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.

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.

The snacks in the supermarket are brilliant and the drinks are very nice I really recommend you…read moreto go to the restaurant and the supermarket

W H Lung or Wing Hing Lung as many Chinese know it, is a Oriental Supermarket located right next to…read morethe ever so popular Tai Pan Restaurant . The store is situated in an ideal place for people from afar, who want to but a few items before or after their meal at Tai Pan or whether it's just for a weekend shop. They are always well stocked with products and have a huge wholesale section at the rear of the building for larger purchases. Staff who are Chinese and British will be on hand to help and advise you of your needs; they will search for an item, especially if it is large and heavy and bring it to you. There is usually someone who helps pack your bags at the check-out too. If you're looking to cook up a treat and try something out of your borders, then you will find a wide variety of foods here whether fresh, frozen, canned or dried. On a weekend, they usually have portions of freshly hot cooked roast duck (laid out near the tills) with an aroma that will certainly tempt you!

I Love Grapevine. The fruit and vegetables are always so fresh and delicious. It's really quite a…read morelarge shop and sells more than the average fruit shop; there's a small range of cooking extras: sauces, oils and dressings, herbs, and fresh eggs, and a fantastic indoor and outdoor plant section, with cut flowers and bedding plants all available. There's always great offers on the fruit, Tuesday I bought a big strawberries for £1 and they were just divine! Great place, but it's a long way to walk back to the train station (or the car park) with heavy purchases.. I don't think home delivery is available.

A small wholesalers on Smithdown Road, if you fancy buying some out of the ordinary spices and…read moresauces, putting some pazazz into your kitchen or only want to buy your favourite hot sauce once every five years then come here! (Sweet chilli goodness, here I come!) It's cool walking around this store, they have a small butchers inside and fresh fruit and veg, as well as rows of freezers full of massive fish with their eyes gawping up at you. It's really cheap for the quantity you get so if you don't want to go to Asda and are feeding the five thousand then consider yourself in good hands.

Continental Supermarket is an alternative supermarket which deals in foreign food for those who are…read morenot natives of Liverpool but are after some home comforts. In principal this is a great idea and it follows in the footsteps of a number of Polish general stores which I have seen dotted around Liverpool and various other places across the country. Inside however this appears to be a poorly run establishment and one which could do with a good tidy to be honest. The order of the supermarket seems to be none- existent and the staff do not seem to be forthcoming with help or indeed seem to concerned about tidying the general mess. There is a wide selection of goods inside from fruit and vegetables to halal meat and in this sense this is a useful and caring place, the problem is it has too many faults. With a good tidy and a spruce up this could be an excellent stop for an alternative shop it just happens that there is work to be done.

One of the friendliest retailers I've come across and one of the most helpful too. They have the…read moreadded advantage of being the cheapest food import website I've found with excellent postage rates. Monster sweets offer something for all tastes, I can happily feed my addiction for Milka and Ritter Sports goodness whilst getting tempted by all kinds of new goodies with regular stock updates. Currently small in size I look forward to seeing Monster Sweets grow and grow.

First time ordering from monster sweets and I was hugely impressed! My order was delivered on time…read moreand it was well packed to ensure the items made it through the ordeal that is the royal mail :) They offer an impressive selection of products at an excellent price, from random Reese's products and poptarts, American groceries and so on, to an extensive range of European goodies. If you're a fan of ritter sport chocolates (as I am!) this is definitely the place to go. Literally all the varieties are there for you to eagerly purchase, including all the seasonal limited edition varieties which thrills me immensely. Let's not forget Milka and Ferrero products also: check out Hanuta and the milka and tuc bar..it's all kinds of delightful. Yay for Monster sweets!

My parents always speak of the great outdoors and the satisfaction of all things simple. Life in…read morethe country for example... growing your own food, having your own cattle and poultry. The idea is definitely intriguing, there is great appeal in growing your own food for sure. I am too much of an urbanite however. I love the buzz of the city and the idea of being surrounded by a dense population. That's not to say I don't enjoy the serenity of the outdoors. Perhaps one day I will get the bug, for now I will stick to occasional visits to farm shops such as Claremont. It is refreshing and reassuring to know that this family owned farm has been in the family for a few generations. The expertise of yielding what our wee mother earth has to offer have no doubt been passed down from generation to generation. There is nothing better tasting than fresh organic vegetables out the soil. Luckily for us they stock a good supply of vegetables such as asparagus, beetroot, carrots, rhubarb and potatoes all year round. Obviously being a farm shop it has your locally sourced meat, fish and seafood treats including roll-mop herring, smoked salmon and smoked trout. Claremont also stock some decent king-size Yorkshire puddings. (Not my cup of tea but oh well) As well as all these traditional farm shop offerings there is also good range of specialty foods which include Greek-style nibbles that feature peppers stuffed with feta, stuffed vine leaves (dolmades) and olives. Those with a mice like love for cheese will like the gourmet biscuits and Snowdonia Cheese Company cheeses will be perfect with Mrs Darlington's chutneys. I love farm shops with a passion and if you haven't been here I invite you to start your journey of love with farm shops. It will have you coming back for more.

There is absolutely everything going on at Claremont Farm. First the shop, then Claremont Kitchen,…read moresupply of fruit and vegetables to restaurants in Liverpool, Wirral and Chester and fresh food outlets in the North West, Welly Walk events, cookery master classes, pick your own, school events and fishing. I am sure I have probably missed something! I haven't tried them yet but I particularly like the sound of Claremont Kitchen and their workshops. There are a few events coming up, including Just Bread - a full day course (9.30am - 4.00 pm) devoted entirely to bread making, ranging from basic loaves and individual seeded rolls to enriched doughs, flat breads and fougasse. Also includes the perfect bread and pudding! They also have loads more coming up - wow wee! I love it!

I've been to this Tesco location at Liverpool 3 times now. Every single visit has been great! You…read morefind treasures around every corner and the sales they have are really good. According to the locals, this is a bigger store than the regular ones. If I get a chance to visit a regular store, I'll confirm, lol. This one does have 2 levels, and you can take the lift (elevator) or the escaltors escalators. The escalator going down wasn't working the times I've been, but just walk down anyway. They have cashiers for check out as well as self check-out lanes. Prices here are awesome! I'm a huge fan of their bakery bread and the snacks. Their sparkling water game is pretty strong, too. Don't be shocked if I check in here again, lol!

There are Tesco's literally everywhere these days, none more so than probably in Liverpool city…read morecentre. If you're around Liverpool, Tesco's of all versions are dotted around places: metro, local, express, superstore. If there are any more, you'll have to let me know! The Liverpool One branch of Superstore is not actually the most super I have come across in Liverpool as there is one in Litherland which is gargantuan in comparison. However, Liverpool One Tesco is certainly what the town needs. You still have plenty of choice here, a variety of sections such as deli, clothes and international foods to keep you adding more to your basket! I find this place more of a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience as opposed to the Metro version by the big screen, because its more spacious and offers an abundance of products. The location isn't great if you're driving there as it'll cost you pounds to park somewhere nearby but certainly convenient when you have other chores to do around town.

Freshco is a small Asian and European grocery store in London Road. Like many shops of a similar…read moretype, Freshco offers a glamorous range of fresh, frozen and dried produce. If you're the type like me who enjoys the odd experiment in the kitchen, then Freshco is a place where you can find exotic ingredients that you won't find in a typical British supermarket. Like Megan, I always enjoy browsing ethnic shops as I'm curious to try new products. Freshco also sells Halal food which is considerate for those who have religious beliefs. You'll find tobacco and international calling cards are on offer too. As a whole, this shop is like your Asian version of Spar containing a fusion of European and Eastern foods. At Freshco, you have a decent choice and value all under one roof. Great for a gander.

Freshco, on London Road in Liverpool, is a little Asian and European grocery store. I'd never heard…read moreof it before today when I was exploring the area. I love ethnic grocery stores--they are always so interesting. And for some reason, the fact that I can't read the foreign words on the food labels kind of makes me want to try stuff more than I would if I knew exactly what was in it. (I loved Soy and Worcester sauce until I discovered they both have crushed/pulverized anchovies in them! Yuck!) Here you will find ethnic foods like all different kinds of rice, tea, oriental spices, etc. but they also sell European foods, and some items that aren't typically British. It's a nice place to poke around if you like unusual food or if you're looking for something special for a recipe.

Hands down one of the most delicious restaurants in Liverpool. The food, Service, and Ambiance are…read moreall 10/10. Couldn't recommend this place more!

Lunch special was great value. 19 euro pp for 3 dishes from the selection. Dishes are the same size…read moreas the regular menu but it's a limited choice Each dish we tried was really tasty. The unanimous favorite was the sea bass though. Id recommend also selecting a pizzette as it is quite filling. Friendly staff. Busy place.. we came around 12ish on a weekday and it was packed. Lots of workers from local offices.