Address: Tockholes Road, Tockholes, BB3 0PA.

Phone number: 01254 705373.

The Bolton News review by Gayle McBain from September 24, 2009.

WE have the distinct advantage of living close to The Royal Arms in Tockholes, but this is a restaurant well worth a drive .

Having been regular diners for a number of years — even before moving to Abbey Village — we were looking forward to our Friday night out with son, Jamie.

This is a restaurant within a pub and it certainly does not dish out typical pub grub.

The meals are just that little bit special and with the menu changing regularly you can be sure of a variety of things to choose from.

My only (very minor) complaint was that there was no vegetarian option on the menu.

But a word with the waitress, who in turn spoke with the very amiable chef, and I had several very tempting dishes to choose from.

Perhaps it would be worth adding a line to the menu mentioning that veggies only need to ask and a dish will be prepared for them.

Starters were not a problem as there were several non-meat options, including Greek salad (£3.75), creamy garlic mushrooms (£3.95) and home-made minestrone soup (£3).

I picked the mushrooms — they came in a delicious white wine, garlic and cream sauce and complete with bread for dipping — and was pleased with my choice.

Jamie had garlic bread (£3.10) and my husband chose Ardennes pate and toast (£3.95).

Having polished off our starters we looked forward to the main courses.

I had agreed upon a frittata — Italian omelette — filled with fresh vegetables, including my favourite, asparagus, vegetables, chips and salad (£6.95).

Anyone who has been to The Royal can vouch for the perfection of the chips — they are heavenly and so an obligatory addition to any meal.

Jamie chose jumbo pasta shells with spicy meatballs (£6.95) and tucked into a separate portion of chips, while my husband had the Greek-style shoulder of lamb braised in red wine, Greek spices, onions, tomatoes and butter beans (£7.95).

He also managed some chips with his meal. Well it would be rude not to, wouldn’t it?

By the time we reached the sweet course, my husband had declared himself fit to burst.

Although I hadn’t managed to eat all my meal as there was just so much of it, I was able, after a short break, to enjoy strawberries and cream.

Jamie, who I am sure has hollow legs decided the hot chocolate fudge cake and ice cream was too tempting to refuse.

All desserts are priced at £4.25 and my husband had a coffee.

We had drinks from the bar, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic and the final bill came to just under £50, which represents great value for money considering the superb quality of the food.

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