Liverpool Festive Food Guide 2017

With the most wonderful time of the year fast approaching, restaurants across the city have started announcing their Christmas menus. But with so many options to choose from, we thought we’d help you narrow it down with a festive food guide to Liverpool.

From oriental twists on pigs in blankets, to Christmas pudding flavoured ice cream, traditional roasted turkey with stuffing and a whole Christmas dinner in a burger, Liverpool’s restaurants have gone all out this year.

Check out the best venues to grab a festive bite this yuletide season and our favourite merry dishes from each.

The Club House

Where: Chavasse Park

How much: Lunch – £22.75 Dinner – £27.50

Our Festive Favourite: Warming roast fennel and plum tomato soup with prawns

 

This year, The Club House offer a Christmas menu that is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for those frosty evenings.

The self proclaimed ‘slice of the Hamptons in the heart of the city’, this cosy lodge features twinkling fairy lights and comfy sofas that will really get you in the Christmas spirit.

Our favourite from their festive menu is the delicious roast fennel, prawn and tomato soup, served with freshly baked, crusty bread.

They also offer a tasty sounding riding reserve sirloin steak with truffle sauce, creamed kale and leeks. All of their mains are served with rotisserie-roasted potatoes, carrots, green beans, and Brussels sprouts tossed in sage and garlic butter.

A mouth watering treat for the festive season.

Maray

Where: 91 Bold Street

How much: Lunch – £16.50 Dinner – £23

Our Festive Favourite: Sprouts, cep tahini, cherry and pistachios

A firm favourite in Liverpool, Maray is renowned for its falafel, small plates and cocktails that are always made to the highest quality.

Born in the summer of 2014, the guys behind Maray wanted to bring back a piece of Paris’ 4th arrondissement to Liverpool, focusing on fun and exciting food that is centred around sharing plates.

Their Christmas menu is one of the most unique and interesting on our list of the best festive food in Liverpool.

Choose from confit squash with ginger labneh, pumpkin seeds and sage, or tamarind glazed pigs in blankets and our firm favourite, sprouts, with cep tahini, cherry and pistachios.

Each diner can choose one large dish each, plus a dessert and the rest of the menu is laid out for everyone to share.

Their tasty sprout dish is sure to win over a few brussel doubters.

The Carpathia Champagne Bar and Restaurant

Where: 30 James Street

How much: £50 per person

Our Festive Favourite: Salt marsh lamb rump with roast chateau potatoes, roast parsnips & chantenay carrots with a compote of minted beetroot

If you want to really indulge this Christmas, head to the stunning Carpathia Champagne Bar and Restaurant, set within the luxurious 30 James Street.

Their menu features an amazing three courses, inspired by the decadence of the cuisine enjoyed by first class passengers aboard the Titanic.

On arrival, you will be greeted with a glass of fizz, to get you in the festive spirit.

This is followed by a delicious range of starters including winter game terrine, Parma ham, focaccia bread and dried plum with late autumn apple chutney and pea shoots.

For the main you can choose the traditional Cheshire turkey breast with cranberry and chestnut seasoning, or for vegetarians, the butternut squash and sweet potato risotto with Parmesan crisps.

A decadent array of festive food, this is one of the best places to enjoy a Christmas feast.

Clove Hitch

Where: 23 Hope Street

How much: Lunch – £24.95 Dinner – £29.95 

Our Festive Favourite: Traditional roast chicken breast served with goose fat potatoes, carrot puree, honey roast parsnips, brussel sprouts & pancetta and spiced red cabbage, topped with proper gravy.

One of our favourite hideaways near Hope Street, the Clove Hitch is a beautiful little bar and bistro that serves some of the best food in Liverpool.

This year, their Christmas menu offers some of the most delicious sounding festive food in the city.

To start, choose from butternut squash soup, or perhaps a ham hock terrine served with homemade piccalilli and house pickles and even toasted brioche gin house cured salmon celeriac and parsley remoulade with herb crostini.

For the main event, our particular favourite is the roast chicken breast served with all of the trimmings. But, you can also opt for roast cod loin with a parsley and lemon crust, menai mussels and tomato and chickpea stew.

Nestled amongst the early 19th century Georgian terraces, they only serve fresh and locally sourced ingredients in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Bastion Bar and Restaurant

Where: The Shankly Hotel,

How much: £39.95 per person 

Our Festive Favourite: Four-hour braised topside of beef with red wine, mushrooms and onions served with cream potatoes and winter green cabbage

Set within the famous Shankly Hotel, the Bastion Bar and Restaurant is the perfect place to sample some delicious festive food.

Offering a set 3 course menu, filled with yuletide favourites, this is one of the most comforting menus on the list.

To start, diners can choose from pot roasted partridge, blended with ham shank and winter vegetables and served as a terrine with pear chutney. Or, slow cooked aubergine with courgette and sweet onion, plus many more.

The mains feature a delicious roast turkey parcel with cranberry and chestnut, wrapped in streaky bacon and served with festive vegetables and rich gravy.

Our particular favourite is the wonderful four-hour braised topside of beef with red wine, mushrooms and onions served with cream potatoes and winter green cabbage. Plus, the poached salmon served in a bisque of lobster with new potatoes and broad beans with lobster oil is delicious.

The dessert choices range from warm chocolate melting pudding with vanilla ice cream, the chef’s selection of Lancashire cheese served with biscuits, celery and grapes with real pear chutney.

Gusto

Where: Albert Dock

How much: 2 course lunch – £19.95 3 course lunch – £24.95 3 course dinner £32.95

Our Festive Favourite: Daube of beef – tender, slow cooked beef in a red wine and green peppercorn sauce with fried potato gnocchi

Famous for their classic Italian cuisine, Gusto is set at the gateway to The Albert Dock in the heart of Liverpool.

Their festive food offers stick with traditional pairings, but with a quirky Italian twist.

Lucky diners can choose from Bresaola Carpaccio, served with a rocket and Grana Padano salad with a garlic cream dressing to start, or perhaps the delicious smoked mackerel, bound with chive mascarpone, capers and lemon, served with artisan bread,

For the main, our favourite comes in the form of daube of beef, cooked slowly in a red wine and green peppercorn sauce and served with fried potato gnocchi. It’s a truly mouthwatering twist on a classic.

To accompany their festive menu, Gusto have also provided a glorious selection of Christmas cocktails, featuring the Silent Night. Subtly strong, this tipple includes  Martell VS cognac stirred down with tawny port, Grand Marnier & orange bitters, with a dash of cinnamon, the perfect drink to savour quietly after the meal.

The Alchemist

Where: 5 Brunswick Street

How much: £28 for 3 courses

Our Festive Favourite: Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte

Liverpool’s molecular mixology bar has some luxurious treats in store in their restaurant this Christmas.

Starters include celeriac soup with curry oil and parsnip crisps, Bang Bang tiger prawn salad, and honey and mustard chicken skewers with winter slaw.

For the main event, diners can choose sirloin steak with onion and mushroom sauce, spinach and crispy shallots, salmon with chilli cabbage and teriyaki and ginger sauce, turkey roulade with bacon crumb and sage and onion jus, or pumpkin and butternut squash risotto.

And finish your night off with either Christmas pudding, orange polenta cake or our winner, salted caramel chocolate tart. And of course, you can’t visit The Alchemist without indulging in one of their unique cocktails.

Etsu

Where: 25 The Strand

How much: 2 course lunch – £12.95

Our Festive Favourite: Mixed sushi – A 5 piece sushi set, 3 maki & 2 nigiri chosen by the chef

Maybe you’re looking for some festive food that has a little oriental twist? Check out the fabulous Japaneses restaurant, Etsu.

Indulge in some expertly made sushi, accompanied by an amazing range of Japanese whiskey and gin, it’s the perfect place to celebrate Christmas.

Their festive menu features everything from Okonomiyaki skewers, to deep fried tofu topped with stir fry and special teriyaki sauce.

But our favourite from this years’ menu is the 5 piece sushi dish, individually chosen by the talented chef, these are some of the best you’ll ever eat.

60 Hope Street

Where: Hope Street

How much: £36 for 3 courses

Our Festive Favourite: Roast fillet of hake with brandade, heritage carrots and cavolo nero

A family owned restaurant and bistro, 60 Hope Street is set within a stunning Georgian town house and offers sophisticated comfort food.

The perfect relaxed atmosphere to celebrate the festive season in style, the restaurant offers a wonderful Christmas menu, bursting with amazing flavour combinations.

To start, the treacle duck and fennel with pear and liquorice offers a unique dish, you won’t find anywhere else.

Moving on to the mains, our favourite is the roast fillet of hake with brandade, heritage carrots and cavolo nero, but if you;d prefer something more traditional, try the corn fed chicken breast with sage and onion, boulangere potatoes, sprout tops and cep cream.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a luxurious dessert to finish a delicious meal. At 60 Hope Street their menu features traditional sticky figgy pudding with hazelnut cream, or if you prefer something savoury go for the selection of cheese with fruit and Christmas cake.

Salt House Tapas

Where: 1 Hanover Street

How much: Lunch – £15.95 Dinner – £22.95

Our Festive Favourite: Pigs in blankets with prune & chestnut stuffing and honey roast parsnips

Fancy festive food with a Spanish twist? Head to Salt House Tapas for some tasty tapas that is sure to get you in the yuletide spirit.

Perfect for any celebration, but especially at Christmas when there’s extra reason for sharing.

For parties of 8 or more, Salt House offer a tapas style banquet menu for lunch and dinner, featuring sizzling king prawns cooked in garlic, chilli and olive oil, braised baby chickpeas with charred onions, roast peppers & fino sherry and our favourite, pigs in blankets with prune & chestnut stuffing and honey roast parsnips.

You can finish your meal with a Tarta de Santiago which serves 8 and is accompanied with pouring cream and orange syrup.

The restaurant also have a ‘sherry bar’, an excellent wine list and moreish cocktails that will ensure your Christmas celebrations are one to remember.

Wreckfish

Where: Slater Street

How much: Lunch and early dinner 2 courses – £20 3 courses – £24

Our Festive Favourite: Roast turkey breast, stuffing, roast potatoes, parsnip, greens and cranberry Braised featherblade, caramelised onion puree, crispy kale

One of the newest additions to the Liverpool restaurant scene, Wreckfish is the latest project from chef Gary Usher, the man behind the amazing Heswall-based Burnt Truffle , Chester-based Sticky Walnut, and Hispi in Manchester.

Their stunning festive menu features luxurious twists on the classic Christmas dinner, as well as some innovative dishes such as pan roasted chicory, squash, goats curd and walnut, plus the delicious cranberry sorbet served with orange syrup and vodka.

Priding themselves on their aim providing perfectly simple food in a relaxed environment, using the best quality produce possible. Everything in their restaurant is made from scratch, including fresh bread daily, all stocks and sauces, ice creams and sorbets.

Set in a once derelict building, this stunning restaurant is the perfect place to indulge in a relaxed atmosphere.

Red’s True Barbecue

Where: 51 Hanover Street

How much: £24.95 per person

Our Festive Favourite: The Christmas Feast

Perfect for big groups, Red True Barbecue’s festive menu mainly consists of The Christmas Feast.

A selection of Red’s smoked meats and festive additions, backed up by the lively atmosphere synonymous with the church of true barbecue.

Each person in your party gets to sample a taster of the whole feast, including 4 hour smoked turkey breast, 12 hour smoked premium black Angus brisket, chicken wings, ribs, bacon-wrapped cheese and jalapeno sausage and smokin’ pan gravy.

All of this is served with pulled pork stuffing balls, BBQ corn, hash brown casserole, greens, cauliflower cheese grill, cheeseburger fries and some festive cornbread.

Plus, the first drink is on them and your designated driver gets free soft drinks all night.

Also, if you’re a vegetarian and you find yourself in this meat haven, you can choose some veggie options and eat for free!

The Brink

Where: Parr Street

How much: Two courses – £12, three courses – £15

Our Festive Favourite: Poached fillet of salmon served with creamed leeks, broccoli and new potatoes

Liverpool’s only and the UK’s first dry-bar, The Brink is offering diner it’s very own unique festive menu throughout December.

To start, guests can choose from chicken liver pate served with toast & Cumberland sauce or Chef’s homemade soup with rustic bread.

For the main course, they offer traditional roast turkey served with pigs in blankets, stuffing, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and seasonal vegetables. If you love fish dishes, try the poached fillet of salmon served with creamed leeks, broccoli and new potatoes.

Dessert offerings include Christmas pudding with custard or chocolate brownies with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

This tasty festive food is served with complimentary tea, coffee and a homemade mince pie.

Miller and Carter

Where: Albert Dock

How much: 2 courses – £20.95 3 courses – £24.95

Our Festive Favourite: 30 day aged rump steak 80z served with parsley butter, seasoned fries, their signature crispy onion loaf, roasted balsamic glazed tomato, an iceberg lettuce wedge and steak sauce of your choice.

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with steak!

At Miller and Carter they are doing an indulgent Christmas menu bursting with all the classic favourites and a few of their signature dishes thrown in.

You can delight in the 30 day aged 8oz rump steak served with parsley butter, seasoned fries, their signature crispy onion loaf, roasted balsamic glazed tomato, an iceberg lettuce wedge and steak sauce of your choice. Or, why not enjoy the baked seabass, served on samphire mashed potato with clams, buttered green vegetables and a tomato & fennel bisque.

For dessert, they offer a kumquat christmas pudding served with warm brandy sauce and a zesty orange curd, or a rhubarb, plum and cherry crumble served with warm vanilla bean custard.

Almost Famous

Where: Parr Street

How much: £22.50 per person for parties of 6 or more

Our Festive Favourite: Son of a Nutcracker

Almost Famous are offering an exclusive offer for parties of 6 people or more which features any burger, any fries, any Christmas cocktail or beer and a shooter on arrival.

Sound like a mega festive deal? Because it is.

Not only that, they’ve also released their official festive burger, and it’s giant. The Son of a Nutcracker comprises of a cheeseburger, BBQ spiced sausage stuffing patty, buttermilk fried turkey, festive cream slaw, bacon and cranberry jam, sweet JD cola BBQ sauce and brandy butter peppercorn mayo.

Finally – it is topped with the ultimate sausage roll made of flaky puff pastry, sausage stuffing, bacon cranberry jam, chorizo, cheddar, BBQ spice and a pig in a blanket.

It’s basically an entire Christmas dinner, plus extras, in a burger. What’s not to love.

Frederiks

Where: Hope Street

How much: 2 course lunch – £17, 3 course lunch – £20, 2 course dinner – £22, 3 course dinner, £25 or £20 per person sharing menu

Our Festive Favourite: 12-hour braised beef brisket with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, carrots, parsnips, maple sprouts, stuffing balls, Yorkshire pudding and gravy

A firm favourite on Hope Street, Frederiks is a relaxed and social hub that is perfect for small or large gatherings.

Festive diners can choose to have 2 or 3 courses at lunch or dinner, or they can indulge in the sharing menu and choose 4 dishes with a glass of Prosecco.

The main menu features all the best loved classics including our favourite braised beef dish and a tasty nut roast with mushroom and spinach, served with all of the trimmings.

If you decide to opt for the sharing menu you can delight in harissa honey glazed ribs, beef winter goulash halloumi and roasted peppers and many more small plates.

Don’t forget to check out their extensive gin and Prosecco cocktail lists too!

Bistro Franc

Where: 1 Hanover Street

How much: 3 course lunch – £15.95 3 course dinner – £20.95

Our Festive Favourite: The Cheese Board

Bringing a taste of France to Liverpool, Bistro Franc is one of three bistros in the centre of the city offering home cooking style comfort food.

This classic, rustic restaurant are serving their french inspired festive menu now, with everything from boeuf bourguignon to butternut squash, cranberry and caramelised red onion tagine with a lemon and pomegranate cous cous.

Our pick is the very french cheeseboard, served with tangy chutney and fruit that is perfectly paired to the creamy, strong cheese choices.

Lunya

Where: 55 Hanover Street

How much: £26.95

Our Festive Favourite: Chocolate con churros and Tarta de Santiago with Christmas pudding ice cream

Lunya Liverpool is a Catalan deli, bar and restaurant in the heart of the city.

For Christmas, Lunya are offering a festive tapas banquet menu which is perfect for all party sizes.

Comprising of 5 courses all together, this Catalan banquet features a range of meat and vegetarian dishes such as chorizo sauteed in white wine and fennel seeds, or tenderstem broccoli with roasted chestnuts and Marcona almonds.

The dessert options are amazing, our favourite has got to be the quirky chocolate con churros and Tarta de Santiago with Christmas pudding ice cream.

The festive banquet includes party hats and crackers, to really get you into the swing of the yuletide season.

Alma de Cuba

Where: Seel Street

How much: £40

Our Festive Favourite: Chicken wings with sticky barbecue sauce and a crumb coated ball of sticky rice and scallions

Why not have a Cuban infused Christmas with Alma de Cuba.

In keeping with Cuban tradition, they’ll be hosting delicious hog roasts upon the spacious terrace area, which is set to become the most enchanting venue for company Christmas parties.

Or, if you’d prefer a set menu, you can choose from Old Orleans chowder of shrimp, ham, corn and paprika with broken water biscuits, to sprinkle to start. Followed by Creole jambalaya with eggplant, zucchini, pimento, tomato, thyme and long grain rice.

Why not end the meal with a real treat of banana panna cotta rum soaked raisins, banana and brown sugar puree and chipped chocolate bubbles.

Sample their festive food in the amazing surroundings of this converted church, featuring the original stained glass windows and magnificent altar.

Neighbourhood

Where: 62 Castle Street

How much: Silver – £28 Gold – £38 Platinum  – £45

Our Festive Favourite: Christmas sushi selection

Looking for a venue to drink, dine and dance for your Christmas party this year? Check out Neighbourhood on Castle Street.

This festive season they are offering diners silver, gold or platinum packages, all beginning with their ‘social sharing starters’ brought to the table for the ultimate festive feast.

Each package includes three courses, with varying options as the price goes up.

Our favourites are the delicious Neighbourhood sushi selection, but the Half lobster, grilled with garlic aioli, green leaves and NBHD fries comes in at a close second.

Tiger Rock Hawker

Where: Smithdown Road and North John Street

How much: £25 per person

Our Festive Favourite: Roast duck breast & char sui pork with bak choi

Tiger Rock Hawker is preparing to bring a true taste of East Asia to Liverpool this Christmas.

With restaurants on Smithdown Road and North John Street, this quirky venue is serving up a selection of flavoursome festive dishes with an Oriental twist.

Starters range from pan fried turkey and prawn dumplings, to chilli and garlic king prawn tempura.

For the main, diners can choose from steamed hake fillet with ginger, chilli and three kinds of vegetables, or Thai style grilled sirloin steak with a fresh mango salad.

Our particular favourite from the menu is the roast duck breast & char sui pork with bak choi.

A great little restaurant for a Christmas party, they specialise in small plates and bowls with flavours inspired by Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Vietnamese and Laotian cuisines.

The Monro

Where: 92 Duke Street

How much: 3 courses £27.50

Our Festive Favourite: Liverpool Gin cured salmon, salmon fishcake, pomegranate, pickled cucumber, horseradish mayo

The perfect venue to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner, The Monro is a stunning gastro-pub on Duke Street.

All of their food is locally sourced, sustainable and freshly prepared on the premises.

Choose from the truly delicious Liverpool gin cured salmon, salmon fishcake, pomegranate, pickled cucumber, horseradish mayo, or classic prawn cocktail, gem lettuce, confit tomato, marie rose sauce and buttered bread to start.

Follow this with the classic roast breast and leg of turkey, pigs in blankets, sage & apricot stuffing, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables & turkey gravy. Or, perhaps you fancy the venison shepherds pie, sweet potato mash with roasted root vegetables.

Festive food wouldn’t be the same without ending a delightful meal with a steamed Christmas pudding with hot brandy sauce.

HUS

Where: 12 Tithebarn Street

How much: Xmas feast – £30 per person Festive Fika – £25 per person

Our Festive Favourite: Festive Fika

Our favourite Scandi-themed bar and restaurant, HUS are putting on a range of Christmas events and feasts that we can’t wait for.

Diners can choose from the ultimate x-mas feast, which is an intimate and decadent festive Smorgasboard, which brings together the best of both English and Scandi traditions.

Or, try the Festive Fika, a seasonal edition of their afternoon tea, done the Scandi way. This Christmas treat includes a glass of mulled Glogg or Prosecco, a selection of festive sandwiches, bite sized Yorkshire puddings, bloody mary crayfish cocktail cup and some sweet treats and mini minced pies.

We hope you enjoyed our round up of the best festive food from some of Liverpool’s best restaurants, if you think we’ve missed anywhere out let us know in the comments below. 

If you’re out and about in Liverpool this Christmas, check out our guide to all of the best festive events!