Marmalade — Restaurant in England

What can I say about Marmalade? Certainly there's not enough space here to convey the fullness of my esteem for this tiny but perfectly executed little brasserie.

Sheltering under the protective wing of Chester's ancient walls, Marmalade boasts a modest menu that carefully conceals its power level. "Paninis?" you think, fearing you've fallen into some sort of mid-noughties time warp. Quickly you realise your mistake; no chain store ham and cardboard burnt offerings here, instead well chosen bread meets a variety of quality fillings to create something a cut above the rest. My partner loved her pesto, mozzarella and tomato one, and it was easy to see why.

Their traditional sandwich offerings are similarly deceptive; one could be forgiven for wondering what the hell they've gotten themselves into when they see the likes of Coronation chicken on the menu. But seriously. Like. What the heck. This Coronation chicken is less like the Coronation of a queen and more like the ordination of a God. Freshly made, accompanied by a sweet and savory mango chutney, served on your choice of bread and thick as a brick. As far as sandwiches go, I challenge you to find anything that comes near it anywhere. Incidentally, they also do Coronation tofu, if you're vegan (which I hear is similarly stellar) and gluten free breads if you struggle with food allergies.

If you're not stopping by for lunch, you have to pause for coffee and a cake. Words don't do them justice - I hope the pictures will suffice! Strawberry cheesecake & gluten free banana & peanut...

Came here for a late lunch on one of my day trips to Chester. It's a busy little café right in the historic centre, just a couple of minutes walk from the market and cathedral. Dog friendly. The place was packed when I arrived but I managed to get a table upstairs. Nice friendly ambience, homely decor and plenty of seating. Upstairs toilets. A really nice touch was the display of small ornaments, mugs and homely gifts for sale. The waitresses were really courteous and friendly despite being so busy and the café was very clean. There was a choice of three soups as well as a wide selection of sandwiches, jacket potatoes and healthy salads. Opted for the coronation chicken sandwich made with thick slices of granary bread, served with a crispy salad and a tasty homemade coleslaw. It was all very fresh and the sandwich was so well filled I needed a knife and fork to eat it. The pot of tea was piping hot. Would have loved to try one of the cakes but I was too full! The lunch cost that little bit more than average but it was worth it for the excellent quality....

We visited Marmalade today as I was recommended during a Coeliac group appointment. As someone who's newly diagnosed, I was extremely excited to try out this place as I was told everything on the menu can be done as a gluten free option! Upon arrival it was cosy and full, I was approached by a lovely lady, I can't quite remember her name. She explained that there was no availability to eat in due to how busy it was, I asked if eating out was an option, explained that I was newly diagnosed and extremely excited to try some of their gluten free food. She asked if we would only need an hour and pushed some tables together to accommodate us! I was even more excited now! So much to choose from on the menu! I went with an item from the Christmas menu, a turkey sandwich and my friend and hubby both got a cheese cake each and we all just shared. It was nice having that freedom to do some as someone recently diagnosed with Coeliac disease. I will certainly be returning. The food was absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for your experience today! You really did...