Deli Fonseca is one of the few places that makes me wish I was loaded…read more A fab independent deli in Liverpool's business district, it's packed floor to ceiling with all kinds of mouthwatering goodies. The gigantic counter displays a myriad of delicious cheeses, hams, olives, pates, anti-pasti and salads whilst the nearby baskets display fresh sticks and loaves of bread. To top it off, they have dozens of wooden shelves groaning with all kinds of lovely store cupboard treats from organic granola, cereals and cookies to oat cakes, chutneys, olive oils, vinegars, sauces and spices. Now, where did I put that darn lottery ticket?

This review is for the upstairs restaurant area - and sadly it is not a good one. One Saturday…read morelunchtime, I popped in for a light lunch. Nothing complicated - in the end, I ordered a Greek salad and a plate of Serrano ham rather than the pricier mains on the blackboards. I'm not sure how two really basic things could be so disappointing. I think it's because on the surface, this looks like a place that prides itself on sourcing and attention to detail. On the specials during my visit were such items as hand foraged local samphire, Cumbrian lamb and Pink's award winning sausages. So why was the Greek salad about 50% raw onion? Why did it feature those mealy crunchy supermarket basics tomatoes, cold from the fridge? Even the black olives mentioned on the menu were green. And they clearly did have black olives in the kitchen, because my four slices of Serrano ham (almost £6) came topped with a single olive. They boasted it was "20 month aged" - most of it had clearly been in their fridge, as it featured a faint tang of refrigerator and managed to be unpleasantly rubbery. Not sure how Serrano ham can even go rubbery but there you go. If you've boasting of excellent ingredients then it's unacceptable for the basics to fail so badly. I wouldn't bother returning.

This spot was recommended to us for a coffee and desert stop. The part owner here also has a…read moreItalian restaurant and italian cooking school. We ll be here for a treat tomorrow.

"A man that never spends time with his family can never be a real man" famous words from one of the…read morebest onscreen characters on film, Don Vito Corleone. I'd like to think that philosophy is transferable when it comes to Mancunian foodies. You see,us North Westrians are lucky to have sibling cities such as Chester and Liverpool within half an hour's drive. I therefore make it my business to travel within this foodie heaven golden triangle as often as I can. On one such trip over the Easter weekend I stumbled upon this magnificent establishment. Wow. Mama Mia. Chamone. Superlative overload. Even Belissimo doesn't seem to cut it! We live in a world of monotonous corporate food chains. Yes, in twenty year's time Paolo & Donato's may well be one of those chains, such is the inevitability of expansion. But for now here it is, in all its glory. It was an absolute pleasure meeting Paolo the main proprietor, it's difficult to miss him actually. Wearing a genuine warm smile, his approach to greeting customers was more family like than business orientated. When you first visit this may seem a little strange, a bit like those overzealous fake smiling employees at Selfridges who ask you if you need any help every 2 minutes. (I can say that, I used to be one) Not the case here, the staff are extremely helpful and attentive. Love and affection oozes from the place. From the meticulously decorated deli counter, to the large family portrait that adorns the wall. I may just have found THE Italian go to place in the entire region. That coming from someone who hasn't even tried any of their food. No, this was just a quick pit stop for some ice-cream. Not just any ice cream folks, this was home madelicious, the good stuff. I chose a flavour I hadn't tried before, it had an Italian name that escapes me, but I'm here to report it was arguably THE most refreshing and tasty thing I've had for a long time. The sandwiches and pastry desserts looked and smelled heavenly and I have no doubt the taste buds won't be disappointed when I return to sample them. Keep an eye out for a more extensive review after my second trip. I did do my best to all but beg Paolo to open his next Deli in Manchester. He seemed very agreeable with the idea. Hallelujah P&D's is coming to Mancytown! Don't believe me? Next sun sponsored weekend, get in ya car and go check this place out peeps. You won't be disappointed, me promise!

This deli is amazing. Their bagels and cream cheese were stunning…read more The staff are just lovely too. Seriously amazing, can't recommend more highly

Gillions in Crosby is an odd sort of place. From the outside, it just looks like a glorified…read moreconvenience store, larger than usual and generally a bit more open. When you enter though, you realise that it's more like the Selfridges food court than the local One Stop. In here, they stock various different types of goods, including bread, freshly cut meats, drinks and other home essentials. The 'essentials' might not always be your usual kind (a bit more upmarket), but they're essential nonetheless. As it's an independent store, the prices are a bit steeper than if you went to your local supermarket, but by buying from there you are supporting a local business, something which Crosby is struggling to uphold currently. The staff in there are friendly enough and attentive, but I did find the layout of the shop a bit confusing when it comes to paying; the till by the door was unmanned and the only other staff were behind the deli counters, meaning I was unsure where to actually pay for my goods. One member did eventually come over however, crisis averted. They also do catering for events, which I have had the pleasure of sampling (though not paying for, thankfully).

With all the "SHOP LOCAL" propaganda of late, I will guiltily admit that I very rarely shop here,…read moremainly because I am not the main household shopper and anything I need house-wise is usually in the cupboard waiting for me! However. I was in need of a christmas gift for a dear grandmother of mine, rather desperately as I had left shoppng rather late, and just days before the big day, I popped to Gilleons delicattessen. Some months earlier I had purchased some unusual cheeses from a delicattessen in lake district and, as Granny had polished those off delightedly, I thought a nice cheese board would go down well over a game of Christmas scrabble or during Poirot. The cheeses were quite unusual, stilton and blueberry and camembert with something, nuts or raisins.. anyway it went down extremely well, Granny even thought I'd been back to the lakes for it, which shows the quality of the produce sold here! I must say I was surprised by the interior of the store, Gilleons has always appealed from the pavement with it's striped window canopies and chalk board it looks so quaint and inviting, inside however it's a little minimartish, it's clean and stocks a good deal of essentials and extras, but it lacks character. Also, the staff were suprisingly inattentive, the cheese deli server was decidedly miserable and the cashier continued a conversation over my head, barely acknowledging my presence or purchase: no bag and no 'thankyou'. A little rude.

Matta's is an Indian grocery store which has successfully diversified into both regional world…read morefoods and also wholefoods. I'm impressed at the way Matta's has bridged the divide between different retail formats which otherwise seem to exist in parallel universes! For example, I've never seen any of the King Soba range of (organic) noodles in a Chinese supermarket, but Matta's has them. For a shop of fairly modest size, Matta's is fairly stepping up to the plate. Their new website allows you to buy online, and shop by category or by country http://www.mattas.co.uk/ Afro-Caribbean, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese and Thai are all well catered for. There is a definite feel of confidence and genuine foodie enthusiasm in the buying and also in the customer service from at least some of the staff. I tend to shop in Mattas as a double whammy with the Bold Street Fruit & Veg Market further up the hill which is the only place I've seen globe artichoke this year and they also have great seasonal multibuy and bulk deals such as 2kg boxes of cherries for £5. Back to Matta's, if you are new to this type of store, start with some fresh herbs. Mint, cilantro and flat parsley are all under £1 for a huge bunch - use them more liberally in your cooking and enjoy some fresh mint tea while you are at it. The exotic veg display is always nice and fresh - okra, karela, drumstick - google, wikipedia and especially the bearded guy in Matta's are your friend. All the spices you could want are there, including some rarer ones such as szechuan peppercorn. At the checkout, look for the mangoes at £5.99 for a box of six Alphonso (April-June) or Honey (late June-October) mangoes, both varieties being name-checked by celebrity chefs. All-in-all, a fantastic foodie destination easily accessible to all due to the prime Bold Street location, right by Liverpool Central rail station.

Matta's is an excellent Asian store selling a huge variety of ingredients and exotic foods as well…read moreas frozen fish. There is no other store like this in Liverpool as here you'll find rarer products that you can experiment with. It is particularly popular with students and people from foreign backgrounds. Some westerners may consider the food strange so don't be suprised. There is alot of delightful produce to be tried at affordable prices. If you want to cook up something new whether it is middle-eastern or Carribean cuisine, come here because staff are friendly and will kindly advise you.

This isn't just a deli where your grandma gets her crackers from! Palm's is a well established…read morelocal deli selling a wide range of locally sourced snacks and supplies! From water biscuits through to Pringles, this place is a gem of an alternative if you fancy sampling some local delights. They are one of few places in West Kirby and indeed locally that serve Patchwork Pate, a luxurious Pate in several flavours which is locally cherished! They release limited edition seasonal pates which are to die for! Palms also sell a large selection of breads and cheeses, this is a perfect shop to stock up for nibbles to go with wine or if you're throwing a posh party. They also stock great coffee beans that you can't get anywhere else in West Kirby, which is great for a coffee connoisseur! Be warned, this shop if quite pricey and is often inhabited by pensioners, so if you're in a rush, be prepared to take some sloooow time in the queue!

You can't go wrong with great cheese. Ask if you don't know staff are great…read more The guys here stock a wide variety of cheese, crackers, chutney and many other little bits and pieces. If there is something that takes your fancy or you just need a hand choosing your latest and greatest cheese board. It's not the biggest shop in the world but sometimes good things come in small packages. Prices are middle of the road to high but you get what you pay for. It's always nice to get some good cheese and this is a great place to fulfil that need.

A very wide selection of cheeses from which to choose, including a featured cheese of the week…read morewhich you can try. On my visit it was an Argyle Cheshire. The excellent selection of different chutneys and oils pushed this shop higher in my estimations and when I saw they had a handful of real ales on the bottom shelf I was in dreamland (and 4 stars became 5).

We had a wonderful dinner here last Thursday night. The COVID-19 measures were firmly in place and…read morethat made us feel very comfortable. The restaurant has a beautiful, relaxed vibe and is flooded with light at sunset. The food was excellent, as always, and the staff were warm, welcoming and efficient. Can't wait to go again. Thanks to Tom and his colleagues for making our family dinner -- our first meal out since lockdown -- a night to remember.

Amazing salads and sandwiches. Fresh ingredients and super helpful staff. Tasty salads, sandwiches…read moreand soups make this an ideal choice for lunch. Recommended!