Eating out in Cheshire

We have been in Cheshire for just over 6 weeks now and these are two places we have tried out (and yes, one's a chinese buffet!)

JABULA, ELLESMERE PORT
On our 2nd day in Chester, we came across a South African restaurant called ‘Jabula’. Jabula means ‘happiness’ in Xhosa and Zulu. I couldn’t believe it - we had to go in and check it out. It is situated on the waterfront next to the Manchester Ship Canal.

They have an extensive dinner menu including many South African dishes like bobotie, Durban curry and springbok steak. The lunchtime menu had other favourites like savoury vetkoek and boerewors rolls. They also stock South African & Kenyan beer as well as South African wine. The décor is very African and Johnny Clegg was playing in the background. I had a savoury vetkoek which was filled with mince and came with chips. Richard had pap & wors – which was very tasty. For dessert we shared a lemon meringue pie. It came in a little individual pie dish, served with cream, ice cream and a drizzle of lemon which made it all very tasty. There weren’t any other South African desserts available though – just cheesecake and chocolate cake.

The prices are very reasonable and the staff are all South African. There is also a little shop upstairs where you can buy all your favourite goodies.

So that was a good find!

BUFFET CITY, CHESTER
Of course we had to find a good Chinese buffet in the area. After much research on the internet, we settled on one in Chester called Buffet City. As with other Chinese buffets, we always find a few different dishes. This time dim sum, vegetable omelette and beef satay. There was also a salad bar with some very nice fresh salads. And most importantly, there was a dessert section which included jelly with a condensed milk topping, litchies, fruit cocktail and chocolate cake. These were just the ones I tried, there were a few other desserts including deep fried peanuts in a sugar coating!

In all they have 60 dishes for £6.90 each (Saturday lunchtime price), so well worth it – and we hope to be going back again!