Rhubarb, Blackburn

Phone number: 0871 9614173.

Lancashire Telegraph review by Jemma Dobson from March 21, 2009

IT’S hardly in the best part of town at the moment, what with all the construction work in Church Street.

But let’s not forget about Rhubarb, which I think has notably improved beyond its already satisfactory standard in recent months.

Last year the Information Shop to the front of the building underwent a refit and now it’s more like an exhibition gallery than a tourist information point, making it all the more appealing to dine in.

With art work, hand-made crafts and a section for unusual recycled gifts, you can have a little shop while you wait for your food. Which, by the way, used to be my only complaint about Rhubarb.

There was a time when we would avoid eating there because of the wait you faced as the staff struggled to cope with the lunchtime rush.

But it seems now they have the service well under control.

They are eager to take your order as soon as you sit down.

When our food arrived, which didn’t take long at all, it was the nicest meal I’ve had there.

I went for a blackened cajun chicken wrap, which was delicious.

It came with their trademark balsamic drizzle, which really adds that something special to their dishes.

What really struck me about Rhubarb was the presentation.

It may be no more than a cafe, but the reality is that it portrays itself as so much more.

It’s all in the detail, as they say, and here you’ll see every meal served to a restaurant standard with an accompanying side salad, perfectly arranged on the plate.

Every hot drink — the choice of which is ample — comes with a sprinkle of chocolate on top, made into the shape of a star.

It’s the finer points that separate the good from the great and Rhubarb has these down to a fine art.

Lancashire Telegraph review by John Anson from November 10, 2008

I HADN’T visited Rhubarb for quite some time and thought it was worthy of a look.

For those who don’t come to Blackburn very often and are wondering where Rhubarb is, you’ll find it at the rear of the recently revamped visitor centre.

It’s a shame that the weather’s turning against us for there’s also a rear courtyard which is one of the town’s great secluded spots.

Inside you’ve got a choice of very squashy sofas (a word of advice, don’t sit here if you’re tackling anything substantial food-wise as you’re quite likely to slop it all over your shirt. I know this from personal experience!) and tables and chairs.

The menu is in the main soup, sandwiches and wraps area, but with a twist.

And you will find an interesting range of specials too.

You might think that there are a number of cafes which offer a similar range, and this is true, but it’s what you get on the plate which is the true test, not what the description is on the menu.

And this is where Rhubarb scores quite highly in my view.

For a start it actually offers interesting sandwiches.

I chose a warm sandwich of bacon, brie and cranberry on granary bread.

When it arrived there was a colourful and tasty garnish, not just a few limp lettuce leaves, and the sandwich itself had plenty of filling which worked very well together.

My companion ordered a jacket potato with tuna and sweetcorn — again pretty standard fare, but the portion size was very generous and again the “trimming” made it look as though it was a dish that had been carefully prepared rather than just slapped on a plate.

There’s a good selection of teas and coffees available and they’re not overpriced either. Our lunch with drinks was around £12.

And there’s a final bonus. You walk out through the visitor centre’s exhibition space so the chances are you’ll not only have a decent meal but you might find an unusual Christmas gift along the way.

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