The interesting thing about Ciao Napoli is that even though I'd seen it in the Top 10 restaurants…read morewithin Bolton over on TripAdvisor, I'd never really heard anyone talk about it, and couldn't really place in my head whereabouts it was in Bolton Town Centre. Upon seeking it out, it seems that it's because it's pretty much tucked away down a back street near St Andrew's Court, and is pretty unremarkable on the outside, but the outside isn't why you come to a restaurant is it? So once you find the place and go inside, it's actually quite pleasant. It's a simple modern restaurant in one large dining room with floor to ceiling mirrors on one side to reflect the light from the windows and increase the illusion of more space, and it works well. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and seat us straight away, informing us of the specials, and giving us the lunch and main menus, which are extensive and very reasonably priced. As we're only popping in for lunch, we decide on a couple of Italian staples, the spaghetti carbonara and the lasagna al forno, but as we ordered, the waiter asked if we'd like a garlic bread to start... and we can't turn down garlic bread very easily! The restaurant was quiet as we waited for our food, but before long a business group turned up for lunch too, so even though it's out of the way, it's still certainly popular and well known, but I'd love to encourage more of the general public to give it a try, because I'm sure a lot of them don't know it's there! I didn't! The garlic bread arrived, and was on a perfect dough base, and although it wasn't strong, the garlic flavour was very pleasant. Not long after, our mains arrived. The lasagna was still bubbling away cheerfully, having just come straight out of the oven, and the spaghetti looked wonderfully fresh, and not just a plate of goop as so many Italian restaurants seem to go for. The lasagna was delicious and full of flavour, as well as rich and comforting. The spaghetti was perfectly cooked, and wasn't just a bowl full of cream, which can taste quite claggy in the mouth, but instead the spaghetti was the feature, not the cream. It was very tasty, the bacon too was good, and the cream although not overpowering was excellent. The touch of optional parmesan and black pepper on top worked well, the black pepper almost seeming to make the dish a bit fruity. Superb. Also despite the appearance, the spaghetti was extremely filling, meaning I had no room for a dessert, but my partner fancied trying the custard pastry dessert called mille foglie, and would seem to be the same as the French word mille-feuille, meaning "thousand leaves" referring to the pastry layers. It was served with cream and a surprisingly high quality toffee or caramel sauce, and was served chilled. It was thoroughly delicious! So yeah, it may be tucked away, and it may not be expensive or extensively themed, but that is of no bearing to the quality and value of this superb hidden gem of an Italian restaurant, and I can understand completely why it's ranked so high in its reviews, and why it's so praised by those who know it. However, I feel more people should know about it, it's great! Ciao, Napoli! Buonissimo!

It's very confusing to review restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and other businesses as an American…read morevisiting for a bit. I did visit the Strawberry Duck with a local. When he told me about the name of the pub (several times), I was enchanted. I had the fish and chips and much were very fish and chips. I am also a long time vegetarian trying to eat some fish. Failing miserably. The draft beer selections were the same as every other pub in London that I had tried. Found out in my next to last evening in England that Heineken controls the draft scene. I was searching for local, traditional British beer. Only one place in Oxford! I'll keep trying!! Delightful and charming brewpub or pub (again, American). Very homey feel to the restaurant/pub. The service was something. Fine but I enjoyed my experience thoroughly!

After walking for 8.5 miles we ended up back here where we had booked a table for dinner…read more Walking in we were led to a table right in front which was in a middle of a 3 way much to our dismay as people kept constantly walking past us. What I did see of the decor was nice. The majority of the waitresses were young and what I felt inexperienced . Asking us immediately what we wanted to drink without providing a menu and us having to enquire what the soup and pie of the day was. Drinks ordered I browsed the menu. It was just a lot of generic pub grub with not a lot of fish dishes. Saying that I did see some fish and chips get served that looked fab. I did find the menu a bit uninspiring but luckily I clocked the special board and saw the Strawberry Duck with bubble and squeak with garlic mash. Himself had the minted lamb pie and we shared chipolatas with mustard mayo. The starter was nice but forgettable...the mains were the star of the show. My duck was cooked to perfection and everything tasted fresh. The sauce was of perfect consistency and not too sweet. The mash could have done with more garlic but it was a fine dish especially while sipping yummy gooseberry gin. The minted lamb pie was rich and full of flavour with thick chips that were a little undercooked in the middle. To finish we had coffee as we were full. Overall I felt the service let it down a little, Asking if we want sauce when the starter was served with it, not asking how are food was in the beginning , not informing us about the specials etc and in the end we had to order Drinks at the bar as felt a bit neglected. It was nice to have a swift recommendation of what to have with the gin though and the bill was reasonable . Yes I would come back if I went for a walk in the area.

Lincoln's American Bar & Grill is the new kid on the block in Bolton Town Centre. It's literally…read moreonly just opened (as of August 2017), and promises a classic American style menu with gourmet burgers. How could anyone resist that? It seems rare that Bolton town centre gets any new restaurants these days, and so when a new one opens up, it's exciting! Lincoln's is downstairs in St Andrew's Court, and only upon writing this review did I actually remember that it's downstairs, in a basement space. It's decorated with great lighting and décor that I forgot about the lack of windows. The décor is modern and simple, with music inspired touches, LP sleeves and guitars on shelves, and some truly excellent music playing. I was seated by a friendly member of staff, and given the relevant menu information, as well as my drinks order being taken. The menu is true to the claim of American in style, starting with "appetizers" and including steaks, gourmet burgers, speciality pasta etc, as well as milkshakes and desserts, and daily special offers, as well as Chef's Specials. The only thing that stopped it fully pulling away from its location and immersing in American style is that they offer a full English Sunday roast dinner too! I ordered an appetizer of panko crumbed chicken fingers, and a main of the Texan burger, taking advantage of one of their special offers where two courses were a set price. As I was dining alone, I was helpfully asked whether I'd like my starter and main at the same time, to which I said yes. The food arrived in good time, and although the burger was presented on a chopping board as is the fashion these days, the food looked very good! The panko chicken was perfectly crunchy and juicy, and I really enjoyed it. The burger looked good, but for reasons unknown I think I was expecting it to be a dry "generic" burger, but it was juicy and pink in the middle as a good burger should be! Perfect! Do you know how hard it is to find a good burger done properly in Bolton?! Well it's hard let me assure you! Well done, Lincoln's! At this point I started to get quite full, realising that I perhaps shouldn't have had both starter and main course at the same time, and had the heartbreaking realisation that... I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE A DESSERT! Even worse... upon curiously reading the dessert menu as I left, I realised the two courses for one price offer included some of the desserts... noooooo!! Next time that key lime pie WILL BE MINE!! (Also I unashamedly took some of the chicken panko fingers home in a doggy bag!) So in conclusion, the food was excellent, the service was friendly, professional and attentive, which I really appreciated, and the value was superb, and would be great value even without the special offers. I had sceptical expectations, but was left thoroughly impressed and happy, and will most definitely be back! Go and give them a try! dgrill.com

Tapaz is a relatively new player on the Bolton food scene, but is truly storming the review sites…read more People speak incredibly highly of it, and it's currently in the top #5 in Bolton on TripAdvisor. I've been meaning to try it for a fair while, and finally got chance recently. The building itself is one of Bolton's grand older buildings with high ceilings and arched windows, but when you step inside it's somewhat surprising. I think part of me expected a tapas bar to be more Spanish "themed"like other tapas venues I've visited, but the decor is a combination of bright simple modernity, and... budoir? Elegant rustic iron sconces and lamp shades give that touch of Spain, but the crushed purple velvet benches and snow leopard print chairs seem a bit of an odd choice! However, it's clean, functional, and welcoming. We are seated and given the menus by a friendly member of staff. We are happy to see that there is an "all you can eat" tapas option, which is always nice, so we opt for that! The menu is left with us so that we can choose from up to any 3 dishes at a time, but reorder as many times as we'd like. Instead of listing each of the tapas we ordered, I'll simply share the photos here on Yelp. The tapas came in good time, and every one of them was hot, fresh, and delicious. Special props go to some specific things we commented on, including the fantastic citrus taste that came with the Bacalao Frito (breaded white fish with tartare), the sheer tenderness of the Costillas de Cerdo (BBQ ribs), and the incredibly rich flavours of the Chorizo al Vino (Spanish spicy sausage in red onions and red wine). It also allowed us to try "Chicken Bastilla" for a first time, which is shredded chicken in a crispy pastry, but then topped with cinnamon and sugar! It's apparently a Moroccan staple, but this was our first time trying it, and although it was a very strange idea to get used to, it worked surprisingly well! Like a cross between the end of your dinner and the start of your dessert! The service is friendly and efficient without being intrusive, and the value is superb. Even if we didn't go for the 'all you can eat' option, the prices were great, with lunch specials also available. As we paid I managed to embarrass myself by messing up with the card payment machine and accidentally giving a 10p tip, making me look like the stingiest tipper on the face of the planet, but despite this, the staff member who took our payment didn't let any sort of reaction show on his face. Truly professional! I noticed this on the bill as I was walking out the door, and so turned and left a bit of a better tip in change at the bar. The one thing I will say is that I will be giving a much bigger and more deserved tip next time I visit, as I will most definitely be returning, and hopefully will have enough room to try a dessert! We can very much see how Tapaz has earned its praise! Muy bien! :)

You may well have seen in a lot of my reviews, Bolton gets somewhat of an easy ride, partly because…read moreI'm proud of my town but partly because I know where not to go. I hadn't been before, but honestly I don't know if I'd go back to Tapaz. It wasn't bad, so let me start by saying that! Inside, it's trendy and intimate and a good spot for a date night. They have a decent wine menu, though you can only order house red/white by the glass so if you're not planning on drinking lots you're limited for choice (minus points). Food wise, some of the dishes were great - the Chorizo De Vino was superb - potentially the best Chorizo dish I've had at a Tapas restaurant as I feel a lot of places over power the sauce or dressing with Chorizo - Tapaz didn't (plus points). The rest of the food left a bit to the imagination, not bad by any stretch, just average and average can't receive higher than 3 stars in my opinion. Calamari was decent, and the chicken dish (I've forgotten the name) was fairly good however the Patatas - both Bravas and Pesto - were way below the normal standard I'd expect. Tapaz is a decent restaurant, and with the competition surrounding it, probably the best of the bunch, but I think that goes more to showing the lack of good food in Bolton as appose to Tapaz's quality. Not bad, but not great.

This pub is named after the invention which revolutionised the cotton industry…read more The spinning mule' was the brainchild of Samuel Crompton, who was born on the outskirts of Bolton in 1753. However, he received just £50 for his invention. Since 1862, Nelson Square has been fronted by a statue of Samuel Crompton. First time here, went with friend. Nice inside, very much like the last Wetherspoons I went in. Went in for a midday snack. Wasnt impressed we had to stand waiting at the bar to get an order in for the food. Chorley has a food order area. At the table it wasnt cleaned down and grubby. I had a bowl of Tomato and Basil soup that really was half a bowl. Bloomer bread and butter. Was given a knapkin which wrapped a soup spoon and a large dinner folk to spread my butter on the bread. My friend had Smoked Haddock fish cakes that were too brown and crunchy, chips that looked like washerwomens fingers and a side salad that was limp and need a good dip in water. I could just see Gordon Ramsey forking it about, then coming out with a few choice words. Would I say it's a place with a Kitchen Nightmare, ( yip too true) How do I know? I was an head chef over 35 years. Would I serve that up? Not this side of hell. Broadcasts Live News Cask Marque Accredited Children Welcome In Good Beer Guide TV Screens Wifi

Just your average Wetherspoons - A bit souless but decent selection of well kept ales & lager…read more Usually used as a meeting point for groups going on elsewhere.

It's a smarter and more pleasant affair than the average Chinese Buffet, and the staff are…read morefriendly, professional and knowledgable, but the food on offer is the same quality and offering as every other. Sadly, several of the foods just sat in metal containers and congealed, or were "slightly warm" at best. Even the chips. It wouldn't take a lot to keep the food fresh/replenished, or at least give it a stir now and then. Much of the food however, was perfectly stored and kept hot, it's just a shame that it wasn't consistent throughout, meaning that the quality varied, and left me unsatisfied. HOWEVER... the desserts were lovely! Fruit, cake, jelly, rice pudding, popcorn, cheesecakes, mousses and jellies, a self serve ice cream machine serving excellent quality milk ice cream (complete with sauces and sprinkles), and... A CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN avec MARSHMALLOWS! Woo! Although the food was hit-and-miss, the desserts were fab, and for the price, it's hard to complain!

The food is great and the staff are really nice and never leave your table untidy…read more They are really helpful and never leave you waiting to ask if you would like another drink.I can't wait to come again with family and friends

Amazing food, good service, great vibes…read more My nana favourite place she not with us anymore but still go in and enjoy every time. Brings back fond memories.

Great food. Great service. Oh yeah. Breakfasts are amazing. What else would you need from a…read morerestaurant. Would definitely recommend it.

Great place to eat, the best for curry and spicy food, not to expensive and worth going for the…read morevegetarian curry! they are delicious they sell them in the afternoon worth looking out for!

This is an OK enough curry café and kebab shop near the centre of Bolton, doing takeaway but also…read morewith plenty of covers to sit in. For those of us in the know, 'rice and three' is about as clear a business name as you can get for a curry café! The pricing here is 3.50-5.30GBP depending on whether all or none of your three chosen curries are vegetarian. Rice was A-OK, as was the fresh tandoor chapati. And I'm starting to realise the importance of serving fresh chapati or naan on a basket rather than a plate - put a slice of fresh toast on a plate to see how one soggy the downside becomes and you will get my point! As a Muslim-owned place, vegetarian choices on the bain marie are as usual playing second fiddle to the 'main dishes'. However, red kidney beans were one choice when I visited, with my other two choices being channa and spinach (from tinned spinach). There was also a potato curry, and I see online references to a Friday aubergine curry. All of what I had was OK, but I continue to feel various gripes with curry café offerings - not enough vegetarian choice, generic sauces as opposed to a feeling of the component fresh ingredients shining through, and heartburn for the rest of the afternoon from the chili powder. However, this is a tight ship as curry cafés go. It seems to be a lively Arab hangout for everyone from young dating couples to grandparents. It's clean, including plenty of toilets (each with lota!) upstairs. Maybe I will go back on a Friday for aubergine curry. Maybe if you like meat kebabs and curries or are Muslim in Bolton this could be a regular place for you. Good luck, Rice N Three!

I'm a big fan of Mezzo as you can tell from the star rating, but really they do nothing wrong…read morewhatsoever. Brilliant spot to grab a coffee or some lunch and as it's located in the market place you're not spoilt for places to park. I usually get the Chicken & Mozzarella Pesto Panini with some chips (option of chunky or curly) - simple yet tasty and satisfying to the max. Prices are very reasonable (as you'd expect from being in Bolton) but the quality is still there. I added an Americano and a sparkling water on my last visit and it totaled at £11 - not too blinking bad. They also bake fresh cakes and snacks that you can purchase from the counter, I didn't on this occasion but will definitely be trying them out next time!

I'm never disappointed at mezzo, it's a great place to grab a quick note to eat to break up a day…read moreof shopping. It's a great spot for people watching looking over Bolton market (which is STILL being transformed!) I went for the club sandwich and it didn't disappoint. Packed full of Chicken, crispy bacon, mozzarella, cucumber, lettuce, red onion and mayo on a choice of white or brown bread. You can also have it toasted if you wish. I'm full and I've spent £5.75! Gotta love Bolton prices!

You know it is good when your nose starts to sweat. I wanted to try something different to my…read moreusual Bhuna or Madras. The server recommended a special and it was so, so tasty. I spent the entire time taking photos and texting my brother in Italy who also misses a good curry. Great service, great food and great prices.

Visited Achari twice in the last few weeks & on both occasions I have been hugely impressed with…read morethe quality of food. The trip was on a Sunday evening where they have a special menu of 4 courses for £11.95. With that value you'd expect a lack of quality however it was the complete opposite. Very healthy portions & good quality good. The only disappointment being the service between the starters & the mains was around 30 minutes. All in all, a great place to eat in the town centre.