Good Cuisine Pays Tribute to its Historical Home!

A couple of centuries ago, the wharf area of Sowerby Bridge buzzed with industrialised activity.   Can you picture it?

The canal, after all, was the main route across the Pennines from Manchester and Manchester was home to the ship canal and numerous goods that were transported for miles across the sea.  A certain building in the wharf area famously, ‘as it says on the tin’, housed all of the salt brought in from Cheshire, but the busy buzz of industrialization has given way to something I happen to enjoy writing about.

That old salt building now houses The Salt Bar and Grill, a restaurant that serves up good cuisine and pays loving tribute to its historical home.

Here is where I come in – my whole family, to be more precise.  I was asked to organise a family get together for dinner.  I was eager to please, but spent most of my organising time scratching my head about the venue.  I tried to recall the names of restaurants that were recommended to me, but the names were elusive.

Bouncing around in my brain were my most recent restaurant experiences, cleverly classified into four categories: special occasion, most frequented, family friendly, and the everydayers.  None of the spots I could think of were ringing my bell for this particular gathering.

That is, until I stumbled upon The Salt Bar and Grill in Sowerby Bridge.

I must say, discovering the restaurant was no easy endeavor.  I should think one purpose of this review is simply to spare you the unkindly trouble of sniffing it out for yourself.  The restaurant, albeit hard to find, sits comfortably on the wharf, tucked happily, snugly behind the well-known Moorings Pub and Temujin Restaurant.

When I arrived on the night of our family’s gathering, I observed a packed car park, a sure sign of intelligent life or at least a sign of a well-regarded restaurant for good eats.  My chest swelled with confidence and pride – I had indeed picked a choice spot for our special evening.

Confident my family was in for a good meal, I wondered if I would find any remains of or homage paid to the building’s rich history.  I was pleased to see that simple decor allows exposure of the building’s many original stone walls and beams.  A modern touch appeared reserved for the staircase that leads diners to a stunning atrium, drawing all eyes back to the bar and kitchen.

Adding to the romance and history in this little corner of Sowerby Bridge, The Salt Bar and Grill, according to their Website, pays special attention to the provenance of many of their ingredients.  I suppose this now begs the question, “How does the food taste?”  Allow me to fill you in…

To start with, I chose the Potted Brown Shrimp, which was a delightfully tasty introduction to the evening’s fare.  For my main, my eyes directed me to the ‘Greedy Little Pig’ Chorizo Burger.  It struck a chord that resonates within me still and it sounds something like, “Outstanding!”

The potato wedges that accompanied my burger were deliciously fluffy in the centre with a crisp bite to the exterior…yummy.  And then, of course, there was dessert.

Normally, I’m not a fan of toffee puddings with caramel sauce.  I’ve had the best of the best from an original-recipe-holding chef from Sharrow Bay in the Lake District; however, in spite of my preferential palate, The Salt Bar and Grill’s Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce and Ice Cream was very good.

Now, as you recall, I have a certain system for categorising restaurants.

Where would The Salt Bar and Grill fall?  In several categories, actually – it’s an excellent restaurant to drop in on and that makes it an ‘everydayer’ in my book.  On the other hand, it’s perfect for family gatherings and that places it well within ‘special occasion’ and ‘family friendly’.

All in all, I had a good food experience and I strongly suspect that you will too if you give it a try.  I recommend you head over to that otherworldly wharf area to eat at The Salt Bar and Grill where you can indulge in a bit of the past while you enjoy a bit of the present.