We’ve all had that surprise bill that has shocked us to our very core. We either eat more than we thought or prices racked up quicker than expected. Especially since the huge rise in inflation last year, people are finding themselves getting priced out of eating out all together.

That’s why now more than ever, it is important to have good value restaurants. Ones that has a set price where you know exactly what to expect. Tonight, I visited Cherry Valley, a Chinese restaurant in St Ives to try their flat fee menu.

I didn’t get a chance to take a photo of the inside of Cherry Valley but it is very pretty from both the inside and out. The purple restaurant adds a much needed colour to Bridge Street which is complimented further by the flower baskets outside adding a pleasant floral look.

Beer

I was disappointed to see no beer on tap but there was an option for Tsing Tao, a Chinese beer that adds some authenticity. Unfortunately, they had run out, so it was either a choice between Fosters from a can or bottled Tigerp. There were no large bottles available, so I had to make do with the 330ml.

The menu has a decent selection, with all the Chinese classics you would expect – a mixed platter, duck pancakes, Chinese curry, and sweet and sour etc. Everything is capped at £22 during the week and £24 on weekends, so av at it!

I also noticed numerous families taking advantage of the generous ‘kids under 8 eat free’ promotion – a real winner for the summer holidays!

The starter

We started off with a mixed platter that came with a variety of different options. Malaysian chicken satay, Peking style spare ribs, sesame prawn toast, spring rolls and a few other options. This was served with a portion of seaweed in a ceramic pot with some sauce.

This came out almost immediately, making me think that they likely have these ready and waiting under a hot lamp but it didn’t seem to affect the texture of the food, as turn over was fast. The chicken and ribs were both juicy and moist. Nothing here is going to win any awards but for a flat fee of £22pp, I thought this was pretty good! 👍

Crispy duck pancakes

We couldn’t resist the pull of the crispy duck pancakes and because of the set price menu, we were able to indulge without worry. A rarity with dining out these days!

The duck came in a portion big enough for 6 small wraps between us. The duck and the wraps were a little dry but once the Hoi Sin sauce was added, you wouldn’t have noticed.

The cucumber was served in large thick cut chunks. I would have preferred these to be cut slightly thinner but otherwise I had no further complaints.

Mains

The mains menu gives you a long list of different dishes to choose from. You pick your meat to go with it (pork, beef, chicken, lamb, king prawns, or duck) or you can choose from their vegetarian menu (approximately 6 options).

I had a real hankering for spicy pork this evening. Luckily, Cherry Valley does a wide range of spicy dishes. I decided to go for a dish called “Toban” which is made from spicy chilli bean sauce. I then added my pork from the meat options.

This was one of the strongest dishes this evening, with the pork being incredibly tender. This tenderness was complemented by the crunchy peppers and onions. The sauce was thick and sweet with a real punchy flavour.

Next, we ordered some Peking shredded crispy beef. I was quite fond of this and found it to be unsurprisingly crispy, as well as a sweet and a rich dish, with a lovely sticky texture. The portion was painfully small but considering the waste they likely get here, I understand why it’s done. All the main courses are tiny, so make sure you order two or three if you plan on having one big dish rather than sampling numerous others.

My guest had the chicken house curry served with onion and peas. We ordered some egg fried rice to accompany it. The sauce looked thinner than usual Chinese curry with a much darker colour. My guest said he enjoyed it, so there were no complaints.

Conclusion

Cherry Valley offers great value for £22. The food isn’t going to blow anyone away but you would be unfair to complain. I could see numerous families in the restaurant taking advantage of the “under 8’s eat free” promotion, making this a real inflation busting winner for people looking to eat out without having to bust the bank.

St Ives is very lucky to have two Chinese restaurants in the town, both offering very different dining experiences. Ely doesn’t have a single one!

Thanks for reading!