Liverpool’s Best New Restaurants 2017

Liverpool is renowned for its amazing places to eat, so we thought we would make a list of all of the best new restaurants in Liverpool.

From pop up street food carts to spectacular former churches, these foodie hotspots are the best the city has got to offer.

Alma de Cuba

Where: St Peter’s Church, Seel Street

Open daily from 12pm onwards iconic Cuban restaurant Alma De Cuba’s A La Carte menu has been given an exciting overhaul after new owners Signature Living went back to its Cuban roots to celebrate the restaurant’s DNA.

Not to mention the award-winning developer’s latest revelation of exciting plans for a new mezzanine floor, to make Alma De Cuba a new weddings venue. Signature Living is keen to enhance the building’s charm by offering another floor to accommodate more guests and those who want to enjoy privacy or exclusivity of the new floor, which will seat up to 170 people and be located above the already existing mezzanine area.

Alma De Cuba was formerly known as St Peter’s Catholic Church and was in operation for 188 years. It was the oldest serving Catholic church in Liverpool until it closed, and Signature Living is delighted to bring back the weddings element to the much-loved venue. The new food offering at the restaurant-bar reflects Alma De Cuba’s dynamic concept with the chef creating a delicious evening menu, with a new tapas lunch offering also to be unveiled soon.

To start, guests can expect to see the likes of Pulled pork tostada with adobo seasoning and citrus salsa, the Smashed avocado and pico de gallo and poached egg on toasted pan cubano and the Sautéed garlic shrimp and garlic pincho, red chilli butter sauce and house lime pickle.

New main courses include the outstanding Oven roasted okra and coconut curry, cilantro and chilli rice and plantain crisps, the juicy Pork fillet wrapped in Cuban style ham, sautéed sliced garlic potatoes and spring greens with a piquillo pepper sauce, the scrumptious Slow braised jerk rubbed chicken drumsticks and thighs with coconut, chilli and Caribbean chive rice and the flavourful Grilled boneless fillet of red snapper with clam and prawn stew and toasted garlic ciabatta.

Alma De Cuba is certainly somewhere you can spend your entire night, so why not stay to see the stunning petal show and spectacular samba dancers whilst they take to the stage. Before that though, make sure you leave some room for a sweet treat from Alma’s new dessert menu.

Try the likes of the moreish Dulche de leche and Colombian cocoa tart with whipped cream and coffee ice cream, the scrumptious toasted banana bread with caramelised banana and white chocolate ice cream, the delightful Pina Colada cheesecake with pineapple, stem ginger syrup and white chocolate shavings and the classic Key lime pie with crushed biscuit, soft meringue and lime sorbet.

Vincent Kitchen 

Where: 31 Bold Street

So many of us are on a quest for healthy, quick and really delicious food and Vincent Kitchen nails it in all departments.

With a selection of hot proteins, carbs, vegetables and sauces, you can build your own bowl and top it off with the likes of crispy shallots and other seasonings, or if you want some inspiration you can opt for one of Vincent Kitchen’s signature bowls.

Everything is completely wheat, gluten and dairy free – but don’t let that put you off – this certainly doesn’t mean that it falls short in the flavour department. Take the likes of the meat and fish, the grilled Thai style chicken is marinated in coconut milk and spices making it really juicy and the Thai fishcakes are mixed with chopped beans, coriander and lime leaf.

There’s then a selection of rice noodles, white and brown rice or salad leaves to choose from as your base, and an array of flavourful vegetable toppings including grilled courgettes in garlic and ginger, charred sweetcorn with chilli jam and red onions, pak choi with mushrooms and garlic and aubergine with miso and sesame, before you drench it in one of the scrumptious sauces including silky peanut, sweet teriyaki and the punchy Thai yellow or red sauces.

Then to really finish your bowl off you can add a garnish of cucumber salad, kimchi Chinese leaf or herb salad and finally a sprinkling of chopped peanuts, sambal chillies, crispy shallots or Japanese seasoning.

Vincent Kitchen also has a selection of fresh dessert pots and drinks on offer– including mini bottles of prosecco, so it’s perfect for a filling and delicious lunch or pre-night out dinner.

Our Kitchen 

Where: 81 Bold Street

Bold Street is renowned for its vast range of cool restaurants, bars and cafes and one of the latest eateries on the Bold Street block is vegan and vegetarian restaurant Our Kitchen.

It’s obviously great news for the growing vegetarian and vegan community, or for those who like trying new things, and Our Kitchen is hoping to prove going meat free doesn’t mean you’re restricted or that the flavour suffers.

The café-restaurant is open from 8am Monday-Friday, 9am Saturday and 10am Sunday until 10pm each night, so it’s ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and healthy eaters or those with intolerances will rejoice when they see an array of superfoods and alternatives on the menu.

For breakfast, there’s everything from porridge or toast with your choice of toppings, omelettes and full English breakfasts. From noon guests will see soup of the day, sandwiches, wraps and paninis on the menu that you can enjoy in the restaurant or grab and go, or there’s a range of small plates including the vegetarian or vegan Our Kitchen scotch egg which is definitely a winner, the fully loaded nachos, halloumi salad with tahini, and spicy mini bean burgers to name a few.

But the selection doesn’t stop there as there’s also a range of filling Buddha Bowls packed with the likes of teriyaki grilled tofu, so you’re sure to get your five-a-day in just one of these! With a range of salads including a superfood variety and a crispy Asian mock duck salad – yes this is actually just like duck – plenty of sides and even a designated kids’ menu, there’s something for everyone. Plus, you can wash it down with one of the eatery’s healthy juices, smoothies and shots, or if you fancy an alcoholic beverage they have a selection of these too.

But whether you’re there for a tasty brunch or healthy dinner out, leave some room for one of their delicious desserts – the chocolate and macadamia brownie is simply not to be missed!

FINCA

Where: 32 Greenland Street

Street food eateries are without doubt the latest craze in Liverpool. From little dishes that pack a flavour punch to creative concoctions, these new thriving restaurants that showcase the dishes of a particular cuisine are attracting plenty of attention. And independent eatery FINCA is a prime example.

Having previously served itself as a pop-up restaurant in the Baltic Triangle, FINCA now has a new permanent home in Constellations, so they’re still within the bustling Baltic area.

The guys behind the Cuban indoor-outdoor restaurant have made numerous trips to the country which they’ve drawn inspiration from to create some classic Cuban eats, but the team emphasise that they’ve also added their own interpretation on the delicious dishes. The menu might be small but the food on there is literally packed with so many different flavours, and the team certainly don’t scrimp on portion sizes.

Take the signature Cubanos, a griddled sandwich that is bursting with pork shoulder, glazed gammon, house pickle, mustard and gouda cheese, or the juicy Ropa Frita that is packed with slow cooked brisket, shoestring fries, pickled red onion, roast garlic aioli, guava barbecue sauce all stacked up on a toasted brioche bun, and the crunchy Tostones – twice fried plantain topped with avocado and mango salsa, red mojo, pickled red onion and a squeeze of lime. Choose any of these and you won’t

be disappointed, but definitely don’t leave without grabbing a portion of FINCA’s moreish Bunuelos – the warm bitesize pieces of gooey doughnut style dessert which are coated in sugar and cinnamon and served with a delicious salted caramel dip. Head down on a warm summer’s day to FINCA to try either its new midweek or weekend menu and tuck into some Cuban classics with a twist.

Red Dog Saloon

Where: 66 Bold Street

Everyone needs a little indulgence once in a while, and where better to go than new Bold Street based American BBQ restaurant Red Dog Saloon.

Set right in the heart of the bustling food and beverage haven, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to cocktails, classic American staples and indulgent milkshakes and desserts.

For meat-eaters, Red Dog Saloon is an obvious choice; chicken wings laden with different sauces from spicy Korean to blackened Cajun, to combo meals made up of your choice of pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage and crispy Southern fried chicken meals, to juicy burgers bursting with different flavours, you’ll walk away more than satisfied.

Pair any of the whopping mains with one of the side dishes from the extensive list, or opt for the fully loaded fries; from Texas Chilli Cheese that are laden with smoked brisket and pork rib chilli, or the Korean Fries topped with crispy smoked chicken and gochujang sauce and Chicken and Bacon Ranch loaded with southern fried chicken and smoked bacon.

The restaurant’s 12-hour hickory smoked meat is served straight from the smoker, and is complete with a delicious slow-cooked blackened intense barbecue flavour.

For vegetarians or those who don’t want to overdo it in the meat department, there are starters including mozzarella sticks, loaded nachos with or without a meaty topping, and jalapeno poppers, there’s also spicy bean burgers, fresh salads and an array of sides including mac and cheese, onion rings, sweet potato and regular fries, pit beans and coleslaw.

If somehow, you’ve still got some room left, there is a selection of super sweet treats such as the dense Oreo and white chocolate fudge pie, Mississippi mud pie and Ice cream sundae, not to mention a vast selection of thick and delicious milkshakes.

For an indulgent treat or after work drinks, head to Red Dog Saloon. To go with the tasty dishes, you’ll find a list of delicious cocktails that are currently 2 for 1 such as Passionfruit Martini, Strawberry Caiprioska, Blackberry Bramble and a selection of Margaritas, not to mention the extensive wine, beer and spirit list.

OKTOPUS

Where: 24 Hardman Street

If you like to try restaurants that are unique and do things a little different, then Oktopus is a must-visit for you. Tucked away in Hardman Yard, just set away from the hustle and bustle of Hardman Street is the hidden gem that specialises in seafood and vegetarian dishes that are packed full of outstanding flavours.

The menu which changes daily is fairly limited. It’s made up of two starters, around eight different small plates and one dessert and one cheeseboard, so it’s definitely not extensive. However, the dishes that secure their place on the menu are superb and packed full of fresh ingredients that create great flavours.

From huge chunks of wild loaf sourdough with samphire and pink peppercorn butter to the popcorn mussels, these two appetisers arrive swiftly so you can take your time browsing through the menu whilst enjoying a light starter that will prepare you for the tasty small plates. For seafood lovers, there are stunning dishes including hake with chorizo and parsley sauce, beet cured salmon with hung yoghurt and brown shrimp with white cabbage and capers.

The vegetarian dishes are equally as tasty and include specialities such as burrata mozzarella with fried tomatoes, roast carrots with torched brie and the Parisian herb gnocchi with pink goat’s cheese. And meat eaters haven’t been forgotten with delicious dishes such as pork belly porchetta with roast Charlotte potatoes.

The restaurant recommends three plates per person so it’s great for those who like to try different dishes and perfect for group sharing. Whatever you order is bound to taste delicious but as Oktopus’ restaurant manager said, “You take the first bite with your eyes”, and so presentation is guaranteed at this new hotspot.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our run down of the best new restaurants in Liverpool 2017. For more information on the best places to grab a bite to eat in the city, check out our Foodies Guide to Bold Street.