Nestled in Uppermill on the outskirts of Oldham, Muse is the latest restaurant and bar to add flair to this rather picturesque Saddleworth village.
Spread over several stone buildings and a glass canopy covered area, Muse – opened by ex Hollyoaks hunk Rob Norbury – offers a vibrant restaurant feel in what I expect would normally be a sleepy village. However if the sun is shining the village is a hive of activity and the restaurant courtyard is a fantastic area to enjoy a cold beverage and sample the culinary delights on offer!
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What we ate:
Duck Hoi Sin Flatbread with spring onion, cucumber and cheese – £6.50 I had read that this was a must have when visiting and I was not disappointed. The crispiness of the flatbread made every bite even more divine, with a fusion of flavours complementing the duck perfectly. Sometimes duck can be tough to chew, but this was perfectly cooked and I could quite happily have eaten another!
Muse Restaurant Sunday Roast – £14 It was a toss up between Southern Fried Chicken or a Sunday roast, which on the day the meat on offer was Beef. No contest really! The funky plate featured two very thickly cut slices of succulent beef, roasties, carrots and swede, fine beans, cauliflower, mash, gravy and the all important Yorkshire Pudding and was hoovered up within minutes. It was a seriously hearty roast and just what was needed. The beef was tender and there was a good amount on the plate which is always appreciated. The Yorkie was crispy and full of flavour… I was lucky enough to hang on to mine long enough to eat it!
Cheeseburger from the Children’s Menu – £4.95 I was seriously impressed by the size of the burger, for the money this was a very reasonably priced children’s meal… but my bugbear springs up again… it would have been nice to see some salad on the plate. Though this not detract away from the fact that Mini Me thoroughly enjoyed every bite of her cheeseburger, served on a toasted brioche bun. The extra Yorkshire Pudding was due to the fact I knew mine would have disappeared very quickly otherwise! Crafty parenting!
Macaroons – A sample of 6 homemade macaroons – £6 I simply could not resist! Despite feeling utterly sated by the starter and main course, it would have been rude not to indulge – fortunately I was able to bring the macaroons home with me for late night munchies. The macaroons were divine and melted in the mouth after the initial bite with lots of flavour. They always remind me of being on holiday and are the perfect complement for a large meal!
Strawberry and Chantilly Cream Donuts – £6 Mini Me naturally plumped for the exciting dessert, although I did think she would opt for the Banana Split, but she surprised me! Wonderfully presented and perfect for children with 5 mini, soft strawberry filled donuts in a super cute bag which made its way home with us too!
I’m not going to lie to you, parking in the village is a nightmare, especially for people who have no idea where they can attempt to park! There is a short stay car park close to Muse and I was advised to simply sit in the car park as the turnover is quick, although we finally found a space at the swimming pool car park which is up by the Co-Op on the main street. It was a good walk back and I had certainly made space for the macaroons that I took home.
The restaurant is quirky, with a Manchester vibe to it – with very reasonably priced high quality food on offer. The menu is fantastic, especially the special offer menus and I look forward to seeing how these develop over time. Recommendations are something I always ask for and the gentleman who served us was spot on, especially when it came to the desserts! Our welcome into the restaurant was very friendly and the service not only for our table, but the other diners was swift and with a smile. The village is absolutely beautiful and I cannot believe I have never visited before, despite it being on my doorstep – if you have the chance to visit Uppermill and Muse then do so, you will not be disappointed!
Muse has added a totally new dynamic to Uppermill and I am slightly jealous the restaurant is not located in my own village, we would definitely be frequent diners! If you are heading on down to Muse this week, then here are a list of the speciality nights and offers you can expect, or you can check out further details on their Facebook Page.
