With top TripAdvisor reviews it’s no wonder this is one of Warrington’s top eateries

IF you want to indulge and eat in comfort and class look no further than Spirit.

It is no wonder the restaurant in Latchford is one of Warrington’s top rated places to eat on TripAdvisor because I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my visit.

Hidden away in Victoria Park, the white Georgian house and former maternity home is not the easiest place to find in the town.

But you will be glad when you push past the imposing double doors because you will find a warm welcome from proprietor Parag Bhatnagar and his team.

The first thing that struck me was how pristine the historical building is. Considering it has been converted it seemed incredibly fit for purpose.

We first made our way into the bar to relax with drinks and snacks while we looked over the contemporary British menu.

Mood lighting and gentle music put us at ease.

The dining area was just as comfortable and staff were friendly and attentive while at the same time giving us plenty of time and space to enjoy our meals in peace.

I started with the smoked haddock risotto with leeks and Welsh rarebit cheese glaze.

It was spot on – perfectly cooked with a burst of flavours which complemented each other and gave a warming sensation.

I followed that with the roast gressingham duck breast and leg with baked celeriac, peas, shallots and bacon.

There was a great contrast between the tender breast and crispy leg but the dish as a whole was hearty and the bacon gave it a delicious finishing touch.

Make room for dessert because if mine was anything to go by it is well worth the extra strain around the belt.

The sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream was wicked but divine.

My partner, a vegetarian, thought the meat-free options were delicious.

And although there is usually just one vegetarian main on the menu she felt it was certainly not an after-thought as is often the case in other restaurants.

My partner had the warm salad of beetroot, Nannykins goats cheese, fennel and orange to start followed by butternut squash penang curry, lime leaf rice, roasted peanuts and sugarsnap peas.

She said both were bursting with flavour and she opted for a simple dessert combining Cointreau, espresso and ice cream which was the perfect finish.

The good thing about Spirit is that head chef Richard Barlow’s menu encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new and you will be glad you did.

A lot of attention also goes into the modern presentation.

The only thing that Spirit lacks is a good location and the restaurant relies on word of mouth recommendations so count this as mine.

Spirit offers one of the best fine dining experiences in Warrington and possibly the north west.

DAVID MORGAN