A FAMILY birthday provided a good excuse to sample the Henry Boddington, the local version of the well known pub/restaurant chain, Henry's Table.

Henry's promote themselves as the "informal family eating" place and there were certainly a wide cross-section of diners, from toddlers to grandparents, on our visit to the restaurant on Bolton Road, Pendlebury, on a Sunday afternoon.

Things didn't get off to the best of starts when a pre-meal drinks order didn't arrive at our table. They eventually arrived at the third time of asking part way through eating our starters.

Unfortunately, two of our three main course selections were not available that day so we had to opt for second choices. After this disappointing beginning, however, things improved greatly as the food started to be consumed.

I opted for a traditional favourite of mine, breaded mushrooms which were well up to the standard of those eaten elsewhere.

The mushroom and stilton bake was "excellent" and would have been happily consumed in a larger portion as a main course, I was told.

The Cointreau flavoured pate was also voted a big winner. Our Stilton fan continued the theme by trying Port and Stilton steak which soon disappeared from the plate.

Those of us consigned to second choices thankfully were not disappointed in the end.

My Chicken Vesuvius (topped with smoked bacon, pineapple and melted cheese) was very tasty and the Magret of Duck (apricot and brandy sauce) was voted a winner.

As with most of these mass market family restaurant chains, the potatoes and vegetables were well cooked and adequate but nothing to get too excited about.

We opted for light ice cream-based desserts but, with bigger appetites, could have been tempted by indulgent toffee and chocolate puddings.

With drinks, including pleasant house red wine by the glass, the total bill for three came to £50.29. In the end, we felt it worth the visit and the enjoyment of the food outweighed the unfortunate start to proceedings. MARK LONGBOTTOM Stars (out of 5)

Menu: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Access: 3 stars

Value for money: 3 stars

Overall rating: 3 stars

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