I ordered a half bottle of claret which I sank quickly with unpolished gusto and cleared up the rest of the steak.
Dessert by this time was a must. The demons of the troubled long wait and wobbly table had been exorcised and when Mark thumped the table triumphantly as he swallowed a portion of banoffie pie I realised there had been moments of communion with food.
I sipped away at my Irish coffee which was well balanced with a winning scoop of cream - it is an art making good Irish coffee and I purred contentedly over mine.
It was a little before midnight when we stepped again into the freezing fog. We had certainly dined well - a gastranomic encore to a warming winter's cultural flirtation with Chester.
Chez Jules is indeed an established bistro in Chester, well thought of and an important anchor to the city's flourishing restaurant scene. Lively with fine food, I was pleased that on a busy weekend, with a bustling squadron of tables to attend, the quality of the cuisine overcame all qualms of the stretched service. The price most reassuringly was value for money. Four old friends marched home on settled stomachs and jovial minds for a little over £80.
* Mains: Chargrilled ribeye steak £10.90; Confit of duck's leg £10.50; Grilled salmon fillet £9.50; Grilled sea bass £10.90.
* Best thing: Lively with fine food.
* Worst thing: The wait.
* Would suit: Anyone who enjoys fine French fare.
Your comments on Chez Jules
Do you agree with our review? Have you eaten at Chez Jules? Let us know about your meal as well as any other comments. All postings will be considered for publication in the Chester Chronicle if you include your name and address.
It remains the best place for ladies (or anyone else) to lunch: concise and interesting menu, cheerful service (not always the quickest) and buzzy atmosphere.. and at a very reasonable price! Long may it continue. We would prefer to be able to book tables even if there are less than eight of us, but can see it makes for a quicker turnover...
My wife and I have eaten at Chez Jules on many occasions since it opened. When it was new it was excellent, with a different menu each day depending on what they bought. Then for a few years, spoiled by it's own success it became lacklustre. However recently it has come back on form with excellent food and remarkable service given the number of covers and the small kitchen. As there's no need to book we often use it for those last minute outings and it never disappoints, as well as being very reasonable.
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