Customer Reviews
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"the food was excellent"
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"Bright, comfortable and modern interior" |
"would definitely recommend"
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"excellent quality meat was perfectly cooked" |
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IT is a pity that most people's only experience of Turkish food comes from the Saturday night haloumi kebab. But the good people of Wilmslow can experience the real thing at Pasa.
The restaurant takes up a decent spot on Water Lane, one of the main high streets in the golden Cheshire town, among the designer wedding gowns, WAG fashions and specialist homeware shops only places like Wilmslow can afford.
But there wasn't a sniff of a snooty air inside the restaurant and the prices are eye-openingly low considering the location.
On a Friday night, we arrived to an empty room but our hosts showed no awkwardness or bother about this, excited and beaming as they told us to take our pick of the tables. The place soon started to fill up.
Décor was nothing to write home about but nothing to dislike – smart enough and as typical of a modern restaurant as it could be, floral-print wallpaper, chrome detail lighting, tea-light lit tables – but not particularly Turkish.
Though that didn't matter, it set a pleasingly carefree vibe, suggesting a need to try but not try too hard.
The real effort came with the service and food, with head chefs who have over 35 years experience cooking Turkish dishes in prestigious restaurants such as the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul and at Manchester's stalwart Cafe Istanbul.
The menu's introduction told us that the name ‘Pasa' refers to a high-ranking person in the ancient Turkish Ottoman empire, the equivalent to a ‘Lord'.
While this could imply the restaurant is similarly grand and lord-like, there was nothing pompous about the place.
Good presentation
We were served a complimentary grenadine-based aperitif, beginning a series of welcoming little gifts scattered throughout our evening, and looked over the menu of cold and hot starters, chicken, seafood, vegetable dishes and, obviously, large lamb section. Skewered and marinated meat is the way to go with Turkish cuisine and ingredients which abound include feta, yogurt – as a sauce, on the side or mixed as a dip – and aubergine, a Turkish staple.
The beaming waiter cheekily teased my indecision when ordering and the vibe was friendly and relaxed with an air of silliness.
To start was the Pasa Special Mixed Platter (£6.75), with hot and cold starters which included haloumi, spinach with yoghurt, stuffed mushroom, spicy sausage, stuffed vine leaves, aubergine bake, houmous and feta triangles.
The beautiful serving dish appeared to be making us an offering from Turkey itself – good presentation started here.
The sausage was spicier than its chorizo cousin, the vine leaves pleasingly subtle, the spinach very garlicky, the feta naughtily creamy and the aubergine the perfect accompanying tang.
Starter number two was Manti (£4), mini Turkish pasta stuffed with mince meat, with tomato sauce and thick yoghurt – a great combination.
This folded pasta speciality is similar to a Japanese dumpling, something our waitress could remember her grandmother rolling out in the kitchen when she was young. When I asked how the aubergine was cooked, our host looked proud that I cared and prouder that I liked it.
The pride in the cooking was obvious, not more so than when I asked for my lamb main well-cooked, and our waiter looked shocked, reluctant to serve it anything more than juicy and medium rare.
I told him to bring it he thought it should be cooked. And I was glad – my Chargrilled Skewered Lamb was wonderfully tender. It came with dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal vegetables (£12.75).
Well looked after
I am a real potato stickler, but their flavour was expertly cooked right through, without being sloppy, and the perfect presentation continued.
My dinner partner had Skewered Shish Lamb, with rice and salad (£12.50), with well-herbed meat slightly resembled the kebab shop preparation of the meat we know and love.
These richer meats need a good glug of salad and the Feta Salad (£3.95) was our choice, with good quality cheese, spring onion, cucumber and celery.
At this point I was drinking a Wilmslow Special cocktail (£5).
It seems the only thing ‘Wilmslow' about this whisky, Bacardi, orange juice and coconut creation is that it was mixed there.
It came with resort-like over-the-top umbrellas, lemon slices and straws, but at least it made me feel like I was on holiday.
“May I let you know,” the restaurant manager said, “that you will have 20 per cent off tonight.” It was a January offer which became the evening's second gift, though there is still an £8 lunch deal.
Squeezing in a dessert, we had baklava with ice cream (£4.25) and I expected something rather more biscuit-like than the oozing syrypy pastry which arrived; well-deserving of its ice cream companion.
Gift number three came with the bill, a pretty silver box which revealed a diary for 2010.
We left feeling well fed for our money and well looked after.
Pasa is honest and charmingly unassuming – more elegant than my local take away – and with pride, warmth and hard-working dedication.
Pasa, 31 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AR, (01625 532890, pasarestaurant.co.uk).
Reviewed: Fri, 05 February, 2010
Average three-course cost: £23
Overall: 4/5
Decor: 3/5, Service: 5/5, Food: 4 |
Karen, Stockport (07/03/2010) says....
Enjoyed a wonderful meal for two - made to feel very welcome from the start. We chose the mixed starter to share - a selection of hot and cold starters which were absolutely delicious, packed with flavour and clearly freshly made. Good selection of mainly Italian wines, we'd have to recommend the Syrah which was gorgeous! We shared the mixed grill platter main which was a very generous portion of chicken and lamb - and the finest lamb chops we'd ever had! We have to follow popular opinion and agree that the cheesecake was the best we've tasted, and wasn't sickly or too sweet - it was perfect. See you again soon!
sue and harold (28/02/2010) says....
Went with friends early Saturday evening. The welcome was warm and very friendly. My fillet of lamb was the BEST I have ever had. Can't wait to go back ASAP. Will certainly recommend to friends.
Chris & Avril - Sale (31/01/2010) says....
Although turkish food would not be our first choice, we were taken to this restaurant by some friends and so glad we did as we would have missed out on a real gem if we had not gone. Fantastic service, wonderful food and a lovely atmosphere. When we sat down we were greeted with a small drink to freshen the palette, courtesy of the house. Our first impression of the menu was that it was not too complicated or overly expensive and they have a very good wine list. We both ordered lamb for our main course (two different dishes) and both agreed that the lamb was very tender and well flavoured. My husband and friends had the cheesecake for desert and they said it was absolutely lovely (wish I liked cheesecake). Even though we do not live close by we would definity make the effort to drive there and one of us not have a drink
Janet, Wilmslow (29/10/2009) says....
My friend and I had an excellent meal at Pasa. We were welcomed with a complimentary grenadine based aperitif. The starters of hummus and salmon and cod fishcakes with mango sauce were home-made and delicious. We chose the Pasa specialty platter for 2 as a main course and the excellent quality meat was perfectly cooked. The only problem was we couldn't eat it all!
The ambiance of the restaurant was good although a little quiet probably due to the midweek Football premier games being aired. The service from Selcuk was first class and I am sure when more people hear about this place and see for themselves how good it is, it will be fully booked most nights. I will be recommending it to all my friends.
Dan (21/10/2009) says....
Top quality food - we had a fantastic takeaway, lots of food, great flavours. And the Cheesecake for dessert was the best we have ever had!
teresa, warrington (11/10/2009) says....
Staff very friendly and helpful. Food was really good. Shared a starter platter for two and the males in our party shared a mixed grill, which they just about managed to finish between them.
A bit of a wait for our main course, as there was quite a large group in, but hey what didn't really matter when you in good company. Will revisit.
valerie dale altrincham (03/10/2009) says....
This was our first visit to Pasa the food was excellent nice restaurant very comfortable, will be going again.
David + Helena Hume, Cheadle (22/09/2009) says....
Bright, comfortable and modern interior. Tried the meat platter and have to say it was fantastic. Followed this with a delicious Strawberry Cheesecake, whilst also tasting a few Turkish beers.
The service and attention from Selcuk and the rest of the staff was also excellent.
We would definitely recommend this restaurant, all we can say is try it you won't be disappointed.
Emma, Wilmslow (21/09/2009) says....
Had a really nice meal at Pasa. I'm a vegetarian and there were quite a few options, as well as fish dishes. The food was really fresh and filling. The staff were very friendly. The cost was quite reasonable considering all that we had. Would definitely go again to try the other dishes.
Steven, Wilmslow s (21/09/2009) says....
A really nice restaurant, The food is amazing I would recommend the mixed grill or the Sea bass fillet. The homemade Cheesecake is out of this world! The Service also is very good.
I would really recommend this restaurant.
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