Foodie opinions provided by Abi Meadow.
So many incredible restaurants have opened since the end of pandemic restrictions, including the lovely Nova Scotia on Mann Island. This place pays homage to historic trading between Liverpool and Canada, because of which this area was once known as Nova Scotia.
That name has long since faded but the connection between Canada and Liverpool has not. There’s even a River Mersey, a Liverpool and Mann Island in Nova Scotia, and this area of Liverpool is still a thriving district, with tons of amazing places to enjoy some good grub.
We visited Nova Scotia (the restaurant) and discovered why this place has been accumulating fantastic reviews over the past few months. So here’s what we thought, from the food to the service and the overall experience.
So how was it?
As soon as we sat down we had our eyes trained on the cocktail menu, and place serves a wide range of mocktails and cocktails. They serve classics like the espresso martini, which was soooo delicious alongside a signature serve menu.
The signature serve menu harks back to Mann Island’s history as a port to which spices and other products were imported from abroad and from which Liverpool sent building material like wood all the way to Canada. So, it’s pretty maritime themed. We had the Lancelot Spritz (elderflower spritz) and it was super refreshing.
Each cocktail was made with care and precision, and the food was just as tasty, too. The place has a comfy, homely kinda vibe, so you could go for cocktails and some comfort food with friends but just as easily take a date there. After all, the food is comfort food but made really well. The epitome of scran (uncomplicated food cooked to perfection).
It was a warm day back when we visited so we opted for some lighter fare with which to fill our bellies. The rainbow salad was super-fresh, which is just what we needed on a warm day in Liverpool.
Honestly, the chicken strips would give KFC a run for their money in terms of how addictive they were and you could tell that everything had been cooked fresh and made to order. The same was true of the fish butty, which really hit the spot, served on sourdough toast with tangy, creamy tartare sauce. Mouthwatering stuff.
As we sat with full bellies sipping our cocktails (because there’s always room for cocktails), our eyes wandered over to a plate of scouse just served to the table over from us. This proper traditional Liverpool dish looked so good that we were almost tempted to order more food but alas, our tummies were well and truly satisfied!