The restaurant scene in Blackpool historically has been pretty limited but has improved dramatically and the town now boasts some seriously good restaurants. In this BLOG we’re calling out our ‘go to’ Blackpool restaurants for some seriously damn good scran!! ….so if you don’t fancy Fish and Chips along the prom, why not try out one of the restaurants below and let us know what you think.
Ambrosinis.
Web: Ambrosinis
Address: 19 Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool FY4 1SN.
Telephone: 01253 298807
Located just by the southern border of Blackpool and St Annes, Ambrosinis is a bit of a ‘hidden gem’ in the town. Independently owned and born of passion, the small intimate venue only provides a few covers (18 – 20) but that does in turn result in excellent quality food being produced as items are cooked fresh and served piping hot.
An Italian with an extensive menu of steaks, pizzas, pasta, fish and one of our personal favourite, risotto, the venue also prides itself on it’s generous Sunday dinners which are a big hit locally.
Particularly reasonable drinks prices for a restaurant, similar to pub prices so you can make a night of it without ‘pre-loading’ in one of the local chain pub to save the pennies 🙂
Located close to the start of the illuminations it’s an ideal venue to visit before or after a trip down the lights, else if you follow our advice in one of our earlier BLOGS on doing a ‘beach day‘ and spend a day sliding down the Sandhills at Starr Gate, it’s a great place to grab a decent meal to recharge before heading home after a full day sunning and running on the sand!
The Eating Inn.
Web: The Eating Inn
Address: 463 Promenade, South Shore, Blackpool FY4 1AR
Phone: 01253 342910
The Eating Inn gets non-stop rave reviews from locals and tourists alike. Located on the promenade, just near Mc Donalds (there may be a conflict between the kids idea of dinner and parents at this point 😉 the premises was originally built as a fisherman’s cottage over 200 years ago, this building had many uses until its purchase by Michael Shorrock in 1980 when ‘The Eating Inn’ was born.
Now in the hands of his son Ben Shorrock, it remains today a family-run restaurant with many of the dishes on the menu being home made on the premises and serving only prime British beef which are arguably, the best steaks in town (they’re certainly up there with the best we’ve had!!).
Other items on the menu which are all also very highly rated, include chicken, fish, ribs and pasta…. so there’s bound to be something even the fussiest of eater will enjoy.
The venue has an outdoor covered area which is a fab spot to take in the sea air and the sights and sounds of the promenade, on a warm evening, close your eyes and you could be ‘living it large’ in the Med rather than down Blackpool prom!!
Booking is highly recommended, the venue has built up it’s reputation over the years with many loyal returning customers.
Wok Inn
Web: Wok Inn
Address: 118 Promenade. Blackpool. FY1 1RA
Phone: 01253 627268
Up there as one of our favourites for a relaxed vibe / chilled night out is Wok Inn. The venue is located on the promenade, just across the road from North Pier, and for those who don’t know Blackpool too well, very close to Queens Street (the heart of Blackpool centre night life).
The venue is one of the coolest restaurants in Blackpool and is incredibly popular with a loyal following. The decor ties in with the street market style menu; specialising in noodle and rice dishes which take cues from around Asia. Watch the sun set over the sea with a bowl of delicious noodles and a cold beer, beautiful.
Ramen & donburi are served along with street food inspired fare at this eclectic Asian restaurant. The food comes fresh and quick so the venue is ideal for those that want a quick eat before heading out on the town, but the venue is relaxed and comfortable enough for those that want to stay for a while longer to sample more of the delights on offer.
Some ‘interesting’ artefacts can be found in the Wok Inn….. let us know what you find 🙂
The Bank.
Web: The Bank.
Address: 28 Corporation Street, Blackpool. FY1 1EJ
Phone: 01253 751555
Located slap bang in the middle of the town centre on Corporation Street (Just behind the town hall for those that aren’t as familiar with street names), founded in 2008….as the name would suggest, in an ex-bank premises, The Bank….err… restaurant, whilst a relative new comer to the Blackpool restaurant scene, is fast emerging as a favourite for locals with some rave reviews about the service and quality of food plus the ambient nature of the restaurant itself.
Offering a brunch menu for the days when it opens midday and an extensive main menu for the evening diners, The Bank offers internationally inspired dishes with British classics such as fish and chips (well, it is Blackpool so it would be rude not to) as well as a touch of Italian with bruschetta, pizza and pasta alongside American influence in the form of fluffy pancakes and burgers…… something to tantalise even the most picky of taste buds.
The food quality is excellent, it’s not the cheapest in town by any shot but the premises are spacious and classy, you don’t feel like they’ve crammed in as many tables as they could get away with in The Bank to maximise the days takings, and you certainly don’t feel pressured to rush between courses as the service is efficient and exceedingly professional (without knowing we were writing this, the manager came over to ask how everything was last time we visited… hopefully we’ll get a discount next time 😉
Due to it’s popularity, getting a reservation may be a challenge in its own right, being located within a hop from the Grand Theatre and Winter Gardens, the restaurant is often booked well in advance by show goers (…….. book early to secure you ideal time slot we’d suggest!).
Michael Wans Mandarin.
Address: 27 Clifton Street, Blackpool, Lancashire. FY1 1JD
Phone: 01253 622687
Last but by no means least, if you fancy a Chinese, you can’t go wrong with Mandarin on Clifton Street.
Located in the town centre, close to Talbot Square and the Winter Gardens, the Mandarin is probably the most famous Chinese in town and can often be found hosting celebs visiting to perform at one of the many entertainment venues in town. Rave reviews from far and wide.
The restaurant has tasteful decor and it has an extremely relaxed vibe about it. The staff are attentive and efficient even at the busiest of times. As with most places in the town centre, the venue gets particularly busy when there’s a popular show on at the Winter Gardens or Grand Theatre so as you’d expect, booking well in advance is more than advisable.
The venue offers a range of menus, from your typical Chinese main menu, Manderin also offers a dedicated vegan menu, a gluten free menu and a kids menu which represents excellent value at only £5.90.
Drinks wise, the range is pretty decent and the prices are pretty reasonable for the town centre, be it a Cocktail for £8.00, medium wine from £4.80 or a pint of lager (Becks Vier) for £4.20, the prices won’t break the bank…. though we’d personally suggest if you want a ‘cheap’ drink or two before or after the meal, head over to Hogarths across the road for some of the best prices in town!
So these are some of our favourite restaurants in Blackpool, which have we missed that you love? Heading to Blackpool with the family? Take a look at our BLOG where we call out some of our favourite family restaurants.
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A couple here I have not tried. Sound amazing. So much to choose from in Blackpool. Great blog Insider Blackpool.