On every trip, we treat ourselves to dinner at one or two Michelin starred or recommended. The Art…read moreSchool was Michelin recommended and it didn't disappoint. We started with drinks at the bar first - i had a signature cocktail - the Art School Sling - which was the chef's twist on a Ginger Sling....delicious. Then we were brought to our table in the Lantern Room, which was bright and colorful with bright red chairs and turquoise umbrellas hanging upside down from the ceiling. Lovely. We had Chef Askew's regular Tasting Menu and each course was more beautiful than the previous. The staff were charming and chatty and enhanced our dining experience even further. My personal favorites were the Duck course and the dessert - Art School S'mores. My wife and I heartily recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an upscale dining experience while traveling! I would also recommend that Michelin consider them for their first star! Side note - i happened to notice that the bar had a bottle of Macallan Time Space: Mastery on display on the top shelf! I was very impressed. I had a whole conversation with Nick the bartender about that, and whisky in general. Halfway through the meal, Nick approached and asked if i'd like another drink.....and i decided to go for it and give myself a rare present - a dram of the Macallan! Admittedly, it's an expensive dram (£150 for a 25ml pour) it was a good and complex whisky with a nice long finish....and it was MUCH cheaper to buy the experience than it would be to buy a bottle for myself at over £1300! If i look at it THAT way, i saved myself £1200 that night! Cheers! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186337-d7119231-r1016107040-The_Art_School-Liverpool_Merseyside_England.html#

While the food was good for the most part, with beautiful presentation and local ingredients, and…read morethe venue itself beautiful, a subpar service ruined the experience this evening. One should not have to ask for more water three times during a service, nor wait 20 minutes staring at empty dessert plates before being able to ask for a cheque. I've had more attentive service at a texmex in Brooklyn. We are in Liverpool from New York, and I was looking for a special way to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary this evening at The Art School. Typically, after sharing news of a special occasion, a fine dining restaurant will do something small, personal, to indicate the occasion. For many, this is a small extra course. The Art School staff didn't even acknowledge verbally it with a "congratulations". One last point: in fine dining, it is the little things that matter. Turning over our menu to find a pre-theatre prix-fixe menu didn't set the right tone. All in all, an unfortunately disappointing experience.

French cuisine on a shoestring!!! Bistro Jacques is in the perfect area for both students and…read morethespians, and caters accordingly, with a budget menu and a theatre menu. The special lunch offer is 3 courses for £7.95, which seems amazing, but unfortunately the food always seems as though it's heated-up, mass-produced and bland. The presentation is good, but it doesn't cover up the quality of the food. Then again, you can't really expect a prime steak of £7.95! The service can be a bit absent-minded at times, but the staff are pleasant and friendly. It is a favourite place for Sunday lunch for my dad, as he always appreciates spending less than £10 for what he terms 'decent food', and loves the fact that you can get a French lesson either by reading the messages on the walls or spending long enough in the loo, where an education-style tape is played teaching you various sayings. A pleasant enough place for a cheap meal, but nothing outstanding about the food.

Like it's sister restaurants on the other side of Liverpool 1 and Matthew St, Bistro Jacques does a…read moregood impression of being an authentic French restaurant while not resorting to Parisien prices. Anyone who has been to Paris will know that it can cost you an arm and a leg for a meal and couple of beers - although I'm not sure why there is still the idea that the French are still great cooks, they're massive for cheese on toast over there, you get laughed at over here for suggesting it's called Welsh Rarebit but Croque Monsieur is somehow much more acceptable! Anyway a 3 course lunch for £8 quid is a bargain and when you can get an early doors - sorry pre theatre - meal deal for £11 its good value and handy for the local Everyman and Philharmonic. They don't rest on their laurels either as the menu seems to change regularly.

Owens is a great restaurant, and is celebrated locally for having great food at affordable prices…read more I disagree with the review below, I don't think that it's in the middle of nowhere, Childwall Fiveways is home to quite a few places, including Wetherspoons and Spiceways. It is always busy so I do suggest booking and not just turning up because you will be sent away with an empty tummy. The food is decent, I suggest the chicken with mango and lime - random but good! You can expect to get a three course meal for two, with a bottle of wine for about £50-60.

Owens is a popular restaurant that overlooks the roundabout at Fiveways. It's smart interior is not…read moretoo crowded with tables and there is a good looking well stocked bar. I love the menu although its void of punctutation and capital letters which obviously only get in the way of deciding what you want to eat. If you are not eating at peak time on a Friday or Saturday they offer some good value menus with a choice of 12 different starters and mains. Beautifully laid tables, friendly service and good food awaits.

Spire is a restaurant which achieves an "in-town" feel but is actually situated out of town. The…read morerestaurant has achieved many awards including Liverpool Restaurant of the Year - all of which are deserved in my opinion. The menu is a mixture of Modern European and British food which isn't too pricey for the calibre of restaurant - a main meal will set you back about £16. The interior is clean cut and modern with an atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. I think this is a difficult task considering that Spire is home to some of the best chefs in the North West.

Over in Wavertree you'll find the Michelin-recommended Spire, which is certainly worth the effort…read moreto find and the additional expense of being such a highbrow restaurant. However there are plenty of fixed price meals with multiple courses that are excellent value, so even if you're feeling a little light in the pocket department you can still enjoy a highly accolade restaurant. The service here is really top notch, it can occasionally be a little slow but it's friendly and attentive and that's what ultimately matters. Even the owner gets involved which is always a good sign. There's a wonderful atmosphere and the decor is more than gorgeous, but it's the food that's the star here, especially the crispy squid starter with chilli sauce and pak choi. Mouthwatering deliciousness. There's no particular food 'theme' here other than painfully hip and modern, hence why you'll find gnocchi and mushrooms accompanying turbot on the same menu, but I loved all the combinations. The portions aren't massive as you'd expect from a restaurant like this, but they're certainly sufficient enough. The unhurried ambience really adds to the quality of the place and you feel like you can relax, and the staff seem to genuinely want to listen to you. The desserts are stunning as well. All in all, all boxes ticked - attention to detail here is paramount and that's reflected in the quality.

This is a great place to go if you want the meal/disco package in a classier environment. It was a…read morefavourite of my mum's at one point, which meant we all got dragged here for her 50th a few years ago. You get a choice of a la carte food whilst sat at long tables, and depending on what night you go on, there's a variety of entertainment and ultimately the dancefloor is opened up to the general public. Apart from the MC who believes that because he can speak into a microphone and wears black he is god's gift to women, it is a really enjoyable experience and the staff are lovely. There are a number of impressionists, so be prepared for the Rat Pack, Tom Jones and the like. The food is great although I'm never a big fan of eating in places that are so dimly lit you can't see what's on your plate. The bar is pretty good too, with a fair few cocktails to choose from and bar staff as accomplished as any you'd see in the pretentious bars down Victoria Street. All in all a good experience, though it tends to be for more mature people. It depends how happy you are watching your mum attempting to pole dance with the MC's mike stand I guess...

I've started and stopped writing this review various times since my visit last Saturday. Some…read moreaspects totally deserve 5 stars - namely their awesome social media team who actually stayed in touch with me via Twitter throughout the night and the next morning - but some, i.e. food/service/entertainment take it back to a 3. I visited in a hen do capacity with some of the other half's family. Looking for somewhere for circa 15 people under the title 'hen do' can prove impossible, and that's where Blundell Street steps up to the plate. We were surrounded by similar size parties, but managed to get booked in to two of the large tables upstairs, meaning we weren't so enclosed by everyone else. A quick stop for a wine at the downstairs bar and we headed up to get seated. The space itself is large without feeling vacant, and adorned with images of Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. A reflection of the upcoming entertainment, perhaps? Think again! The live singer was good enough, with music between sets, but the song choices just felt a bit clunky and odd. Any energy was coming from the dance floor as opposed to the stage, with many of us even forgetting he was up there at times. If you're familiar with Dave Spikey in Phoenix Nights, you're on the right track... The food (something I am much more familiar with!) was impressive for the amount they're churning out on an evening. Popcorn chicken was okay, goat's cheese risotto needed another slab of goat's cheese and some pepper, and the eton mess was also okay. Plenty of wine was bought to the table at around £13 for the cheapest bottle, which you pay up front for - whether this makes it easier or a bit of a hassle to fish your purse out each time is up to you. Kudos to the staff for earning their living surrounded by these loud and usually drunk parties. It did take our waitress a little while to get into the swing of things, trying to bring a bottle of red instead of sauvignon blanc as ordered, but some help from a fellow waiter helped her get back on track. Recommended for an easy night out with a large group, but I won't be going out of my way to revisit.

The Rams Head is a lovely traditional pub in the middle of the picturesque cobbled village…read moreGrappenhall. They have seating outside so you can have a beer whilst admiring the old church and scenery and a large beer garden at the back, making it the perfect place to visit on a sunny day. Inside the pub is nice and cosy with comfy chairs, exposed beams and an old fashioned fire place. The food at the Rams head is also very good. They serve high end pub grub and in the week you can take advantage of their offer where 3 courses with a bottle of wine costs £16.95 per person. They also have a happy hour drinks between 3pm and 6pm, weekdays only.

Lovely location, nice olde looking pub tucked away. Big Car park…read more Always clean, pleasant staff. lots of areas to sit in, including leather sofas in front of an open fire lit in the winter months. You get a little biscuit with your tea or coffee too! bonus ;-) Would have got 5 but for the fact I tried the chips and though home made, they didnt taste that great. I am sure the rest of the food is lovely, it looks good from what i see as they serve people near me, the chips just werent for me, also no skimmed milk on my last visit, just whole milk so had to have a cup of tea rather than a latte. being picky really.. it really is a nice place :-)

Although the ambience of the restaurant is spot on, along with the food, I felt shunned by the…read morewaitress who was clearly annoyed by accommodating my dietary requirements. She spoke to my table with a sense of 'I know best' when my allergies are nothing to be joked about. Really respected the remainder of the staff and it's clear that the owner knows what they're doing - just disappointed with the overall morale when taking into account potentially life-threatening ailments I have. A good chance we caught her on an off night, but disappointing overall, especially after reading such glowing reviews.

Here we are in the Wirral again to sample some of the local restaurants, and really this side of…read morethe Mersey does have some great stuff to offer. Lino's falls into this category and there's so much food to choose from that you might just find your mind completely overwhelmed, with specials to boot. It's all good too which makes the choice even harder! The first thing that struck me about this restaurant was just how traditional it was. You're met at the door, your coats are taken and the staff really do make the effort to have a little chat with you, on an informal basis which I do find far more comfortable. The food portions here are really generous, so much so that you might have to forego dessert for a starter and vice versa. It's Italian-stroke-Mediterranean in flavour and everything is fresh, zingy and full of pizzazz. Plus the service is absolutely excellent, as you may have garnered from the above. You're allowed to take your time and that's classically important when it comes to this type of food. The slogan of the restaurant is 'nothing is too much trouble'. You dirty beggars can stop your wild imaginations right now, it simply means that they're willing to accommodate your needs tenfold. And those needs are related to FOOD. And service. All of which is exemplary. Bravo, Lino's!

Quaint hotel pub. Great service and impressive menu. Got the lamb three ways and the chicken kebab…read moreand greek salad. Also definitely go for the g & t.

To do it justice you have to dine here in the summer, despite what they say at Sheldrakes. Parked…read morenicely in the Dee Estuary with panoramic views of the welsh mountains and the sea, there is some spectacular scenery to be gawked at. It really is a fantastic location. Thankfully the food is just as spectacular as the views they offer made of course from fresh local produce, so I've been told. Have you noticed this has become a bit of a given for alot of the restaurants? It almost seems as if they are repeating it parrot fashion to sound more green. Cynical thoughts aside their pan roasted loin of cod with tarragon and sesame seed crust is simply delightful. There is Mediterranean flair in the air you will notice with Mediterranean seafood featuring as well as antipasti sharing platters. The menu has a Cheshire / Mediterranean mixture which is nice and reflects the owners state of mind perhaps. The summer Sunday barbecue menu however is Sheldrake's crown jewel. At £17 per head and 3 courses awaiting you, there best be some room in them tumtums I tell thee. The options are all equally appealing and for the first time ever in any of my reviews each one of them deserves a special mention. We start off the precedings with 8 oz Cheshire rib eye steak marinated in a chef made barbecue sauce, for all of you who don'like change. For the likes of me who love bit of spice in our lives there is the garlic and mint marinated Welsh lamb rump kebab served with tzatziki dip, yowza!!! For the ladies perhaps the Chargrilled corn fed poussin with garlic and tarragon butter might tickle your fancy. Last but by no means least the vegans amongst us will be more than content with the rumptuous Thai marinated Halloumi kebab. Seriously how can you go wrong? Magnificent innings indeed. Throw into the mix a wide variety of tapas on offer and hey presto you have a Sunday barbecue you will not forget.

Bistro Noir is a fairly regular haunt for me, either for socialising or for informal business…read moremeetings and I must say it scores well for both... With its extremely good value 3 courses for £9.99 deal Sunday to Tuesday then their still pretty appealing 2 courses for £12.95 Weds to Saturday you can have a good old feed here and not break the bank (although you might need to wear your elasticated waist trousers...the last time I went with a friend on a Tuesday night she insisted on me ordering a dessert even though I was full. "But I can't eat it!" I said. "Never mind, she replied, "I'll eat it for you. But you HAVE to order it because it's part of the deal!!!" I had to practically roll her home... The menu is actually rather an odd mix of styles in my opinion with a mix of British (roasts), American (burgers), classic French (pates and steaks), Mediterranean (feta salads and calamari) Jamaican and Asian (plus last time I was in they were playing Spanish or Mexican music - go figure) but to be honest you don't go to Bistro Noir for continuity of culinary style. The starters are always tasty and a decent size and the main courses rarely a disappointment. I always really enjoy the Jamaican goat curry and there is a beautiful Sri Lankan chicken curry that I thoroughly recommend. And keep your eyes open for the specials...I once had a fillet steak with Stroganoff sauce and creamy mash potatoes. I still drool now thinking about it. I rarely eat a dessert when out for an evening meal so I tend to sample the B.N puds and cakes when in there for a coffee sometimes of an afternoon. They do a gluten free chocolate torte which is a little piece of heaven on a plate. And as a woman who is extremely fussy about how I like my coffee, I have to say their lattes are second to none. All in all a big thumbs up from me. Fine dining it ain't but tasty food in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere it is. And you'll have money left over for drinks on Lark Lane afterwards...

I had an enjoyable late lunch here last Saturday. Although the décor is up to standard for a…read morebistro, the preponderance of families with tots ensured the atmosphere didn't get too rarified! But this wasn't a problem for me, and the ambience is probably more sophisticated during the evening. The cake and dessert selection is a big thing here with everything being made from scratch. Vegetarian options on the menu were enough - a soup of the day, panninis (?) and a couple of mains. I enjoyed my choice of baked red pepper stuffed with couscous, sundried tomatoes, olives and with a pesto over the top. I specifically asked, and the chips are definitely handcut on the premises. Everything on the plate was as it should be. Chips, albeit handcut, seems to be a bit of a fallback to fill out the vegetarian option in British 'bistros'. For me, the couscous stuffing here was more enjoyable and healthful than the chips. The service was friendly and attentive, although I did feel that one waitress was haring around the tables a bit much - a wee bit more serenity does wonders for the digestion, I find! Price is definitely right - I don't have the receipt to hand, but £6.99 is my recollection. I would have no problems with eating here again. If you like the ambience of West Didsbury in Manchester you might like to checkout Lark Lane, which has similar options for comparing the menus of a tight concentration of 'foodie' restaurants and pubs before making your choice. And with Sefton Park, the regenerated Festival Gardens and Riverside Walk (basically, a new promenade along the side of the River Mersey) nearby, this part of the world is definitely worth a visit.