Keiths Food & Wine Bar

Keiths Food & Wine Bar is something of an institution, having held court on trendy Lark Lane for well in excess of 40 years. By all accounts, it’s hardly increased its prices in all that time, so you can be sure of a tasty bit of scran and a half-decent glass of vino without breaking the bank.

Sunday lunch is big news: there’s one changing meat choice each week and one vegetarian nut roast, that can also be vegan; both come with roasties, carrots, swede, cauliflower cheese, peas, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Vegetarians are well catered for at Keiths, with plenty chalked up on the specials board – think sweet potato and red pepper tagine served on couscous or mushroom and potato stroganoff with rice and sourced cream. There’s always a pasta plus a risotto special, either or both of which is meat free, and the daily changing soups are known to be vegan as well as gluten free, such as roasted butternut squash with chilli and carrot and coriander. As well as the main menu choices, market fish dishes have included pan-fried hake on mashed potato with creamy bacon and chive sauce served with kale and roast fillet of cod on chorizo, potato and pepper stew, topped with aioli; meat specials have been known to feature game, from the pan-fried pheasant, served with celeriac purée, bacon and cabbage, new potatoes and port wine, to the pheasant casserole in red wine with bacon and cream, served with kale, new potatoes and red cabbage. All are cooked from scratch, and when they’re gone, they’re gone (get there early for the Sunday roasts is all we’re saying); all are great value.

Sweet treats are homemade and always changing, but expect buns, biscuits and brownies, cakes and cheesecakes. Football notwithstanding (this is Liverpool, of course), Wednesday sees the super-popular jazz night with great live acts each week – might be worth booking a table.

Want to be the first to receive all the latest news, tips, articles, guides and updates from Confidential Guides? Sign up here.