sō-lō Restaurant — Restaurant in West Lancashire

Absolutely FAULTLESS.

I visited Solo yesterday for their Sunday lunch tasting menu and left on a warm and fluffy cloud of euphoria after an utterly delightful experience.

I naturally had fairly high expectations given the restaurant’s Michelin star – but there are always concerns with Michelin places, will it be stuffy, will the service be a bit full on and intrusive, the portions too small, the food too fiddly? Also, as it was the Sunday lunch service, can a Michelin star place really differentiate itself from a decent gastropub at this time v an intricate evening tasting menu for example? The answer to that question is: YES IT MOST CERTAINLY CAN!

The venue has a lovely ambience - lots of natural light but with what I would describe as warm and homely style décor. Classy but comfy and inviting and it was nice and toasty there on a cold, damp and windy day outside. Perfect. Also, the nicely cushioned seating was appreciated.

The staff and service – exactly as I would have wanted it to be – warm, friendly, relaxed, professional, attentive, passionate about food. Very much on top of their brief and efficient but engaging and authentic people that made me feel at home. Also, they were close to hand when I needed something but not constantly coming to the table which is a bit of a pet peeve. Spot on.

You would expect the bread to be solid, maybe a nice sourdough or what not but wow, I had never had bread like this before – it was a very light and fluffy focaccia type thingy with crispy outside crusted in some sort of malted poppy seed thing – sweet and savoury and buttery. Glorious.

I expected that the Sunday lunch tasting menu would be a selection of quite small dishes like any other tasting menu and that there would be a question mark over how filling it would be but no, this was an absolute feast! A lovely fresh and zingy fish starter (trout, lime, dill etc), a beautiful caramelised pork belly type dish which was melt in the mouth but various other taste surprises popping up like truffle and celeriac - and a properly massive main of pink beef (there was also a slow-cooked shortrib type thingy underneath), roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, carrot and the Brussel sprout had this amazing filling of something I’m not really able to describe. But it was a very welcome surprise. I didn’t think I would eat all of the potatoes but I took my time and aided by a generous portion of gravy managed to work my way through them to completion. Heaven. The dessert was a vanilla cheesecake which sounds pretty stock but it was nothing of the sort and there were lots of unexpected textures and flavours – a perfect portion size too which didn’t floor me before the 5 hour drive back to London.

I wasn’t drinking as I no longer drink but there was a delicious selection of non-alcoholic cocktails which I very much enjoyed. The espresso martino and cosmopolitan were highlights.

I live in London but I like to take trips up North fairly regularly to go on hiking trips to the Lake District, Scotland etc. I will happily take a lengthy detour on future trips to visit Solo. And the next time we are in Southport on a golf tour, I will happily drive us the 25 mins inland for a meal here. Exceptional.

Last point: I can't believe how inexpensive it was compared to other Michelin places...

Rebuffed from nearby Moor Hall for daring to book a table of eight for my 60th birthday, Solo welcomed us with open arms.

We had an early slot, so on arrival it required a knock on the door to what felt like a homely country pub, more informal than some fine dining restaurants but suited the occasion.

Family gathered, and from a comprehensive drinks menu; pre dinner drinks ordered, we perused the six course taster menu which on casual inspection appeared all fish, although the more informed amongst us promised meat eaters that the mystery hogget was in fact young lamb and not an ocean dweller.

Seated at our table, the maitre d' doubled as the sommelier to introduce a lively glass of champagne which accompanied the first course. A perfectly cooked scallop paired with a cube of black pork bursting with flavour which was a welcome surprise having passed unnoticed at the earlier menu reading.

Scottish Turbot followed, topped with a contrasting nori tapioca crumb, perfectly carved mini potatoes, girolles and a roe butter sauce which brought the dish together, although a splash more would have helped.

The next course promised native lobster and it was difficult to dispel the unappetising image of fisherman on the Mersey, however, the lobster triumphed which was matched with a hint of strawberry, tomato and crunchy peas. The rose wine was also a splendid bedfellow.

A big red wine arrived to accompany the mystery hogget which presented two ways didn't fail to dissappoint the meat lovers amongst us, although slightly let down as the course was not as hot as earlier dishes and perhaps the eight covers was stretching the kitchen, particularly as other guests had now arrived.

An overly long break finally ended with the arrival of a vibrant strawberry dessert nestled next to a home made biscuit and boldy blended with a hint of rose, perhaps not for everyone.

The final course, a delightfully light aerated honey moose perched on a baked pink lady apple, curiously joined with a superfluous bowl of bramley apple sticks but well matched with a creamy Hungarian dessert wine.

Another long wait for the coffees which perhaps we should have forgone as they were tepid at best and if served in a thimble the espresso would still not have spilt.

Overall the food was delicious with a clearly talented chef, although with the restaurant full, service dipped and a lack of waiters was apparent, slightly taking the...

This was our second visit to the beautiful restaurant but sadly we will not be visiting again. When my partner said he had booked our second visit for valentine's evening my first thought was oh no! to the waiting around between courses and the lack of staff to attend service. But hey let's try again with an open mind. (I kept my thoughts to myself) as the food was excellent.

So let's try again. We arrived early and after a warm welcome we sat at the bar for pre dinner drinks. Once sat and initially served there were no staff behind the bar so my partner was unable to order the water we forgot to order and another glass of champagne. We waited to be seated. The food was fantastic and the 4 course valentine's menu at £98 pp was running smoothly until the restaurant got busy and the delays started. The wait for dessert was far to long. We had run out of drinks and so I asked to be seated back in the lounge bar (hopeing to get service) however no staff were attending and therefore we were still unable to order a coffee/drink until sat waiting ridiculously. We left eventually as everything was taking so long it ruined our evening.

Although the food was excellent the lack of service completely ruined our evening. The billed was approx £350 of which £200 was for the 4 course taster and the rest on 2 x wine flights coffee and pre dinner drinks. The wine flight was dull and we were told there was no cheese available to order.

Again I/we left completely deflated and fed up due to all the waiting around. We eat out regularly and sadly this is something we have only experienced at Solo. Not a feeling we should have in a fine dining restaurant of this quality.

Please...