5 local dishes to try at the best restaurants of Liverpool, the UK

Scouse. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedra

Our selection has to start with the city’s most cherished legacy called scouse. The dish is so popular that it has also become a nickname for sailors from the area and the name of the local spoken dialect. The meal consists of a hearty stew, usually containing mutton or beef pieces mixed with rustic thick-cut vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Though the origin date is a little hazy, many agree that it is somewhere around the 18th century. Not directly related to other British hot pots, scouse came from a Norwegian recipe brought to Liverpool by the seamen who worked in the port. This bowl of comfort food has now become a staple in most of the city’s pubs and is served with a slice of bread alongside pickled beetroot or cabbage. If you come to the metropolis to watch a game of football, then try their modern scouse pie – a baked light puff pastry with gravy that fills you with the much-needed warmth during halftime.

If a dish is named after the people of the city, you know it will be available at every restaurant around. But nothing matches the irresistible taste of the specialty at the Welsford bistro. Started by Neil Blackhurst and Damien Flynn, it is a cafeteria-style dining space occupying a prime area inside the Liverpool Cathedral. The interiors ooze a calming and soothing atmosphere, thanks to the massive ceilings, cool rustic brick walls, colorful stained glass windows, and a transparent façade overlooking the porch.

They also offer outdoor seating in the verandah during the warm summer months. The menu is composed of classic British staples made using ingredients from the region. Expect to enjoy delicious dishes like beans on sourdough toast, falafel sandwiches with red onions, beef scouse with pickled cabbage, gammon steak with chunky chips, roasted chicken leg in butternut squash purée, beer-battered fish and chips, and halloumi burger in chili jam with brioche bun. In desserts, indulge in buttered jam scones and carrot cake.

Average bill – £19

Toad in the hole. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/maboylesalehouseandeatery/

Don't be alarmed by the way it sounds – toad in the hole doesn't utilize a frog in the recipe. It is just an 18th-century working man’s meal whose naming origins are still a big mystery. The first appearance of the dish was from 1787, in a tome by Francis Grose, where he defined it as basically any meat boiled inside a crust.

However, the modern version is from 1861 described in the Book of Household Management by Mrs Beeton. She immortalized this classic by characterizing it as a traditional English banger baked in a crispy Yorkshire pudding topped with rich gravy. Toad in the hole was created as a way to stretch out cheap cuts of meat in poor households by cooking them in a batter mixture. But the homely bowl has stood the test of time and is now even prepared at luxurious places like The Philharmonic Dining Rooms in the heart of Liverpool.

Sample toad in the hole at a vintage establishment that has been serving the community since 1870. Ma Boyle’s Alehouse and Eatrey started as a coffee shop which quickly turned into an oyster bar. In 1974, it relocated to the tower building where this gem still operates as an alehouse with American and English favorites on the menu.

The current owner, Ian Hoskins, upon acquiring the restaurant, decided to refurbish it in a unique style by combining a Parisian bistro with a British pub feel. The outside terrace feels like a French brasserie and the inside ambiance gives off a subtle bar vibe with long stools, leather-furnished sofas, and a private cabaret room with diffused mood lighting.

Some of the scrumptious items to try here are chicken liver pâté with toasted crostini, crispy pork sausages wrapped in bacon served with honey mustard, pan-fried sea bass in caper salsa, slow-roasted beef brisket with baked thyme seasoned potatoes, toad in the hole doused in gravy alongside sautéed vegetables. Pair your meal with their wide range of drinks ranging from cask ales to fruity Bellinis.

Bottomless Brunch – £35 per person with a 90-min limit

Bubble and squeak. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/LEAFonBoldSt

In terms of quirky and weird names of foods, no other place comes close to Liverpool in this regard. Lazily called bubble and squeak, after the sound it makes while cooking, the dish is an excellent way to use up all the kitchen leftovers after a Sunday roast. The specialty consists primarily of potatoes as the main ingredient elevated by sliced Brussels sprouts for flavor.

These two things are then mixed with a variety of available roast vegetables and blended. The batter is pan-fired on both sides until golden brown patties are formed. The cutlets can be served alongside a traditional British breakfast or as an accompaniment with meats for lunch or dinner. Though the strangely named fritter is not purely a Liverpudlian creation, it has managed to become everyone’s darling in the city.

Located in the heart of Liverpool City Center, Leaf is an iconic multipurpose dining destination featuring an informal setting. The venue houses a tea room, a bar, and a large music hall with a stage for concerts. The canteen-style decor is adorned with old-fashioned Edison lamps, retro furnishings, rich marble counter, and massive glass windows.

The highlight of the place is its offering of over 100 plus varieties of loose tea leaf bags converting a simple gathering of friends and family into a memorable event. The kitchen presents a menu of authentic brunch dishes that pair perfectly with the tea ceremony and cakes. Diners can savor exquisite items: grilled pork sausages topped with caramelized onions, braised ox cheeks in rosemary ragù with wild mushrooms, pan-fried chicken thigh with bubble and squeak in honey mustard dressing, oven-roasted lamb rump with edamame couscous, and chili shrimp linguine. Do not miss out on sweet delights like sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.

Average bill – £24

Wet Nelly. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/Balticbakehouse/

Just like scouse, Wet Nelly is an authentic Liverpudlian delight. But instead of a warm comfort bowl, you get a divine dessert. The treat was created during the postwar era when food was scarce and hard to come by. The dish is made using old cakes or slightly stale bread, which is softened with water and then mixed with dried fruits, dark sugar, spices, and eggs to form a batter.

This mixture is baked till golden brown and then served with custard. Finding the delicacy can be a difficult task today, as Wet Nelly is mostly a household item with nostalgic value. But some places like Baltic Bakehouse near Bridgewater Street still serve the traditional dish, and we highly recommend our readers to visit the fantastic culinary spot.

Founded by Sam and Grace Henley in 2013, Baltic Bakehouse is a pioneering shop in Liverpool that has perfected the art of making bread. Note that you will discover not just a simple bakery where patrons line up and buy their favorite sourdough, but also an eatery serving French press coffee and tea alongside pastries. From the outside, the place looks like a hole-in-the-wall with its minimalist red brick-lined façade. However, upon entry a balanced modern vintage charm entices you.

The side walls are lined with cabinets storing appetizing buns cooked on the day, and the rest of the space is occupied by comforting wooden furniture. There are also a few outdoor tables for guests to soak in the warm sunny disposition. Relish specialties, including cinnamon bun, croissant sandwiches with roasted chicken, classic Neapolitan-style pizzas, turkey sandwiches in raspberry jam, chargrilled beef burgers with pickles in peppercorn gravy, pork sausage butty with crispy bacon, and ultimate grilled cheese with onion chutney. Our suggestion: a cup of fragrant coffee paired with their signature Wet Nelly and chocolate crack pie.

Average bill – £16

Liverpool tart. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/thecosyclubuk/

We know that technically a tart is not exclusive to this maritime metropolis but available everywhere around the world. However, the earliest mentioned recipe of Liverpool tart originated in an 1897 family cookbook created in its namesake city. The first pastry looked like a treacle (uncrystallized dark sugar) quiche but was baked of whole-boiled and minced lemons instead of brown caramel syrup.

The dish was nearly forgotten during the 20th century, but made a quick revival in 2006 and was called Eccles cake for some time. Today, the tangy treat has gained quite a following around the United Kingdom and is routinely available everywhere with a cut out of the famous Liver Bird – as an homage to its origin. You can try different versions: with peaches, apples, strawberries, dried fruits, etc.

Nearly every place in the city has Liverpool tart on their menu, but it varies based on the filling and the style of baking. We recommend coming over to Cosy Club on Paradise Street for the perfect slice of this tangy treat, coupled with an elegant setting. The brainchild of three long-standing friends – Dave Reid, Alex Reilley, and Jake Bishop – the restaurant possesses a quirky yet upscale ambiance, complete with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, extravagant chandeliers, rustic parquet flooring, leather-furnished chairs, and a central open bar counter.

Whether you are looking for an early breakfast, midday snack, or a late-night dining experience, you will not struggle to find something to satisfy hunger cravings here. The menu is vast, to say the least: lime-infused avocado toast, smoked bacon croquettes with black garlic aioli, paprika-spiced prawns in lemon garlic sauce, creamy chicken curry bowl with jasmine rice, panko-crusted fried fish in caper butter sauce, and flat iron steak with fries in peppercorn sauce are just a few of crowd-favorites. End your meal on a sweet note with dessert items like caramelized apple-lemon tart, mini cinnamon doughnuts, and rice pudding.

Average bill – £28

Whether you are a history buff, a football fan, a music lover, or just a crazy foodie like us, then Liverpool is the best place to explore. For more information on the Beatles’ city, please refer to our other guides below:

Top attractions and fantastic food in Liverpool, England

Top 5 Must-Try Restaurants in Liverpool for Food Lovers

10 best things to eat when relaxing in Liverpool, UK