I had arranged to meet fellow Dooyooer Koshka, for a meal in Frodsham, which is a nice little town near to the M56 in Cheshire. We decided to meet at the Chinese Delight Restaurant just outside of the town. The restaurant is on the main road through Frodsham, the A 56.

So that I could have a pint (or three) I persuaded my husband to drop me off in the car park which is large and well laid out. I was looking forward to meeting Koshka and walked straight in to the rather plain looking building to the left of the car park.

I was met, not by a smiling waiter, not by a smiling Koshka, not by pretty oriental decoration. None of these things at all! I was met by a rather harassed looking lady with an arm full of ironing! She looked at me quizzically. I looked at her quizzically. I realised that I had wandered in to a private house. Apologising profusely and rather confusedly, I backed out.

Sometimes I wonder if I have got a complete set of marbles because, having hurriedly removed myself before I got an ironing board wrapped around my ears, I looked around and there at the bottom of the slope from the car park, was a great big, lit up, unequivocally Chinese, Chinese Delight Restaurant.! How I missed it I do not know!

We decided, Koshka and I, that I would wear my pink boots so that she would recognise me. They went well with my, by now, pink face. I sat on the wall and lit a cigarette. What a good start to the evening!

I thought I might have to do a bit of boot waving to anybody who passed me by, but disappointingly I didn't get to show my lovely new boots off because Koshka was the next person to arrive. She very sensibly drove into the other carpark at the back of the restaurant. (I hadn't seen that either!) Having exchanged passwords and made sure that I wasn't walking into a restaurant with a total stranger, we went in.

This time we did get a smiling waiter, oriental decoration and a little bridge spanning a fish pool. I gazed at the fish for a few moments then remembered my manners and followed Koshka into the bar. We were seated by a very smiley and attentive Jonathon who wisely left us to gab until we remembered we were there to eat as well. The bar area was comfortably decked out with settees and low tables.

Although Jonathon checked if we were ready to order a couple of times, I didn't feel as though he was putting pressure on us to hurry along. I enjoyed this bit of space to just relax and get acquainted.

Eventually we remembered that we were there to eat and consulted the very comprehensive menus we had been given. I ordered Ribs for starters and Prawns in Chili sauce for my main course. Koshka ordered Crab and Sweetcorn soup and Seafood Casserole for mains. We carried on nattering for a few minutes and then we were asked to come through to our table.

The main body of the restaurant is quite spacious and obviously caters for large groups as well as couples or families. The decor was pleasing and not too theatrically Chinese. I enjoyed the painted red wooden fixtures and the Chinese vases and artefacts scattered about the room. There were a lot of different banquets on offer on the menu and I think it would be a good place to come with or for a party and to try the many different plates that the various banquets offered. The staff seemed very efficient to me as they looked after a party of about twelve that arrived as we were eating. I was fairly impressed that the layout of the place seemed to absorb the sound, the large group were enjoying themselves but I didn't feel impinged upon by the noise they were making.

Our table was a decent size and set with spotless white linen and gleaming cutlery. When my plate of ribs arrived I was fairly impressed with the size of them and the amount. For a starter I thought it was a generous portion. A finger bowl was provided, which is just as well because it's impossible to eat ribs without getting messy. (It is for me anyway!) They were tasty and juicy and managed to avoid being laden with fat as some ribs are. I really enjoyed them and found them quite filling. My companion enjoyed her soup but found it a bit short on crabmeat. (She didn't get crabby about it though!)

Our glasses were refilled promptly and emptied fairly promptly too! I was drinking lager and apparently impressing the waiter with my capacity to not fall under the table. (I think Koshka was just jealous!) I did enjoy not having the responsibility of having to drive though!

We were given a few minutes breathing space before our main courses arrived. I enjoy that because I hate to feel rushed by staff. My King Prawns were tasty but not spectacular. The noodles were very pleasant and had a good texture. There were a few veg mixed in with them for some extra flavour. The sauce on the prawns was a little glutinous and I wondered if it was freshly made or not. I suspect not, but I might be doing the Chefs an injustice. Koshka's casserole looked good but she kept raiding the prawn sauce for a bit of extra flavour.

Whilst waiting for our coffees to arrive I went in search of the toilets. They were clean and roomy. I think that there would be no problem here for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

Our coffee arrived with quite a few chocolate mints and the bill. The coffee was not particularly good but I have yet to visit a Chinese restaurant that does very good coffee. It was passable, just.

The bill, with the tip, came to just under £50.00, not cheap but not expensive either considering the amount of drinks we had had before and with the meal.

As we were leaving we had a proper look at the very impressive fish pond. It seemed to circumnavigate about a third of the restaurant in about an 18 inch wide and deep trough. I wondered if the larger fish had to have a one way system with roundabouts at either end but sadly I couldn't see the ends. (I didn't think scrabbling about below the tables to have a look, would go down very well with the remaining diners!) The fish looked very healthy and didn't seem at all anxious about whether they were next on the menu. I thought the fish pond was a really nice touch.

Overall it was a pleasant way to spend an evening, the decor was pleasing and the furniture comfortable. The food was not spectacularly good but it wasn't bad either and we had only tried a small and not terribly adventurous sample. My companion was fun to be with. The staff were friendly and helpful without being obtrusive. I'd go back without too much persuasion.

~*~ Opening times ~*~
Mon to Saturday 12-2pm, 5.30-11.30pm
Sunday 12-2pm, 5.30-11pm

~*~Telephone number for reservations~*~
01928 733383