With a big birthday of mine looming, a Sunday shopping trip was needed, so three generations of us - grandmother, daughter and granddaughter - decided to pop to Chester.

As the gift was going to be jewellery, the birthday girl had to be there to choose of course and in all fairness it did not take long.

In actual fact it took longer to decide where to go for lunch.

Eventually we opted for Duttons, which had been suggested to us.

We went just before midday, so there was plenty of choice of where we could sit.

The welcome was warm and as we drank our coffees, two of the three of us decided to go traditional and have the roast beef dinner.

The other roast option was ham.

As I already had a chicken waiting to be roasted at home, I ordered a tuna mayonnaise sandwich.

But I then spent half an hour drooling at the roasts that were served

The meat was cooked to perfection, still slightly pink, decent thick slices which the knife went through like butter.

The vegetables were roast potatoes, leeks, broccoli and squash, with an amazing pillow-sized Yorkshire pudding, with a copious amount of rich gravy. The diners both said it was faultless.

Both my mum and daughter devoured them, with mum saying it was the best roast dinner she had had in a long time.

My sandwich was huge too.

Packed with tuna and salad on soft brown bread, with a side serving of coleslaw and chips, it was filling. So much so I confess it did beat me and I was unable to clear my plate, unlike my mother and my daughter.

You could not fault the food or the service at Duttons and by the time we had finished, ready to take on the shops again, it was filling up for lunch.

Every staff member was friendly and nothing was too much trouble.

We will certainly be recommending it to everyone.

Obviously we were too full for dessert.

Maybe another day, another shopping trip...

Duttons, 10-12 Godstall Lane, Chester Tel: 01244 401869

Ambience 8/10

Service 9/10

Food 9/10

Child friendly Yes

Disabled access Yes