks started our culinary journey.

House foccacia with rosemary and sea salt butter (Image: Newsquest)

This appetiser was so moreish, we could have devoured a whole loaf.

Lovely and crusty, the bread was light and bouncy.

Trealy Farm carpaccio with goat's cheese and walnuts (Image: Newsquest)

Thin slivers of Trealy Farm carpaccio, served with goat’s cheese and walnuts were a perfect combination with the herby bread. Golden balls bursting with flavour followed.

Croquettes filled with smooth squash, Yorkshire blue cheese and raisins, accompanied by aioli, melted in your mouth.

Squash, Yorkshire blue and raisin croquettes with aioli (Image: Newsquest)

All the time, you were left wanting seconds but the dishes just kept on coming.

Smoked mackerel fillets were beautifully balanced with fennel bitter leaves and apple.

Mackerel with fennel, bitter leaves and apple (Image: Newsquest)

The star attraction, Cheshire game bird, whose aromas had oozed through the restaurant all evening, finally arrived.

Served with turnips on a bed of leaves with wild mushrooms and quince, the highlight of the menu didn’t disappoint.

Cheshire game bird, turnips and leaves with wild mushrooms (Image: Newsquest)

This gifted chef blends the best local ingredients delicately together to create sumptuous dishes.

A dessert of chocolate and peanut butter tart was a new discovery.

Chocolate and peanut butter tart (Image: Newsquest)

A creamy mousse-like topping infused with a slight salty taste on a crunchy, almost cheesecake base, was unexpectedly light.

Throughout the meal, knowledgeable staff suggested an array of relatively unknown wines to pair with each course.

A selection of wines from sustainable, up-and-coming producers are available (Image: Newsquest)

Unfortunately, my husband was driving, so it was left to me to sip some of their eclectic selections.

A smooth, subtle dry red wine, from an independent small producer in Austria, proved my favourite tipple.

To make a reservation, visit lindenstores.co.uk

This independent family-run de business only opened three weeks ago and has already made a great impact (Image: Newsquest)

Our new dining experience was full of delightful surprises.

This independent family-run business only opened three weeks ago yet it has already made a great impact.

Their fastidious focus on seasonality and sustainability, combined with first class hospitality is set to make Linden Stores a much-sought after food destination in Cheshire.