Whether you’re searching for a place to celebrate Christmas with friends, family or colleagues or you believe turkey and all the trimmings shouldn’t just be reserved for one day of the year, we’ve rounded up the best festive menus to try. From your classic, hearty roasts featuring pigs in blankets and roasties to less conventional festive food like tacos and char siu pork, one of these festive menus is bound to suit you and your party in order to celebrate the festive season in Liverpool.
1. Tempest on Tithebarn
Instead of your usual Christmas roast that leaves you having to loosen a notch on your belt and retreat to the sofa to lie down, Tempest on Tithebarn has opted for an alternative to typical festive menus by featuring a selection of delicious small plates. Guests can devour three Christmas small plates for £18 with each additional plate costing £7 and when you see the options, it’s quite tempting to order more than three… From pigs in blankets in a honey mustard glaze and beef brisket croquettes to salt and pepper chicken wings and sticky pork belly, Tempest on Tithebarn’s festive menu is great for those who have trouble deciding. Meat-free options include the likes of veggie sleeping bags (vegan sausages wrapped in grilled courgette ribbons); crispy cauliflower in spicy mango habanero sauce; roasted root vegetables with a sticky maple syrup glaze; rosemary and garlic hassleback new potatoes; halloumi fries with cranberry sauce; and gooey breaded brie with a chilli jam. Tempest on Tithebarn’s festive menu is available from November 15 to December 23.
Tempest on Tithebarn, 12 Tithebarn Street, L2 2DT
2. Madre
Madre at Albert Dock has created a sharing menu that runs throughout December and means all guests can enjoy the full restaurant experience with a festive twist. Served in two sharing courses and costing £19 per person, you can tuck into starters like handmade guacamole and salsas; slow braised arbol chilli and lime wings; and queso fundido- a mix of gruyere, cheddar and mozzarella baked until hot and gooey, then topped with caramelised onions and served with tortilla chips. Main course consists of a selection of festive tacos including braised Yucatan turkey and cranberry salsa; crisp fried sprouts, peanut, miso and salsa negra; beef short rib, carrot purée and salsa matcha; and grilled halloumi, black bean and spiced honey. Madre will also be mixing up some festive cocktails such as spiced cranberry sangria, blood orange paloma, clementine margarita or hibiscus mimosa. Feliz Navidad!
Madre, 6 Atlantic Pavilion, Albert Dock, L3 4AE
3. Ma Boyle’s
If you’ve ever been to Ma Boyle’s you’ll know they do a cracking Sunday roast, and their festive menu is no different. Available seven days a week from November 15 until Christmas Eve, guests can choose either three courses for £27 per person or you can go bottomless for £55 per person. Choose from slow roasted beef or roast turkey both with pigs in blankets, glazed roasted carrots and parsnips, crispy roast potatoes, vegetable stuffing, kale, sprouts in maple drizzle, served with a Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy. Or tuck into pan fried salmon, herbed new potatoes and seasonal greens; halloumi stack or Mediterranean vegetable stack with crushed herbed potatoes, seasonal greens and red wine gravy. And in true Ma Boyle’s style, the puddings on the festive menu are delicious such as home-made sticky toffee pudding with a Christmas twist served with a caramel whisky sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Ma Boyle’s Alehouse & Eatery, Tower Building, 7 Tower Gardens, L3 1LG
4. The Art School
Chef Patron Paul Askew has created some very special festive menus following The Art School’s annual theme of Twelve Days of Christmas. Guests can select from from the Festive Prix Fixe which consists of three courses for £39 including a trio of desserts, or the Festive Menu Excellence which includes a glass of Champagne on arrival for £79 plus an optional cheese course. You can enjoy the likes of pave rump of Bunbury Red Poll beef with ox-cheek; roast breast of Thornton Hough pheasant and game pie; baked fillet of Peterhead hake with smoked anchovy and parsley crust served with a saute of Menai mussel; or portobello mushroom stuffed with winter squash duxelle on the Festive Prix Fixe menu. On the Festive Menu Excellence you can select from roast breast of salt-aged duck with spiced orange puree; pan roast loin of Scottish Highland red deer venison with flavours of pine; fresh market fish of the day; or citrus sage and parsley pesto roast hassleback butternut squash.
The Art School Restaurant, 1 Sugnall Street, L7 7EB
5. Leaf
Leaf is getting into the festive spirit with a delectable three course menu costing £29.99 per person and it’s available at all three branches. Start with either ham hock, pork belly and tarragon terrine; cured torched mackerel, kohlrabi and pickled cucumber salad or a comforting bowl of caramelised parsnip and pear soup. Leaf will be serving turkey with all the trimmings as well as offering roast cod with warm potato salad and coconut curry sauce; braised daube of beef with burnt onion purée and beef dripping fondant; and chestnut and mushroom strudel with miso ketchup and pickled golden beets. All main courses come with a medley of vegetables and sea salted roast new potatoes. As for dessert, dive into either a mascarpone and tonka bean panna cotta with satsuma suzette; white chocolate and cranberry bread and butter pudding; pear and chocolate brownie cake or a festive classic that is Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Plus, Leaf has concocted some festive tipples such as winter spritz, satsuma mimosa and mulled wine, as well as a wine list to complement your food selection.
Leaf, 65–67 Bold Street, L1 4EZ
364-368 Smithdown Road, L15 5AN
19 Black Horse Hill, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 6DS
6. Lu Ban
If you’re looking for something different to eat this festive season or fancy a break from all the turkey, Lu Ban has just the menu. Available from November 25 onwards on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, guests can enjoy three courses for £60 per person. Choose from hot and sour soup, Tianjin pear and cured ham or crisp fried salt and pepper stretched prawn to start with. For main course, you can opt for honey and soy Gosnargh chicken breast; char siu pork; salmon toban djang; or kung pao cauliflower, all served with steamed jasmine rice and wok tossed greens. For dessert, indulge in white chocolate sphere with whisky caramel and Christmas pudding ice cream; Chinese tonka bean custard; steamed pudding with lychee and pineapple; or dark chocolate and mandarin. Lu Ban is not only offering one menu this winter but multiple festive menus including their early dinner and bottomless brunch, which will be held every Saturday and Sunday between November 27- December 19 at £39.50 per person.
Lu Ban Restaurant, The Courtyard, Cains Brewery Village, Stanhope Street, L8 5XJ
7. Maray
Maray is offering a Christmas mezze that might just be too good to share with other people. Starting with home-made caraway, maple and sesame bread with tomato and cumin dipping sauce; whipped goats cheese with pear and cinnamon jam; and pomegranate molasses glazed ham and piccalilli. Guests can select any two dishes for main course served with salad, baharat new potatoes and flatbread. Select from the likes of Maray crispy sprouts; cured loch trout with toasted sourdough and soft boiled egg harissa cream cheese; confit duck leg with saffron bread sauce; and sweet potato with date molasses and tahini. Other showstopping dishes include pigs in blankets in Maray’s own brown sauce and disco cauliflower served with chermoula, harissa, tahini, yoghurt, pomegranate, almonds and fresh herbs. You can enjoy Maray’s festive menu for £27 per person, or £33 per person to include dessert, or upgrade for £5 to receive a glass of cava on arrival.
Maray, 91 Bold Street, L1 4HF
57 Allerton Road, L18 2DA
Unit 4, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, L3 4AD
8. The London Carriage Works
From November 26 to December 30, The London Carriage Works at Hope Street Hotel will serving a tasty and refined festive menu. varying from £42.50 to £57.50 per person. Choose from either poached and roasted lamb rump with braised potato, black kale and winter squash; sage butter roasted turkey with heritage carrots, duck fat roast potatoes, chipolata and apricot stuffing; confit red onion and feta pithivier with minted greens, burnt shallot and walnut granola; or seared fillet of salmon, clam and mussel chowder and coastal vegetables. You can also tuck into goose fat roasted potatoes, honey and sage roasted roots and Brussel sprouts. You can also enjoy desserts such as traditional Christmas pudding with vanilla and brandy anglaise, sticky fig and redcurrants; chocolate brownie, caramel ice cream, toffee popcorn and peanut brittle; or apple and maple cheesecake with caramelised pecan and compressed apple. The London Carriage Works is also serving up other festive menus such as afternoon tea, prix fixe, Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve celebration dinner.
The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel, 40 Hope Street, L1 9DA