When I think of windmills I think of the UK countryside on a cool summer's afternoon.
So when I entered the beautiful looking Harvest Mouse on Pensby Road in Heswall for a late lunch, I was a little surprised by the menu. Inside the Greene King-run pub, was a very American diner style menu, with parts labeled 'burger joint', 'flamin' grill' and 'chick 'n' mix'.
The exterior of the building is unique and inside looks like a traditional, cosy public house (although with the obvious stamp of a chain, which I am not snobby about). And it still looks good after its revamp in November 2016.
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But that made me feel like I was going to be treated to some pub classics and not the US-inspired fare on offer. From stacked burgers and ribeye steaks to flatbread and chicken wings, there really is a feast of comfort food on offer.
There is a pub classics section, which is what swayed me towards the steak and ale pie with mash, peas and gravy (priced at £9.49), while my husband was enticed by the Southern fried chicken burger which comes with fries and onion rings (priced at £8.79). They have a nice kids' menu with the option for smaller plates. I love places that cater for younger children like this, because a three-year-old and a nine-year-old have different appetites - and my three-year-old went with the solid choice - chicken nuggets (small plate price at an incredible £2.99).
The service was lovely, friendly and accommodating and when we went it was quiet, so there was a really relaxed atmosphere, which was welcomed in the humidity we have been having recently. While we waited for our food to arrive, we chatted at a table by the door to the beer garden which was filled with colourful pansies as little streams of sunlight peeked through the clouds.
Food arrived promptly and hot. All well presented and I immediately cut into my steak pie, which was delicious with loads of sauce and good sized chunks of meat that were so soft you could cut with a spoon. I will say the gravy was perhaps just a tad too salty and the mash may have sat under the heat for a touch too long. My husband's burger was, according to him, a good quality burger and not dry at all, which is a worry with chicken.
My little one devoured his chicken nuggets and mash and even stole some onion rings and chips off his dad's plate, but that is not a reflection on the portion size, for £2.99 I was impressed. This is good pub grub.
And it is at a great price too. When eating out has really become a luxury, this was lovely experience that didn't break the bank and I would recommend if you are looking for somewhere that does this type of pub food companies like Greene King have become known for.
But, I still came away thinking the menu was just too American for a windmill in Wirral.
The Harvest Mouse is at 164 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 7RQ
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