Panacea

4   Fabulous even with little ones!

We took nana & grandad and our 3 daughters (aged 6, 5 & 1) here for 'tea' at the end of term as a special treat & a change from the other restaurants in Alderley Edge.

Ok, it was 4pm so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. The staff were very attentive and lovely with the girls. The eclectic menu is fantastic and there's bound to be something for every taste.

Despite not having a children's menu the girls found things they fancied and the staff were happy to do small portions & sharing plates. We all thoroughly enjoyed it.

The girls particularly liked the pink loos with the fab modern basin! Kids! And I just adore those feather shades!

Would definitely go back but without the kids next time!

4   A great Thursday night out

With the children away we thought we'd take advantage and pop down to Panacea for Live Thursday, their weekly event featuring live music which I'd heard good things about.

HoneyFeet were making their first appearance, playing at the front of the restaurant, and performed a great set of jazz, folk and blues. Rioghnach Connolly (vocals/flute) has a superb voice and she was joined by Sam Buckley (double bass) and Ellis Davies (guitar).

They are usually a five piece band and describe themselves as "A rotating batch of loosely affiliated scruffbags" so they must have spruced up a bit for their debut at Panacea. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them and might catch them again as they're hoping for repeat bookings on 29th July and 12th August.

Now to the restaurant. We haven't been to Panacea since before Christmas and it was good to see that the waiters are still as polite and attentive as they were when they first opened. Our waiter certainly had the balance right, we never had to look around the restaurant trying to grab his attention yet he never bothered us by being over attentive.

I had king scallops with sake cured vegetables and ginger relish for starter which was very good, particularly the ginger relish which had a lovely intense flavour. Martin's Cuban chicken kebabs with jalapeno and sour cream dip were disappointingly bland though.

For mains we had the roast whole seabass with steamed asparagus and lemon olive oil and fillet steak, both of which were tasty and well cooked. The highlight for Martin though was the monster chocolate orange profiteroles.

We finished off with a drink in the bar. I really like the stunning design, particularly the feather lampshades, and there's a good atmosphere. The only complaint is that the tables for two are in a line and pretty close together so you can feel as though you're dining with the next table. (I always think when you're dining as a couple it's even more important to have space between tables than when you're in a group).

It's the first time we've been to Panacea during the week and it was actually really nice that the place wasn't as packed as it is at weekends but still busy enough to have a good atmosphere.

5   Great Birthday Celebration

8 of us dined out to celebrate a birthday (Happy Birthday Karen Johnson for Chrismas Eve). Venue was stunning with fab feather lighting and shiny wood. Great atmosphere and the food could not be faulted. Only one small fault - the red wine was served too cold for my liking so had to drink champagne instead!!

4   Lavish surroundings, prime location, good food

We visited the conveniently located Panacea on Saturday 21st November 2009. We entered the restaurant and were greeted by three lovely hostesses who welcomed us and took our coats. There is a trendy bar to the right and a chic restaurant to the left with feather lampshades.

We sat close to the window at the front of the restaurant and from here you can really appreciate your surroundings and the level of sophistication they are striving to achieve. The caesar salad with chargrilled chicken was the best caeser salad I have ever had. The duck confit and wild mushroom risotto was equally good.

We would award five stars but felt it lacked a sense of occasion, which is more a result of the laid-back atmosphere than any disservice to the restaurant. Diners come here and have a great time with tables all around the room engaging in lively conversation but it is less intimate than perhaps we prefer. Our visit was also short, dining for only 1hr 20mins versus our more typical two hours. We have no reason not to return here.

5   Very impressive

I went along with a friend for the ladies lunch today. The restaurant and upstairs bar are both stunning and the place had a real buzz.

The menu is extensive with Morocann, Lebanese, Jamaican and Indian dishes on offer as well as a selection from the chargrill.

I had king scallops for starter followed by whole roast seabass with steamed asparagus and lemon olive oil and a side of broccoli with pine nuts. Both dishes were excellent, especially the seabass which was the tastiest fish I have had in a long time.

Given that lunch today was their first pre-opening the service was also excellent - they have definitely employed experienced staff.

I couldn't fault the place: excellent food, great friendly service and a stunning setting. If Panacea manages to maintain this standard of food and service then it is going to be a very popular addition to Alderley Edge.