The Dining Room in Cheshire West and Chester

We yet again had a wonderful dining experience. The food was excellent. The table settings were very attractive. The service was second to none. This is our fourth visit to the Dining Room this year every meal has been delicious. It well worth a visit the students are very professional.

The quality of food, service and wine is faultless. The only reason this is not the number one in town is that hardly anybody knows it's there, after all it's run by West Cheshire College and the chefs and waiters are students. Don't let that put you off in any way they know what they are doing and I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Price is very reasonable.

En el comedor reservado con antelación para comer con amigos. Nos enseñaron en el restaurante de inmediato teniendo en cuenta que era un poco tarde. Llevaron a nuestra mesa y nuestra estuvo entreteniendo fue introducido. El servicio era absolutamente perfecto, muy amable pero el servicio rápido. Tuve la sopa de guisantes para empezar que era delicioso y suave, con una variedad de pan recién hecho por los estudiantes, que era preciosa. Para los platos principales que teníamos solaki todos estamos de acuerdo en que era realmente delicioso y caliente. De postre tuve un arroz muy agradable con quebradiza en el lateral. Increíble los 3 platos. Y el servicio era bueno también. Sólo 10 libras. 75 por 3 Campos, muy buena relación calidad-precio. Sin duda un recomendado para el almuerzo y los grandes partidos!

Hemos estado dos veces este año para el comedor en West Cheshire College. Los estudiantes hacen un trabajo muy profesional, con buena comida y un servicio amable. Es un placer conocer a los estudiantes y observar su entusiasmo.

Can't fault this place really. Absolutely brilliant. Food lovely, staff pleasant and friendly. Last time we came two weeks ago we was served by the well experienced waitor Jordan. Service was spot on and food came out so quickly. This time unfortunately service was a little slower but definitely worth the wait as I loved it. Few little errors but the students are doing so well this year it's really nice to see. Will be returning twice in may to try the Italian lunch and Greek lunches. Definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. It's simply the best! Also cheap but good quality food!

Aunque el comedor es un ambiente de aprendizaje restaurante no culpa cómo el servicio es genial. Los estudiantes y el personal son muy agradables y la comida es maravillosamente presentado. El servicio era excelente rápido. Sin duda visitar de nuevo en mayo para la comida griega y el menú temático italiano. El restaurante es limpio y bien presentado que estoy muy impresionado.

This may be a restaurant where students practice their skills, but they practice them very well indeed!  A group of us had a meal there recently which was worthy of the sort of meal you might expect from one of Chester's finest (at a fraction of the cost!)  Thanks guys: we hope to see you again soon. 

We have dined here a number of times .The food is excellent and always beautifully presented .The prices are very,very reasonable and the staff are pleasant and friendly .An added bonus is seeing the students gaining in experience and confidence .

Don't let the fact that this is a college put you off. Yes the students are training but there is a reason these guys are learning the hospitality and catering industry to better their futures be it level 3 NVQ or HNC/HND, which means the food and service will be quality and guess what it is just that. The food is of an excellent standard as is the service. This was the first time for my partner and I and certainly won't be our last. The price is superb too £14:95 for a 3 course fine dining experience, you can't argue with that. There are themed nights too, we had the Spanish Tapas experience. The chefs did a great job and you can't argue with the portion sizes we were stuffed. It is open for lunches as well which is handy if you wanted a business lunch in the area. It may be open only Tuesday and Thursday's for lunch and Thursday's for dinner but you have to appreciate this is a college and not a profit making business. There are no overheads for the staff, why because their students so tips go towards their training and trips to learn their trade. This is a great way of having great food and supporting local students get on with their future which I'd fully support rather than a chain restaurant which throws food at you and only wants your money. This place really is a hidden gem. Give it a go guys and support this restaurant, because the next budding Marco Pierre White or Dale Degroff might just be cooking/serving you.

Just been to The Dining Room at West Cheshire College for a two course lunch and the food was excellent. The staff were very efficient and helpful and we will definitely be going again - we will try the evening menu next time - well done to all of the staff involved😊.

Just returned from a fab evening at the college - excellent service delicious food and fab company! Thanks very much see you at Christmas x

This was our first Xmas dinner of the season and it was stunningly good! Well done to all the staff - especially those in the kitchen. The food was wonderful, the xmas menu is spot on, the size of portions perfect and were cooked to perfection too. The 'trainer' in the staff area was wonderful with the students, she was very encouraging to them, kept their attention to detail and because of her hard work they all acted as you would expect (but don't often get!) I hope they go on to work locally and we meet them in their place of work when they've finished their studies! Try it if you are local, it knocks the socks of others we've had since, at a similar price.

Having visited the Dining Room many times in small groups and thoroughly enjoyed, we decided to hold our celebration of 100 yrs of the WI at The Dining Room. There were 36 of us, so quite a challenge for the kitchen and waiting on students. They were amazing. The service was extremely professional, I am sure they were all nervous serving such a lot of people all at the same time, but you wouldn't have known it. They were pleasant, friendly, & helpful. The food was amazing the meals were hot, plenty to eat and cooked to perfection. I had the pork loin which was superb, the chocolate desert was spot on not too rich which some chocolate deserts are. Would highly recommend not only for small groups but to book the whole room for a special occasion. The people who helped arrange the event were brilliant making our special event run smoothly and enjoyable for everyone. Thank you to Nicki and Sean.

On recommendation of some friends we decided to give the restaurant a try and booked the Christmas lunch menu. The service was very attentive and polite from the time we arrived. We were immediately shown to our table and the courses were delivered efficiently and with care. The food was well prepared, tasty and presented nicely. It was great to see the young trainees going through their paces and they did it very well. Great value, great experience and nice to support the development of others in the process. Would definitely recommend.

Knowing it was a training environment for students we were not sure what to expect but had heard good things. What a delight - the students were smart, polite and helpful, one or two very minor blips but nothing to detract from the overall quality of the evening. The staff were very attentive and ensured the member of our party who was coeliac was catered for. There were 4 in our party and we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening and all agreed we would definitely visit again.

What a delightful place yes the guys are learning but well managed and realy nice food , the service was very good and it provided a learning experience for the trainees, who all worked very hard to deliver a great experience

Breakfast always good, my Sunday treat since returning home. Great staff always pleasant and good friendly pub with good family dining. Bathrooms extremely clean and that means a lot to me. I recommend Steak Tuesday 14 oz perfect and good value for money!

Revisited a week or so ago after previously a bad experience. Everything was perfect!! See you guys soon and keep up the great work.

Food and service good, not much atmosphere , but lots of nice little touches, some of the staff(students) appeared quite shy and not very confident, but the staff supervising keep a close eye on everything.

This is a restaurant run by Ellesmere Port college for students to gain experience preparing restaurant quality food and providing service to paying members of the public. We booked on their special 'show case' desert evening where we were treated to 4 exceptional quality deserts, each representing the elements - fire, earth, water and air. Each desert demonstrated great imaginative use of colour, texture and flavours to capture each element....and all at a very reasonable price! Well done!

Went here for St. Patrick's Day lunch and all I can do is praise the staff and food. Young trainee staff all learning their trade and doing very well. We were met with a friendly welcome and smile and service was good. The food was equal to any restaurant you would go to and well presented. Wine was reasonably priced and a 3 course lunch cost us £10 each. I would thoroughly recommend this place to anyone and would say to give it a try and be surprised.

We had a really enjoyable meal. The food was of a good quality, both well cooked and presented. Service was of a good standard, especially as all the waiting staff are students learning their trade.Prices are extremely reasonable and we wouldn't hesitate to return.

This is the first time we have been to The Dining Room and we were pleasantly surprised! Food was excellent, the service was very good. I felt a sense of pride for the students who were doing their very best and one was on assessment the night we went.A great way to support your local college and a cheap night out too! We have already booked again for April.

Food was really good, however, the service felt a little awkward. Will maybe return in a few weeks and sample it again.

Students were a credit to their tutors. Polite ,attentive. It would be nice to seem them take more notice of the very discreet and efficient clearing away of plates by the tutor, but they managed to clear quickly and without mishap.The dining tables looked very professional and the room was spacious and atmosphere good.Food was very attractively presented and delicious.Lovely fruit salad. How welcome to have that option for dessert.The coffee very good ( not always so in many restaurants.)Thanks to all.We noted the many themed lunches and dinners on offer over the coming months.Keep up the good work.

I have just had another wonderful meal at The Dining Room. I was in a party of 30 plus. Again, the students were brilliant and polite. The variety of choices were great, the food was well cooked, I don't think there was much waste with our party. Nothing is too much trouble for them. Because of our large party we emailed our choices before hand. Looking forward to returning for one of the themed meals. Thanks again for an enjoyable time

Have visited this restaurant at the college twice, last time for Christmas dinner. The food is extremely good and excellent value for money. The young staff are very conscientious and so polite that it makes dining there a pleasure.

We love this restaurant having been every month of the year and many times each month. Never had a bad meal always enjoyed it. We are looking forward to our visits in 2015.

I was somewhat nervous about booking here as my partner is vegetarian and their website was not particularly enlightening on the subject. But after speaking with them, they couldn't have been more helpful. They emailed the actual menu for the night and were even willing to adapt the vegetarian part if necessary. If only more restaurants could be like this. Evening was great, the students wee a little nervous but did fine and the food was enjoyed by all.

8 of us dined on the Christmas menu which was fantastic! A very tasty 5 course meal, the food was of a high standard and the young staff did a brilliant job. They were very attentive and friendly. A really enjoyable night. Very impressed by the standard of the food and staff. Keep up the good work!

An amazing experience.Having been to many restaurants over the wirral this was one of the best I've been to in a while. The service we received from the students was impeccable no faults could be found in there performance. we had a lovely three course meal based around flambe style service, the student who looked after us and cooked for us was a very confident and knowledgeable level 3. Being a different style that we are used to it was great to see the confidence level of all the students. Being a student run restaurant it is a great experience everyone should attend. The decor of the restaurant fit in amazingly with style of service be received professional and outstanding.

How refreshing to eat in the restaurant waited on by students from The college. The food was delicious, we chose to book on a special evening when the restaurant offered dishes cooked at the table. It was very dramatic! We both thoroughly enjoyed talking to the young people about their experiences and plans for the future. We'll watch the website for more special evenings.

Last evening in recognition of my birthday six of us dined with the fish themed meal, it was excellent as always.Thank you all

A fantastic experience was had at the dinning room at a French themed event. The students served the food eloquently, with a relaxing atmosphere created by some excellent French music. The theme was consistent throughout with, French posters, a lovely menu and themed table decorations. A small venue, used to its full potential.

This was my second visit to the Dining Room and I found the food and the service to be excellent. The students had created a great atmosphere with soft Italian music in the background, candles on the tables, an Italian designed menu which looked very professional. There was even an Italian themed presentation playing on the TV screens to provide a backdrop. The food was great quality and value with three courses for £15 which included a Belini cocktail served on arrival. Overall staff were very confident and friendly. I'll be watching the website for the next list of themed nights and special events. Look forward to returning!

It was a first time experience at The Dining Room for 6 of us celebrating a birthday party. The Staff and atmosphere were first class. The food was excellent with no queuing or waiting. We will most certainly be returning in the near future.

My third visit, this time with my husband, and I'm gradually allowing trusted friends to accompany me because this restaurant is so good that if it becomes too well known I'll never be able to get a table, hence my ambivalence in writing this review. I've eaten at a large range of restaurants and this is unbeatable for value. Understandably there is not a huge choice on the menu but sufficient to cater for all tastes and diets. Given advance warning they will happily accommodate dietary requirements where possible e.g., gluten free, vegetarian. At the prices charged you can take a risk on sampling something you may not have tasted before knowing that it's probably less than you'd pay for a burger and fries at a fast food chain. The menus offer the rare chance to sample 'fine dining' in an unpretentious atmosphere at an affordable price. I've already booked for three more dates including Christmas, totally confident that I'll enjoy dining in this well run restaurant. I wish all involved success in the future. It's an excellent training restaurant, perfect for the students to hone their skills and in my opinion the best restaurant in the area.

14 ladies from the Catenian Association spent a very pleasant evening at the "Dining Room" on Thursday. I can only praise Sean, his staff and students for the wonderful "Fine Dining" experience. The Students were both courteous and professional throughout the evening.Value for money is amazing. As a group we eat at various restaurants on the Wirral but I can honestly say this betters most.The presentation and quality could match any 5 star restuarant.WELL DONE

Have been many times here, and always had an excellent meal. Their lunchtime and early doors menu is excellent value. Dining later in the evening is a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Recently enjoyed an excellent meal in The Dining Room. The summer pudding was the best I have ever had. Delicious! Yes, the waiters are learning on the job but I don't see that as a problem. Can't wait for the new term to start so we can go again.

I can't praise The Dining Room highly enough - it's, quite simply, fantastic! I recently won a competition for a meal (for 2) in a Michelin Star restaurant so, last Sunday, I went for lunch at one such establishment. (This cost £125 - including wine, but excluding tip!!) I can honestly say that the meals I've had in The Dining Room were equally as good, if not better! Apart from the excellent quality of the food and it's superb presentation, the service is friendly and attentive, but not intrusive. The attention to detail for the themed meals is extremely impressive e.g. appropriate floral table decorations, illustrated menus, tastefully folded napkins. As if all this wasn't enough, the prices are fantastic, which makes eating here such good value for money. I only 'discovered' The Dining Room this year and wish I had found it much sooner. The only "downside" for me is that it's not open at weekends (although, of course, I do understand why not). Try it as soon as you can, you WON'T be disappointed!

We have visited The dining Room 3 times now and every meal we have received wonderful service and great foodThe students might be learning but the attention to detail is fabulousThe Restaurant is as you would expect in any fine eatery and doesn't look at all like a collegeThe best night to go is Tuesday when they do a 3 course meal for £10Sometimes they are themed with the Chef choosing the menuWine is under £10 a bottle so a fine night out for a fabulous price

Had a meal here from the 3 course lunch menu.Tomato and Basil soupLamb Rogan Josh with braised riceCreme Brulee with shortbreadAll were very nice, presented excellently and the meals just the right temperature - hot without being too hot to eat.Staff were very attenive, but left us alone to enjoy our food at the same time. Service was very professional.Would recommend.

Right tasty and amazing service. The three courses were really delicious and amazingly well presented, with a complimentary mocktail to finish. The creme brulee was absolutely beautiful, with the nicest shortbread I think I have ever had. Definitely coming back, and thank you very much to the students and the staff for a great lunch. It made my day!

I shared a meal on a Tuesday evening with 5 friends. I let the restaurant know beforehand that I had special dietary needs. The manager said no problem but in my experience in other venues there normally is. What a delight the food was. I was given a choice for each course and it was all delicious. In particular I enjoyed the venison casserole. Portions were plentiful even for the larger appetite. A lovely environment with attentive but not invasive service. I expect to return again and again. Thank you.

I cannot praise the Dining enough, and recommend to everyone to go and try it for yourself.It is a gem of a restaurant which very is much needed in Ellesmere Port. The lunchtime and evening menus are comprehensive and very good value( look out for the "special offers") and the Theme Nights are great. All the staff are friendly and helpful. It is hard to believe it is a training college. All credit to Suzanne and Sean.

This was my third visit to the Dining Room in a few days.This should really speak for it's self.The entrance is bright and up to date,These young people are being well trained indeed.The Menu is splendid.The cooking is same.We could not find one fault.Sean Kearns in charge is getting the job done properly.So Well Done Everyone there.See you again soon. Jean Wright (Parkgate)

There are two good reasons for visiting the Dining Room – firstly it’s the best value you will ever find for good food and secondly it’s a training restaurant so you are investing in the future of all restaurants which is good for all of us who like to eat out. This restaurant is not like other training restaurants – much more business-like including opening times. You can visit the college website (west Cheshire College) to see menus and future special evenings) and it has its own blog (wcc/the dining room – where you can get recipes and a Facebook page (the Dining Room at West Cheshire College) to find out more. It’s worth booking in advance as it is often full (especially for the special menus). The lunch menu I would describe as posh pub food on the whole, but occasionally there are specials like the buffets and carveries which are truly outstanding value and themes – I went to a recent Chinese lunch which could not be faulted for quantity nor quality. The evenings are more like fine dining with excellent menus and some truly special evenings especially those themed around ‘occasions’ such as Burns night or St Patricks Day. I have eaten here for Xmas since it opened (two years ago?) and they have been exceptional – especially as these are the things restaurants often do badly. These special menus are such good value it’s outrageous. The wine list is good for such a small place (I think around 35 to 40 covers) with the house wines being of very good quality and there is a bar. Service is very good because it is over staffed as it’s a training establishment and although you have to put up with a few whispered tips from those who run the restaurant to those who are learning the trade it’s well worth it. In the kitchen everything has to be perfect before it comes out due to the training going on. This seems to be one of those places where if you are in the know you go again and again but is not well known by others. Where else in this neighbourhood could you get a lovely pan fried rib eye steak with a Diane sauce, fondant potato and wilted greens for eight quid? What’s stopping you giving it a try?