It is a basement establishment and easily missed despite the large frontage. We visited at half past one on a Saturday afternoon when there was one other table occupied. By the time that we left, eleven tables had filled up.
There is a bar area on the left on entering and the restaurant is further on in an L-shape around the open kitchen area where the kitchen staff can be clearly seen.
A lot of money has been invested by the owners, Heathcote’s who have a very high reputation in the North West and there are three other bar/restaurants of this name, in Manchester, Preston and Warrington.
As can be expected from this Group, the menu is imaginative and the food attractive and delicious. My wife ordered a cheese-free pizza with tomato, tuna and spinach, with an egg, and she got exactly what she ordered (the photo hardly does it justice). My daughter ordered spaghetti bolognaise, which like all the pastas, is priced as a starter and a main course. This is a useful touch when you have children, not all of whom want the children’s menu offered here.
I have started ordering beef sandwich in every restaurant at lunchtimes as it provides a useful yardstick with which to judge the standards.
The best I have had (9/10, to leave room for an impossibly better one) was at the London Carriage Works, flavoured with horseradish, and with chips provided.
This was 7/10, still excellent but let down by slightly dry bread, lack of horseradish, and I was not asked how I would like it cooked. The chips were ordered separately and were hand cut, in a hot bowl, garnishes with deep-fried olive crumbs.
A return visit two weeks later was just as good.
All in all The Olive Press is an excellent restaurant
