Shrub

We originally popped into Shrub just for a drink, as I’d already heard the name while researching vegan food options in Chester. The atmosphere was lovely, and thanks to Alex – who welcomed us with such great energy, we decided to stay for food. He was fantastic from the very start, made us feel so comfortable, and honestly was a 10/10 for customer service. We ended up ordering a few plates and the Sunday roast, which was absolutely incredible. Everything was full of flavour, beautifully presented, and exceeded our expectations. A huge thank you to Alex for making the whole experience so enjoyable. We’ll definitely be back!

Secret little hidden gem in Chester. We visit Chester often and found this little gem by accident we only popped in for a drink and tried one of the small dishes now we make it a go to every time and can't get enough. Each time we receive excellent customer service and the food is unique and flavourful. We are not vegans and I was very dubious but WOW is all I can say; I really am not a sprout lover but oh my word I could not get enough of them here they taste so unique and tasty! The tofu and the frickles are also deffo a go to and each dish is prepared and matched with beautiful dressing and sauce! The drinks are also just as tasty; my go to is their Italian prosseco and the cocoa colada. Thankyou for another lovely evening Shrub and team. Big shout out to Alex, the chief and the owner!

+6

Really nice restaurant. Friendly staff and great choice of food. Everything came very fast and tasted great. I recommend about 3 plates per person. However it looks like it's quite busy at weekends so recommend booking in advance even if just that morning if you can. Very central location can't fault it in any way.

So we landed on Shrub by accident.. we wanted to head to Brewski over the road but couldn’t get a table so chose shrub, oh my days we are so glad we did!!! This place is sensational! We aren’t veggie/vegan but the small plates are something else. So flavoursome and tasty. We will recommend this place to everyone we know and will DEFINITELY be returning. Staff are super attentive. Millie in particular, our server guided us on best options as this is a whole new dining experience for us! She clearly loves her job and knows her stuff, thanks Millie! Such a gorgeous place, if you’re in Chester you have to visit Shrub! 🫶🏻 xx

Visited on a quiet Wednesday evening and was thoroughly impressed by the service. I was served by an energetic and just generally wonderful gentleman named Alex. He has an innate talent for informal - but not unfriendly - welcomes and ensures that every individual be speaks to its made to feel like the most important person in the room. Attentive, but not overbearing. A chap of such outstanding quality reflects a gold standard that every premises should aspire to. The fare, of course, was magnificent, but the true star of the show was not what was on the plate. But rather, the people responsible for it. 10/10 top-to-bottom. No notes.

We dined at shrub last night, we had a fantastic night. We tried as much of the menu as possible getting 12 of the small plates. As somebody who would usually choose Vegan options I was blown away at the taste and ingenuity of the food on offer here, literally everything tastes amazing. I was encouraged by friends who have been before to try the Celeriac steak and I was not disappointed. I couldn't recommend it more highly, it was the standout dish by a mile. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly and we can't wait to go back.

The food is amazing in this lovely place. The staff are incredibly friendly and can't do enough for you. I am not a vegetarian but good food is good food and the flavours and presentation of the food on the menu are delicious and first class. It was so good that I had dinner one night and came back for a late lunch the following day! It did not disappoint. If you are in Chester I would thoroughly recommend eating here.

Amazing vegan place, me and my friends went for lunch, vegan and non vegans and we were all impressed at the quality of the food and service from the the staff, everyone is really friendly. Really lovely heated seating out on the terrace or indoor area. Absolutely delicious dishes and really creative options available. We had 2/3 plates each and shared everything, we loved it that much that 2 of us went back the next day. The standouts were the muhammara, onion bhajis, lamb fries, frickles, artichoke, potato terrine, tofu was good (would be nice for this to be a fuller portion for the price). Would definitely recommend and will for sure go back again! Thanks

+6

We both loved it here. We're not vegans or even vegetarians but if we could cook as well as this, we'd eat a lot less meat! We ordered 5 small plates and that was plenty between the two of us. Everything was delicious but a special shout-out to the onion bhajis. There was magic happening there! Great service too and a wonderful atmosphere made this a truly memorable meal.

Wow wow wow you must go here! From the minute we walked up the stairs, Alex greeted us and made us feel welcome. He allowed us to pick where we wanted to see as it was early in the evening though the other tables soon filled up fast. We asked for recommendations and then picked 8 dishes from the menu (2 mezze and 6 small plates). Every single one was incredible - 10/10 for all but an honourable mention to the artichoke wings and, of course, the frickles. Then we still had dessert which was equally incredible but very light so we weren't being rolled out! The service was perfect, conversational at the right time, and everything was quick but not rushed. We had a wonderful evening and will recommend Shrub to everyone.

+3

Went for a mid week visit, it's so impressive! Really knowledgeable and friendly staff, quick service and the food is out of this world. All gluten free options are clearly highlighted on the menu, I can't get over how much choice there was! Gluten free beer battered pickles, need I say more! Everything we ordered was delicious, we ordered 3 plates each for 2 people and shared which I think was more than enough!

We came here today (on Monday lunchtime between Xmas and New year) it wasn't too busy and they were able to fit 4 of us in for lunch. We are all vegans and we didn't fancy junk food vegan stuff that was on offer elsewhere (with it being just after Xmas, we'd had quite a lot of that!) This was the best place we could have picked! Me and my partner opted for 5 small dishes to share and it was enough for us, absolutely insane flavours, really good food! All the food comes when it's ready, the service was very friendly and professional. The atmosphere and the decor is great, a really lovely place to be. Our order between 2 was: Teriyaki tofu Pardon Peppers Artichoke wings Potato terrine Cumin lamb fries We recommend all of these! Especially the potato terrine (the waiter said it was a firm favourite with them too and as soon as you taste it, you'll see why!) Well worth the money, just over £20 each and one of the best meals we've had. Don't hesitate in going to this place! Well worth a visit! We will be back!

Loved it here! This place is a bit special and I can’t wait to return. The food is creative, flavoursome and cooked really well. It’s small plates so it’s recommended to order a few per person, but they do have larger plates which are slightly bigger portions. I went for the pumpkin tortellini and the lemon posset for dessert, both mouthwateringly good. Next time I’d love to try the Sunday Roast. Voted best restaurant in Chester 2024, having visited I can understand why.

+1

Hands down, my favourite restaurant in Chester. The staff are always incredibly friendly and welcoming, making every visit feel special. The food options and cocktails are fantastic, with something for everyone. The atmosphere is so calming and homely — the perfect place to unwind. As a parent, I really appreciate the great baby-changing facilities, and the staff are always so accommodating when I need to breastfeed. A huge thank you to Calum and the whole team at Shrub for consistently providing such a wonderful experience. I always look forward to my next visit!

We were thrilled to be celebrating our friends' wedding at Shrub, our first but not our last visit. The staff were friendly, patient, and helpful. The food was exceptional, every dish beautifully crafted with an explosion of flavour! A spotless venue with a relaxed atmosphere. Can you tell I loved it, and I wasn't even drunk! Thank you guys, see you again soon.

+1

The most amazing food ever!!! Staff were both professional and genuinely friendly. Alex is very personable and made great recommendations.

Had a wonderful time at Shrub on Wednesday, the teriyaki tofu is to die for! The potato terrine was also fabulous. All the staff were really friendly and I love the vibe. Really comfy & nice setting. One of my fave restaurants in Chester! Always worth visiting.

I have been to Shrub a few times now, and eaten there with vegetarian and non-vegetarian friends and family. It's always been a good experience with lots of creative and tasty dishes. The current selection of small plates and larger meal options means there's something for everyone. The staff are really friendly too. It's not the cheapest or the fastest for service, but you get what you pay for in quality and a nice relaxed experience.

First visit today, called in for lunch based solely on Trip Advisor reviews. Lovely vegan restaurant with amazing food. Good central location & nice vibe. I am not vegan but didn’t matter, all the food we had was fab. Service was amazing - knowledgeable, friendly, professional & very efficient. Big thanks to Sophie who provided amazing service throughout our visit. Will definitely be returning with other family members (who are vegan) as I’m sure they will love this place. 👍

Really nice place, great food and good service. We had 3 small plates, one burger and one pasta to share, plus drinks. All together it came to around £60 (including tip) and overall I’d recommend it. A little pricey, but worth it. The place is decorated really nicely too with lots of plants and lights around. Great place to visit if you’re in Chester!

Great vegan restaurant in the heart of Chester town centre. Very classy tapas style menu, the staff were extremely knowledgeable about the menu and friendly. The food was excellent, we particularly enjoyed the Teriyaki tofu and muhammara dip! We were given the best table in the restaurant in the sunshine overlooking Chester high street. We will definitely be back!

My sister and I visited last night, the food was delightful and it was great to know that everything was prepared in a dairy free kitchen. Would thoroughly recommend for all dietary requirements. Gluten free / dairy free / vegan 👍🏻👍🏻

Impeccable food, amazing staff, cosy decor, great outdoor and indoor areas, super tasty cocktails too. The staff is so lovely and welcoming and small plates are an amazing variety for VG and GF people. Generous portions too 🤩 Instantly fell in love with the place!!!

Absolutely fantastic. We stumbled upon this place by accident and didn't appreciate how good this would be until we were enjoying our food. The service was brilliant... The waiter recommended dishes to us and served us quickly (not too quickly) and was a good laugh too. We had a few mezze dishes between us and massive compliments to the chef, everything tasted incredible! My personal fave were the frickles. We had such a good time - we will be back and will bring friends! Thanks for a great meal. 5 stars all round. 🌟

Let’s talk about Shrub, baby! As it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Chester, I felt it was about time I did a review. I go to Shrub every Sunday to round off the week. Their food is absolutely delicious and the staff are so friendly. I’m not even vegan and it’s the best roast I’ve ever had. The (hot) matcha is also the best matcha I’ve ever had. Amazing on a cold day. Considering all the things that give Shrub character such as the location in Chester (expensive) unique vegan food (expensive) a heated outdoor seating area in the very centre of the city on the historical Chester rows with a view of the high street (extortionate) you would be surprised at how reasonable the prices are. Especially as you can mix and match with small plates- which is also perfect for people who want to try something new. I love it here. Go to Shrub. In the meantime, please enjoy my selection of Shrub meals over the past few months

Great experience and wonderful (gluten-free) food! We were warmly welcomed, even with two small kids and Alex did an amazing job recommending and explaining the menu. Delicious food and plenty of options for someone with Coeliacs! Would highly recommend and can't wait to visit again! Cannot praise Alex enough for his professionalism and service.

Incredible food, and thanks especially to Grace who provided amazing service and made our special occasion extra special. Very kind gesture as well to offer us a discount on our next visit (September) due to my partners birthday. The chargrilled corguettes and onion bhaji especially were the best we've ever had. Thank you! Adam & Lottie

Had a lovely first visit to Chester and stumbled upon this vegan gem! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the food was absolutely delicious – full of flavour and beautifully presented. I also really enjoyed the coffee and cocktails. Special thanks to Calum, who made me feel especially welcome. I’ll definitely be coming back next time I’m in town!

This is a must try, we can't wait to bring our families here to show it off. The tofu was elite, the fake lamb was lovely, and the flavours were impressive all round. Plus, the service was excellent and relaxed yet enthusiastic

We were impressed by Shrub's offerings at Vegan Camp Out 2024 (particularly the szechuan fries!), so when we decided to get away for a few nights in Chester, visiting their restaurant was at the top of our list. Firstly, we weren't prepared for how gorgeous the restaurant is. As if being located in The Rows wasn't beautiful enough, the decor and atmosphere were stunning, and they even had a cosy outdoor balcony area. I bet that would be lush on a summer evening! We were absolutely spoiled for choice and struggled to whittle down what we wanted to order. I had the teriyaki tofu, artichoke wings, and delicata squash, and my partner had the "lamb" ragu and the szechuan fries. However, we had a little nibble of each other's food. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection! We decided we needed to come back and try more of the menu before our time in Chester was over. So we went again the following day! This time, we shared the pumpkin tortellini (not pictured), tenderstem broccoli (not pictured), brussels sprouts, baby carrots, and potato terrine. My partner and I were firm haters of sprouts in ALL forms, but we both thought they were one of the best dishes we had eaten over the last 2 days. My partner also isn't a fan of tofu usually, but that was also one of his favourites. What I love about Shrub is their quality of ingredients and creativity. I love that they make veggies fun and the main event without the need for every dish having a protein/meat alternative, which is why it's no surprise that even non-vegans enjoy eating here so much. The staff are all so lovely! On our first night, we were served by Eloise and Tim, who were both super sweet and welcoming. I am gutted that we didn't get the names of the people on our second night as they were fantastic, too. But the people working at 7.30pm on Wednesday 11th December 2024 deserve a shout-out too ❤️ Hopefully, we'll get to come back someday!

My 2nd visit to this restaurant and it was as great as the 1st time. The menu had changed, not only in the meals offered but also a move away from large plate meals to small plates that are great for sharing. Small plates conjures up thoughts of Spanish tapas, but the meals offered at Shrub are very different with the exception of padron peppers! Each plate was an explosion of flavour. Each one was novel, mixing hints of oriental with asian flavour with tender cooked veg. We picked two 'starter' dishes and four 'main' plates with a shared dessert dish. This was more than plenty to fill us up. Each plate was shared between us and equally enjoyed. The staff are super friendly and will go out of there way to answer any queries / questions or just have a chat. The ambiance was buzzing, warm and welcoming, which was great when the weather outside was horrible. We also had two of the house beers (lager & IPA) which were also nice. Can't wait to return and try some of the other plates.

Came for a Sunday roast, the food and service was amazing. We parked in the new market car park which is a short walk from the restaurant.

Genuinely some of the tastiest food I've ever had, vegan or otherwise! Been a few times now and tried, between my party, pretty much everything on the menu - there's nothing to not love. Staff are friendly, attentive, welcoming and helpful, service is quick but not so as to feel rushed. The decor, music and general vibe of this place are absolutely spot on. Given the quality of the entire experience, the price is beyond justified. I've paid more in worse restaurants.

This vegan restaurant located in the rows does not disappoint. It's burger does not make you miss beef one and all dishes are deliciously flavoured without being overpowering. My favourite was the red zhoung flavored potato terrine 😋 congratulations to the chef!

Cannot recommend highly enough - staff were so helpful and enthusiastic, the atmosphere was exactly what we had hoped for for a date night, and the food was the nicest food I have ever had at a restaurant. I am normally a meat-eater and have never considered going vegan before eating here but everything was so filling, flavourful and well presented that I couldn't believe I had never been before. Will definitely be back and have recommended to anyone who will listen!

Highly recommend. Cannot recommend highly enough. My partner and I are not veggie/vegan however on the merits of the menu decided to eat here and we were not disappointed. Everything was amazing. The staff were also so friendly even recommending some bars to move onto afterwards 😊

The ideal venue for your special event! Back in June 2025, my partner and I had our engagement party in the room space upstairs. The team were incredible at supporting us in shaping the celebration we both wanted. They were very communicative over email and phone calls, and showed us around the space a couple of times ahead of the event. On the night itself, the food was delicious, the vibes perfect, and Amelia - our bartender - was unbelievably attentive, always checking in to make sure we were having a good time (and making sure my glass was never empty!). The event was extremely good value for money, and I would highly recommend anyone after a Chester event space to go for Shrub!

Eloise was amazing during our visit to Shrub. She was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming. She knew the menu well, gave great recommendations, and made a brilliant vegan meal even more enjoyable. Really top-class service. She’s a credit to the restaurant.

What a beautiful experience. It has been a long time since we enjoyed a vegan restaurant full of flavours. Absolutely gorgeous food. Thank you to the lovely staff as well. Recommended it 100%!!!

Exceptional food! Artichoke wings were unbelievable. All the dishes had lots of different complex flavours. Staff were very friendly, quick service. Our dog was welcomed and spoiled by everyone. Best meal I have had in a long time.

I had a mixed experience. While the food was quite good, the wait time was excessive. I was reading and didn't immediately notice the time, but after about 30 minutes, I began to wonder if vegan food just took longer to prepare. I decided to wait a bit longer, but when people who arrived after me started getting their meals, I was understandably frustrated and asked the waitress about the delay. The manager came out and explained that there had been a "technical issue," which I appreciated. In the end, they did comp my meal, which was a nice gesture and softened the blow. However, the nearly 50-minute wait time still put a damper on the overall experience. While I enjoyed the food, the long wait made it hard to fully appreciate the meal. Hopefully, the technical issues are resolved in the future because the restaurant does have potential.