Chez Moi

Family-run Chez Moi started life as a bistro specialising in “the finest French cuisine”, but appears to have gone off piste from the traditional frogs legs and escargots, tarte Tatin and mousse au chocolat offering and crossed the border for a taste trip into Italian territory.

The bar and grill menu does offer up champignons du chef garlic mushrooms and salade Niçoise, originally hailing from not far along the coast to Marseilles, where chef-patron Hakim Lahoussine learned his trade (along with famous Paris and London kitchens). Also sticking to the French brief, the special two-course menu features chicken liver pâté to start with plats principaux including saumon de la maison – grilled salmon with shrimp butter sauce. Moules frites are here, and include classic marinière mussels in shallot, parsley and white wine sauce, and steak frites are served with your choice of pepper or Diane sauce, as well they should. However, there’s a lot of pizza, and indeed a specialist pizza oven in the restaurant, along with plenty of pasta, risottos, panini and bruschetta, and mains venture even further afield with the likes of beef stroganoff, Monterey Jack cheeseburger, and good old British fish and chips. Still, we are at the seaside in Southport, sort of.

Desserts have veered away from friandises and more towards sturdy cakes and crumbles, and the likes of banoffee sponge. French house wines, spirits and draught beers are also available at this Lord Street establishment.

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