Pink Lettuce - Bust or Bomb?

A day shopping in Chester isn’t complete without falling into a mountain of food. It’s a hub of vibrancy and filled with the most delicious and varied places to eat.

Pink Lettuce is no exclusion!

My partner and I actually found Pink Lettuce by complete chance on their opening day.

We were scanning the walls looking for somewhere new to eat, and found a menu that not only sounded delicious, but at the very bottom whispered the few words that make my heart soar. 100% plant based.

We have been going back every time we visit Chester, and I can’t see a time where that will change.

Well, where is the best place to start? The vibes of the restuarant are fantastic, twinkly lights and candles. No harsh lighting, and comfortable cosy places to sit. They have a few outside benches for in the summer, but my partner and I love sitting in the big bay windows and watching the world go by as we feast.

The staff have always been kind, professional and friendly. We have yet to have a moment where we questioned the service, which makes it such a relaxing experience. They don’t pester, just ask for your order with a smile and deliver it to your table with as much, or as little interaction as you’d like.

Now onto the menu. It’s unique. You won’t find your usual pub grub on this menu, oh no! Their food is colourful, weird and delicious. One of our favourites is the pink burger - yes pink! Just like their name, it’s bright and punchy. (Keep scrolling for a picture and thoughts, as of course we ordered it again).

The food isn’t the only unusual thing to see - Mocktails! Not just boring drinks with the fun parts removed, but actually nice and thoughtful drinks for those avoiding alcohol. Of course the usual coffees and beverages are there but it definitely makes it easy to accomodate everyone.

Now what did we order?

Of course we had the Pink Lettuce Special Burger. How could we not? It’s pink! The burger itself is thick and juicy, and not reminiscent of any shop bought vegan burgers that we’ve had before. It’s topped with bacon, cheese, salad, pickles (My favourite) and burger sauce. The actual burger is skewered with a long stick to keep it’s shape that is topped with a physalis fruit which is such a rogue thing to see floating high above your burger. It comes with a side of crispy and hot chips, and a plump onion ring atop.

Now, we have had this burger so many times now that I would be a fool to not score it a 10/10. Regardless of the time of year, at least one of us orders a pink burger. There is also a black burger which is a big hit, but there is something about the pink bun that makes us smile. Especially when you’re sitting in the window, and people walk past and do a double take at the brightly coloured meal in front of you.

I definitely reccomend that if you give these guys a visit, that the pink burger is at the top of the list - which is rare for me. I’m sick of seeing a burger as the only vegan option at restaurants. Sure, I could be grateful for the same supermarket burger patty on a sad bun with a leaf of lettuce and if I’m lucky - a lick of ketchup. Or, I could expect more. Like this fantastic concoction of colour and flavour.

On this recent occasion I tried something a little lighter, and went with the Quinoa Superfood Bowl with an addition of some vegan chicken for some extra protein. I did have the option of a few extra additions such as tofu skewers, cheese and more but I thought the chicken would add something nice to such a colourful meal.

Well, you can see from the picture that the meal is gorgeous. It was actually this bowl that made me think - oh! I should show this to the world. I just love how every ingredient is celebrated in it’s own right. Radish, cucumber, lettuce, onion, edamame, avocado and of course quinoa sung back at me. Vibrant and delicious. The chicken was crispy and a perfect crunch.

The dressing was a basil pesto concoction, and was kept seperately in a little glass so that you could pour just as much as you want. I of course, dumped the whole thing on. The meal itself is gorgeous, fresh and light. A perfect summer dish to enjoy on a sunny day. The only feedback I had, was that I thought maybe a pickled or acidic addition like lemon in the dressing or dish could bring a slight zing that I thought it missed.

What is missing from this photo is the parmesan and black pepper fries that I had on the side - as I am definitely not as healthy as this meal is making me out to be! I did actually only order the plain fries, (Whilst checking out the parmesan fries and considering them too much for my health journey which is of course complete waffle), so when the waitress came over and apologised that the chef had accidentally added the toppings I practically leaped for joy. The universe had made the decision for me - and my god they were delicious!

I would say the salad was a wonderful 9/10 for me, and definitely something I would order again!

Now I can practically hear you screaming - Dessert Jacqui? On your supposed health journey? I know, I know, but when my partner looked at me over the dessert menu that the waitress handed him whilst I was in the bathroom - what was I supposed to do? The universe threw parmesan on my chips and in my eyes as I accidentally ordered dessert whilst convincing myself that the shopping I did that day counted as excercise.

From the summery salad, to the decadent Sticky Toffee Pudding. When I say that I hoovered my plate fast, I mean fast. To the sound of myself moaning and doing a little dance with each mouthful. It was warm, rich and delicious. The pudding itself is soft and melted in your mouth, paired with the smooth salted caramel sauce and the most thick and creamy vanilla ice cream that I have ever tasted.

I could have had three of these, although I don’t think my waistband would have appreciated it. I am not a sweet person, but when I say that you should drop everything and go try this - I mean it. Wow, just wow. I will have dreams of this beauty. 100/10. It deserves an award.

Now, my partner is a huge waffle fan. It was the first thing that we hunted down when we went to Brussels, so when his eager eyes found Topped Belgian Waffles on the menu he practically cheered. You have the option of a full or a half portion. We quickly found out when the food arrived that it means one or two waffles. Which we found a strange wording on the menu. When we asked the waitress if the full was much bigger (fooling ourselves that we were trying to be healthy again, before inevitably ordering the larger one) she once again confirmed the terms full and half, meaning full or half portion. She didn’t seem to really clarify the one or two waffles explanation. I have noticed that the website explains correctly, so don’t be confused by the in house menus!

But of course, we ordered the full option and I’m glad that we did, as it was the perfect amount. Piles of berries, raspberry coulis, chocolate sauce and a light dusting of pistachios. There was also a healthy scoop of the same vanilla ice cream that was on my dessert much to my partner’s delight. We are in complete agreement that the ice cream is a marvel.

Overall, my partner rated the waffles an 8/10. They agree that they were delicious but he would have preferred the waffles to be a little more crispy, and the confusion around portions was a little strange. But just to be clear, they were delicious and we definitely reccomend them!

So, for a few of the boring notes I would add that if you are sensitive to flashing or blinking lights I would avoid the bathrooms. Ever since day one, the light in the bathroom has blinked whilst you’re in there. Not fast, but through out your visit, you might find yourself peeing in the dark for a few seconds. The bathroom hallway is also quite narrow, so those that are not as able bodied might struggle with accessing it. It is on the walls which are accessible by the lifts, but I think a manual wheelchair might struggle especially with a few lips on doorways etc.

So - the Pink Lettuce. A bust or a bomb?

Well, if you haven’t guessed yet - it’s definitely the bomb. The food is imaginative, bright and fun. The staff are warm and the atmosphere is welcoming. Every time that we go, we find something new and exciting to try and it feels like they are always trying to change and mix things up without removing any of the fan favourites. We spotted on a notice board whilst we were in there, that they are now doing Sunday dinners when booked in advance which we are now desperate to try.

If you are vegan in the area, or even just curious about a different type of cuisine I would implore you to call into Pink Lettuce and see where the journey takes you. Don’t blame me if your food at home seems a little less colourful when you leave!

For all the menu lovers out there have a peruse: https://www.pinklettuce.co.uk/menu