Reviews in Liverpool and Merseyside

Very few things in life are ever certain, with the exceptions of death, taxes and over half term, rain and shopping. So it was that on a dreary wet Wednesday of half term that I chauffeured Red (the wife) Fidget and Shy (sons) into Liverpool city centre ostensibly to purchase trainers for Fidget, who seems to go through said items faster than Operation Yewtree is going through celebrities, though I feel I should point out that much of our 'training shoe' shopping time was spent in various female clothing stores. Weird how that works isn't it? Zizzi is one of a rapidly growing chain of rustic Italian themed restaurants that have been popping up across England for the past 15 years. Anyway, fully shopped-out, we arrived at the fairly deserted upper level of Liverpool One. The only other inhabitants out in the rain were four Liverpool One caretaking staff dredging various bits of detritus out of a blocked drain. Lovely! Fortunately we were able to seek refuge from the rains and drains in an equally deserted Zizzi. The dining room is bang on message with the Italian rustic theme: spacious and bright with more than its fair share of wood and an eye-catching open kitchen with a pizza oven as the conflagrant centre piece. Service was very prompt from a more mature waitress (I realise I am straying into treacherous territory here but I have always found the more fully fledged to make better waiting-on staff) and continued in that excellent vein throughout. We were quickly seated in the window, presumably as bait for other passers-by and furnished with menus, and the boys with their own children's menu, though they declined the crayons to colour them in. We opted for shared starters of the obligatory garlic bread and a chicchetti platter. The former was a very serviceable oven baked flatbread with sufficient garlic to keep us all happy. The latter was a sharing plate of Arancini risotto balls, chicken and pepper skewers, oven baked king prawn skewers, mini calzone with spicy n’duja sausage and a tomato and bufala (sic) mozzarella salad with a chunky peperonata dip. The risotto balls were moist and flavoursome with the added joy of a melted cheese centre. The chicken and pepper skewers were a favourite with all 4 of us, Fidget particularly liking the peppers. The king prawn skewers were equally well recieved, though I felt a touch overcooked. The mini calzone avoided the classic pit-fall of being overcooked and provided a moderately interesting mouthful, made much more intriguing when the spicy sausage was found! And finally the mozzarella salad, well it was a mozzarella salad: mozzarella, basil and mini tomatoes. Service between courses was slightly slow, around 15 to 20 mins each time, but I am assured by various restaurateurs that this is a good thing! I just know that in this time Red could have popped into Next and Top Shop, bought those shoes and that top, delivered the phrases "Well I haven't got anything to wear!" and "All those clothes and shoes in my wardrobe have been there for years" and been back at the table without missing a course. The message here is clear ladies, never fall in love with an Italian you have met on the internet! For our mains the two boys stayed on the children's menu with a very well cooked spaghetti bolognese (even better than dad's he said), and a standard margherita pizza, which we were able to adorn with additional chicken for a £1 surcharge. Before arriving Red had researched the menu and set her heart on a Zizzi Spiedini, no this is not an oiled-up hunk or the Italian Eurovision entry but a house special, in this case the spiedini pollo: roast chicken breast with red onions, courgettes and peppers on a hanging skewer served above Tuscan potatoes with a white wine and lemon sauce. As is often the case with internet dating, however, the reality did not match the pictures Red had been devouring on the internet the night before. Six small, tepid pieces of chicken hung over a small bowl of potatoes, purportedly Tuscan, though passports were not checked, with a congealed sauce watching on from the side. !My main had also been pre-selected: the calzone carne piccante consisting of spicy piccante chicken, mini beef meatballs, mushroom, chilli, tomatoes and bolognese. Despite the inedible inch of dough at either end, this on the whole was an enjoyable pizza: plenty of flavour in the chicken and sauce, though not as hot as I had hoped and the mini meatballs tasted somewhat manufactured. Nevertheless a drizzle of the gasoline packaged chilli oil lifted the dish to the level of heat I was looking for. It was sharp and tangy but the marscarpone, like a parish priest on the Palm Sugar dance floor, appeared somewhat out of place. The best, however, was saved till last. the boys ploughed on with the children's menu selecting lemon sorbet, sharp and fresh and a good mint choc chip gelato. As for Red and me we were swayed by our ever-helpful and enthusiastic waitress who helpfully informed us that the two most popular desserts were the new lemon meringue sundae and the chocolate and toffee nut sundae. Red went fresh and citrus with the former whilst I dabbled with the dark arts of the latter. Red, still suffering from a broken heart from the main course, was only partly impressed with the lemon sorbet, crema gelato, crumbled meringue, whipped mascarpone cream, lemon curd and mint dessert. It was sharp and tangy but the marscarpone. Then just as the dessert could not get any better there is a knock on the door of your mouth and the caramalised peanuts turn up to get the party started. The crowning glory, however, of the whole meal was my dessert: chocolate and crema gelato, banana, whipped mascarpone cream, toffee sauce and caramelised peanuts. Yes the mascarpone was once again misplaced but that paled into insignificance in the sweet embrace of the toffee sauce and delightfully light gelato. As Alan Partridge would say "Jurrassic Park!" This dessert is worth visiting Zizzi's for just on its own. In the post-coital comfort of the dessert we paid the bill £80 for the four of us and prepared to leave. Rising from the table like a broken woman, with a teared stained tissue in her hand Red still looked heartbroken after her dalliance with Zizzi Spiedini. As ever the loving husband I asked what could possibly make her feel better. Then with a glint in her eye she perked up and suggested "maybe some more retail therapy?" My poor credit card. Type: family / budget restaurant. Service: 9.5/10 A victory for the more mature waiting on staff! Atmosphere: 7/10 attractive open dining room, plenty of wood. Food: 7/10 in true spaghetti western fashion: the good, the bad and the ugly. Value for money: 7.5/10 children's meals great, mains a bit pricier. Overall: 7.5 Worth a visit. These are judged against the best of that type of restaurant. For example cafes against what you would expect from the best cafes, high end restaurants against the best high end restaurants etc.

Had a great night at Mr Chans last night for my Wife's 65th birthday. Food and service were excellent as always. The best Chinese restaurant in the north.

This has got to be the best food eaten in a long time. We had the £12.50 deal all of the meal was hot and delicious. The staff were very friendly.

I use my tastecard here all the time and I have to say that it is the best Italian in Liverpool for both food and price. The staff are very nice and the service is fast, don't waste time with Ask Italian or any others when the best llready exists.

So salsa. Myself my daughter and a friend went in for our lunch, so impressed we all went back for evening meal on the same day. Food was amazing. Staff were lovely and friendly.

We tried Othellos for the first time last night and have to say the meal was fantastic. Our 2 young kids loved the kalamari and the kebabs. We would also recommend the Klefticon which fell off the bone and the Stiffado which my wife said was the best she had ever tasted. The portion sizes are very generous and the price is very reasonable. We will be back soon.

Visited Harbour Bar for a Leaving Do on Thursday 29th May. As soon as we got there we noticed an "A Board" outside advising it was a private party which was very appreciative. The 2 ladies serving were lovely. No issues with getting deposit back, would totally recommend this bar for a small private party xx

We had relatives over from Holland. We took them to Sheldrakes as a treat. It was a treat too. The food was fantastic, service was exceptional, and the views were brilliant. What more could you ask for. This was my fourth time at Sheldrakes, I would highly recommend it as an exceptional evening out. Well done. X

Myself and partner have just been to Al Dente, what a lovely tasty meal! Excellent selection on the menus, wine was excellent and prices very very reasonable indeed! Fantastic, thoughtful service! Makes a change from New Brighton, best little kept secret in Wallasey.

Gone down hill. Food not up to much. Is getting dated inside looks grubby staff not helpful. Go elsewhere not here. Shame when Jimmy Ho had it, really was the best, always full, now you walk in and get a table, this says it all. Not value for money anymore. Sadly a chip shop offers better food.

Cocktails on the roof terrace,. A fantastic meal with a table overlooking the river Mersey, a fantastic restaurant can't wait to visit again !!

Ate at Smugglers Cove on Sunday 25th May with family group of 8. The service was excellent from bar & table staff. Cocktails at bar whilst waiting for table were really interesting and served with a smile. The table we had looked out on the dock which was nice. We had a few platters to start for which you can make up yourself from a fine selection. We also had some pork scratching starters which were lovely. Good selection of mains all well cooked and presented. The atmosphere and decor is rather quirky yet excellent. There was a singer and keyboard player sitting at the bar which created a nice ambience. Highly recommended if you want good food, a nice atmosphere, interesting decor and to be served by friendly efficient staff.

My partner and I went to Al Dente on its opening night...the food was excellent, as was the service and the wine. We had a wonderful evening and would highly recommend this lovely little restaurant.

After spending the afternoon watching our Pinnochio themed politicians blabbing, I gave up and went out for Tea. Thai rice is very nice, warm, friendly and very pleasant attentive staff. Had Chicken satay skewers, good peanut sauce very tasty followed by a red curry with tiger prawns and fresh pineapple chunks with coconut rice. It was spicy, and a degree of heat, just enough to suit this curry head but not too hot as some other thai dishes can be. I followed this with a sweet pancake with coconut and ice cream. I must say I enjoyed every mouthful and left a very happy man again, cost was £29 which included a pint, fair price and worth every penny. I can recommend this venue without hesitation. Happy days !!

Great lunch at Salt House Bacaro, tasty food and great service.

My first visit but I hope it won't be my last, really friendly staff and not in a hurry to get rid of us. The food was superb and excellent value.

This Wetherspoons is a digrace the way the treat the patrons. If you're disabled the manger treats you like her does not want you in there in. The food if you can call it food is disgraceful, the dark ambiance is so you cannot see the dirt the manger needs sacking

A perfect venue matched by perfect service and excellent food. The relaxed friendly atmosphere was a brilliant introduction to my first Italian Tapas. Good variety of dishes with well priced wines. Book ahead as it is so popular you don't want to be disappointed.