Food and Drink March 6, 2010
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Leicester
Cheikho’s Restaurant
Location: 9 Leicester Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5BD [map]
Phone: 0845 201 6917
Open: Tues- Sat 6pm-10.30pm (Open for lunch by prior arrangement); Sun noon-3pm

This restaurant’s excellent reputation had preceded it, in the form of many satisfied friends singing its praises, and our own visit confirmed that Cheikho’s deserves every commendation it receives. Just a short walk from the main cluster of shops in Oadby town centre, it is the perfect place to enjoy some fantastic Italian cuisine. Inside, gleaming green and black marble-topped tables and intricate dark wood screens evoke Italy as sharply as the welcoming scent of garlic and tomatoes oozing from the kitchen. It was instantly evident that this is a family-run business – friendly smiles greeted us and many guests were noticeably loyal regulars, feeling right at home. We soon felt equally comfortable amongst diners enjoying celebrations with friends, romantic meals and lively family gatherings.

Our cheery waitress reeled off a long list of specials that had us both salivating before we had even opened the menu. The menus here are not confined to Italian dishes, but provide a wealth of local ingredients given a delicious southern Mediterranean twist. I opted for specials throughout. My seafood fiesta starter arrived in a tide of mussels, langoustines and salmon, with a deliciously delicate saffron-tinted creamy sauce, infused with cumin and fresh coriander, while my partner’s vegetable soup of the day turned out to be a smooth combination of onion, carrot and potato. Braised lamb shank with rosemary and red wine followed. The meat fell from the bone at the touch of the fork, yet retained its full flavour. My partner enthused about his tender steak with hearty mushrooms and a mustard and cream sauce.

From the wine list we chose a Salice Salentino, a Vallone from southern Italy, and we weren’t disappointed – the fruity red complemented the food perfectly. To finish, I couldn’t resist the tempting homemade limoncello, which had been freshly prepared that day and, judging by the number of guests who chose it, it wasn’t going to be around for long. All in all, Cheikho’s offers a fantastic dining experience that shouldn’t be missed.


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