Shrub - Chester

Holly

Let’s talk about Shrub, baby!

As it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Chester, I felt it was about time I did a review. I go to Shrub every Sunday to round off the week. Their food is absolutely delicious and the staff are so friendly. I’m not even vegan and it’s the best roast I’ve ever had. The (hot) matcha is also the best matcha I’ve ever had. Amazing on a cold day. Considering all the things that give Shrub character such as the location in Chester (expensive) unique vegan food (expensive) a heated outdoor seating area in the very centre of the city on the historical Chester rows with a view of the high street (extortionate) you would be surprised at how reasonable the prices are. Especially as you can mix and match with small plates- which is also perfect for people who want to try something new. I love it here. Go to Shrub. In the meantime, please enjoy my selection of Shrub meals over the past few months

Cazz

Absolutely fantastic. We stumbled upon this place by accident and didn't appreciate how good this would be until we were enjoying our food. The service was brilliant... The waiter recommended dishes to us and served us quickly (not too quickly) and was a good laugh too. We had a few mezze dishes between us and massive compliments to the chef, everything tasted incredible! My personal fave were the frickles. We had such a good time - we will be back and will bring friends! Thanks for a great meal. 5 stars all round. 🌟

Trish J.

We were thrilled to be celebrating our friends' wedding at Shrub, our first but not our last visit. The staff were friendly, patient, and helpful. The food was exceptional, every dish beautifully crafted with an explosion of flavour! A spotless venue with a relaxed atmosphere. Can you tell I loved it, and I wasn't even drunk! Thank you guys, see you again soon.

Miss J.

Had an amazing experience at Shrub today! The food was incredibly tasty, well presented and satisfying. The staff were friendly, helpful and always smiling. Despite Shrub being in the centre of Chester, the atmosphere wasn't overly crowded which made for a pleasant ambience, especially helpful on a first date! Couldn't have been a better experience, I hope to return soon.

Abbie B.

We were impressed by Shrub's offerings at Vegan Camp Out 2024 (particularly the szechuan fries!), so when we decided to get away for a few nights in Chester, visiting their restaurant was at the top of our list.

Firstly, we weren't prepared for how gorgeous the restaurant is. As if being located in The Rows wasn't beautiful enough, the decor and atmosphere were stunning, and they even had a cosy outdoor balcony area. I bet that would be lush on a summer evening!

We were absolutely spoiled for choice and struggled to whittle down what we wanted to order. I had the teriyaki tofu, artichoke wings, and delicata squash, and my partner had the "lamb" ragu and the szechuan fries. However, we had a little nibble of each other's food.

Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection! We decided we needed to come back and try more of the menu before our time in Chester was over. So we went again the following day!

This time, we shared the pumpkin tortellini (not pictured), tenderstem broccoli (not pictured), brussels sprouts, baby carrots, and potato terrine.

My partner and I were firm haters of sprouts in ALL forms, but we both thought they were one of the best dishes we had eaten over the last 2 days. My partner also isn't a fan of tofu usually, but that was also one of his favourites.

What I love about Shrub is their quality of ingredients and creativity. I love that they make veggies fun and the main event without the need for every dish having a protein/meat alternative, which is why it's no surprise that even non-vegans enjoy eating here so much.

The staff are all so lovely! On our first night, we were served by Eloise and Tim, who were both super sweet and welcoming. I am gutted that we didn't get the names of the people on our second night as they were fantastic, too. But the people working at 7.30pm on Wednesday 11th December 2024 deserve a shout-out too ❤️

Hopefully, we'll get to come back someday!

Angus C.

My 2nd visit to this restaurant and it was as great as the 1st time. The menu had changed, not only in the meals offered but also a move away from large plate meals to small plates that are great for sharing. Small plates conjures up thoughts of Spanish tapas, but the meals offered at Shrub are very different with the exception of padron peppers! Each plate was an explosion of flavour. Each one was novel, mixing hints of oriental with asian flavour with tender cooked veg. We picked two 'starter' dishes and four 'main' plates with a shared dessert dish. This was more than plenty to fill us up. Each plate was shared between us and equally enjoyed. The staff are super friendly and will go out of there way to answer any queries / questions or just have a chat. The ambiance was buzzing, warm and welcoming, which was great when the weather outside was horrible. We also had two of the house beers (lager & IPA) which were also nice. Can't wait to return and try some of the other plates.

Natasha G.

One of the best meals I've had in a really long time! The menu options are thoughtful and creative - I've never had anything like the artichoke wings, such a clever idea and so well done. Service is brilliant and it has a nice, laid back atmosphere. Portions are a good size and I think the prices are really reasonable for the quality of the food. Will 100% be back!

Jessica W.

Brilliant food! I cannot eat gluten and they had so many options! The staff were just perfect!! An amazing place to eat! The food was stunning!