The food and drink scene in Liverpool continues to go from strength to strength, with a number of restaurants listed in prestigious foodie guides and new venues springing up all over the city.
The region also attracts some of the best palates in the foodie business with recommendations from The Observer food critic Jay Rayner, the King’s stepson and cookbook author Tom Parker Bowles and Masterchef judge Marcus Wareing.
Not all of their suggestions are Michelin-starred restaurants either, with many eateries they have reviewed suitable for a variety of budgets and tastes, ranging from a family-run bakehouse to fine dining.
So, here are 11 eateries in and around Liverpool, recommended by celebrity chefs and famous food critics.
1. Belzan - Grace Dent
Columnist and restaurant critic Grace Dent described neighbourhood bistro Belzan as 'a rare feat – relaxed as hell, but a bit challenging, too' in her review for The Guardian. A regular critic on the BBC's MasterChef UK she described the Smithdown Road venue as: "A lively, unpretentious place that serves up European and Asian flavours with skill and Scouse swagger." 📍 Smithdown Road, Liverpool Photo: Belzan/Google
2. Sans Cafe - Hairy Bikers
The Hairy Bikers visited the iconic Sans Cafe, a family-run Chinese restaurant that opened in the 1960s and is now into its third generation. Si and Dave joined Lin in the kitchen and then tucked into the cafe’s special chow mein dish and their best selling pork dumplings. Dave described the food as 'addictive'. 📍 Sans Cafe, Lightbody Street Photo: BBC/South Shore Productions/Jon Boast
3. Bistrot Vérité - Marcus Wareing
Michelin-starred celebrity chef and Masterchef: The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing knows a thing or two about food and says Birkdale venue Bistrot Vérité is one of the best places to eat in the country. He told Conde Nast Traveller it is 'the most fabulous French bistro' and 'serves beautifully cooked food'. 📍 Birkdale Village, Southport Photo: Bistrot Vérité
4. Burnt Truffle - Lisa Markwell
Journalist and food critic, Lisa Markwell visited Burnt Truffle in Heswall and had high praise. She said: “A starter of flamed mackerel and tartare with kohlrabi, capers and samphire arrives – and it is exactly what it says on the tin, and a harmonious, refined assembly." 📍 Telegraph Road, Heswall Photo: Burnt Truffle