New restaurant SAVAGES Mussels Bar opens in Macclesfield
Foodies in Macclesfield have a new venue to try out.
SAVAGES Mussels Bar is the lifelong dream of Macclesfield chef Jamie Savage.
Jamie, who is well-known in Macclesfield for previously serving seafood in The Picturedrome and RedWillow, has opened up SAVAGES on Church Street.
The new restaurant serves lunch and evening meals, with over 30 seats inside. Macclesfield Nub News met with Jamie for his reaction to their opening:
"I'm absolutely buzzing," he said.
'It has been a great turnout so far, everyone has been dead supportive.
"We've been fully booked every weekend since we opened, and weeknights as well even though we've not been fully booked we've had walk-ins to make a full restaurant as well."
The current clientele is a 50-50 split of people who have enjoyed Jamie's food at previous venues that weren't his own, and those who are trying his food for the first time.
Signature dishes include pickled mussels, and mussel Mac n' cheese.
Menu items go beyond just mussels. The iconic Savages Fish Finger butty returns, alongside new additions like tomato and asparagus linguine and scallops with cauliflower.
The steamed mussels is the best-seller so far, with chilli lemon and garlic and marinière being a close second.
Despite the seafood emphasis, there are plenty of dishes for vegetarians and vegans, and certain dishes can be adapted to have without fish.
There's even gluten free bread to go with your mussels, and a wide array of dairy free dishes as well.
Macclesfield may be far from the sea, but with Jamie's nautical, flavourful dining experience, the sea feels like home.
"I like to get people to try mussels," explained Jamie.
"The plan is to be getting more mussel related dishes on our menu, particularly dishes where you wouldn't normally expect to find mussels."
Whilst Jamie was remaining tight-lipped on what dishes in particular, he did hint that he was experimenting with mussel ice cream.
And indeed it is the first time the SAVAGES brand has been serving desserts, which allows Jamie to flex more of his culinary skills.
"We are open for lunch as well, the lunch menu has smoked salmon, mushrooms or poached eggs on toast with avocado," he added.
"We aren't doing any meat dishes, strictly seafood, vegetarian and vegan dishes. I don't want to be one of those restaurants in Macc that does everything. I want to specialise in what we do best.
A streamlined online booking system has helped attract diners from afar, as has Jamie's stint in the national spotlight being on a Gordon Ramsay TV show last year.
The opening of SAVAGES is a real serendipity moment for Jamie, as he used to work for the restaurant that was in the unit before.
"Ten years ago, I used to work for Jo [Bentley] when this was The Salt Bar," he explained.
"I was a sous chef here when it opened up. So it has come full circle that I am here now."
The mollusc maestro, who lives in Macc, has created ten new jobs with his new venture. And he is still looking for more.
One of his employees even designed a stunning seaside mural which adorns the walls, and took four weeks to complete.
The mussels come from St. Austell Bay in Cornwall, which is quite a way, but worth it as he indicates they are the best in Britain.
The wines are from Knowles Green Creative Tasting in Bollington, and are chosen to pair with fish and seafood.
Jame claims SAVAGES is the only bar or restaurant you can get these wines in Macclesfield. And it is not just the wines that are unique to SAVAGES, as they also believe they are the only stockists of Brixton Brewery on tap Macclesfield.
"If you don't like mussels, come and give it a go," concluded Jamie.
"It is amazing that the amount of people that come here already that haven't tried mussels before, it is incredible.
"We are having 40, 50-year-old people who are trying them for the first time.
"Thank you to the Macclesfield community for their support so far. We look forward to welcoming you.
Despite being packed out at weekends, they still have some availability during the festive period, including Christmas Eve.
SAVAGES, part of Macclesfield's historic Castle Quarter, can be booked on this link.
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