Can't Get Much Tastier (Castro's Restaurant (Cheddleton))

Member Name: blondgem

Product:	Castro's Restaurant (Cheddleton)
Date:	17/02/08 (468 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good food, good service

Disadvantages: could utilise their space better

Last year was the year where I indulged and tried food that I had never even entertained for some reason purely because I didn't think I would like it. I think it was the way I was brought up and basically English food was the only thing that was served on the table in my parents and definitely my grandparents house. They are quite the same, and say they don't like it before even trying it. I have got out of that habit now and will try anything because more often that not I do actually like it.

Castro's is a Mexican restaurant about 25 minutes from my home heading into Leek, Staffordshire. There are not many Mexican restaurants in the area, and this one had come with a recommendation so being in the mood I was in last year, what the hell, lets go and check it out.

Castro's is situated in a very tranquil area, very quiet, even though it is on a busy road, it is slightly set back from the road and is a lovely place to go if you just want to go for a drink in the summer and sit by the river. The restaurant from outside looks very modern and as you walk in you have a bar directly to your left and on your right is a wall so you can't see what you are walking into properly. As you walk to the end of the bar there are a few steps on your right that open up into a huge lounge area, where you are invited to sit whilst you table is being prepared. The lounge area is very modern, the flooring is slate tiling which I have always loved that effect and it is fitted out with big leather sofa's a mixture of black and chocolate and pine tables. Drinks orders are taken in the lounge and the staff also give you your menu there so you can decided what you want before you go into the restaurant. The way that works as when you actually go into the restaurant your starters are being served straight away.

When taken to your table, the restaurant is in a conservatory, all pine furniture, to be honest which isn't too comfortable and your bum starts to go a litle numb on there chairs throughout the evening. What surprised me was the size of the conservatory, it was a lot smaller than the lounge area that you have to wait in and I personally thought this hadn't had a lot of thougt out into it. As both rooms were very nice, they were both very differently themed and I thought making use of the lounge area for more diners would have made sense as it is always very busy and the number of covers that they do in the restaurant could be doubled if they made use of the lounge area, which to me doesn't justify its presence as there are only 2 -3 people sat in their at any one time when I have visited Castro's.

The service in the restaurant is excellent, starters are bought to you straight away when you are seated and main follow very soon after the starters, which I do think is a good way to entertain guests and they are never waiting too long for their meal, or at least it leaves you thinking that way anyway. Staff are extremely friend and efficient, although last thing at night they seem to go a little lazy and tables don't seem to be cleared as quickly as you would think they would be, surely they want to go home.

The food is very tasty, but a little expensive. I have chicken wings for starters on one occasion. You never get much meat on chicken wings however these didn't seem to have much on them at all and they way they were cooked made them a little bit chewy, so I tend to stick with Nacho's with various sauces which are always delightful and don't fill you up to much so you can fit you mains in. I have tried various dishes for main courses, however one has become a favourite. I can';t remember what it is called, however, its steak, chicken and chorizo sausage pieces with onions, with sour cream sauce and served with potato wedges. The taste and texture of all the meats is fantastic and the blend of flavours that are in this dish all accompany each other nicely and is not too overpowering, i tend to have this dishes every time I go now.

I haven't had dessert here, I am not really a dessert person so I am unable to comment, however all in all its a very pleasant experience to dine at Castro's. Its costs in the region of £40- £50 for two people eating starters, mains and one or two drinks, which isn't too bad but not for regular occasions.

Great Mexican Restaurant!

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