Monday 12 January 2015

An evening at Roja Pinchos Liverpool

From the second we walked through the door of Liverpool restaurant Roja Pinchos*, I knew that we were in for a treat. Outside, it was a cold and uninspiring January evening, but inside the warmth and candlelit ambiance of the restaurant immediately made me feel as if I had stepped into another world; a world of cosy decadence and temptingly delicious food!  It was very busy inside, with tables of contented  customers already enjoying their meals. There was a happy sound of lively chatter filling the air, along with a pleasant soundtrack of dance music. We were ushered to our table and immediately presented with a complimentary portion of Olives and Parsnip Crisps to nibble on as we were guided through the menu, and the whole concept of Pinchos was explained. This brings me to my next point, how much fun it is to try a new cuisine!



Chorizo, Garlic Chicken, Sundried Tomato  and Rustic Bread.


Chorizo Sausage and Quail's Egg.


The restaurant has burst on to the Liverpool culinary scene with a bang, having opened its doors three months ago on Liverpool’s Berry Street; right on the doorstep of Chinatown. It is not Sweet and Sour Chicken that you will find here however, but rather something far more innovative. Roja Pinchos offers a new and exciting dining concept called ‘Pinchos’ sometimes referred to as Pintxos.  These are ingenious and delightful to eat, consisting essentially of a type of Tapas traditional in the Northern regions of Spain. What sets Pinchos apart from other Tapas is that they are held together by wooden sticks. This is a far cry from the dreaded ‘sausage on a stick’ often served at wedding buffets, however. The Pinchos are beautifully presented, each one looking more like a work of art than a snack. There are many exquisite flavour combinations on offer, combining ingredients such as Quails Eggs, Chorizo, Manchego Cheese, Anchovies and Olives. At Roja Pinchos, there are two prices, £1.50 for ‘short sticks’ and £3.00 for ‘long sticks’ at the end of the meal, the number of empty wooden sticks is counted up and you are presented with your bill accordingly. 


 Pork Croquettes.



 Patatas Bravas and Chorizo with Quail's Egg.




The empty sticks ready to be counted.

It is so refreshing to experience something completely new in a world where food has become rather dull, with a deluge of gastro-pubs and ‘gourmet’ burgers popping up on seemingly every street corner.
The Roja Pinchos restaurant itself is intimate and charming, decorated in a minimal and fresh-feeling style. We were seated in ‘The Nook’ a lovely two-seater table, adorned with tea-light candles and with an adorable handwritten sign on the table confirming that it was reserved for me! The manager Edward told me that this is his favourite place to sit in the restaurant and I could see why. It was a cosy table for two, perfect for a romantic date! On to the food and what a revelation it was. Our friendly waiter Luis talked us through the hot Pinchos available, which are made to order and brought to your table. There were several mouth-watering options including steak, chicken and chorizo based Pinchos. We opted to try a portion of Patatas Bravas, a Chicken and Garlic Pincho and Pork Croquettes. The cold Pinchos are laid out buffet style, so that you can help yourself to whatever you desire. The only hard part is deciding what to choose from the scrumptious array on offer! I was soon settling down to Manchego Cheese with Quince Jelly, Bell Pepper stuffed with Potato, Egg and Cheese and Aromatic Rice wrapped in Fig Leaves.
 The flavours were exquisite, and I was transported from Liverpool to a dusty street in Spain, imagining laughter and guitar music as the stifling heat of a summer’s day radiated around me. Such is the evocative power of good food, as I was immersed in another culture with each and every bite. My dining companion was equally transfixed, tucking into a Selection of Ham, Chorizo Sausage with Quails Egg and Red Pesto with Olives and Anchovies. Our every whim was looked after throughout the meal and we washed down our delicious Pinchos with a perfectly crisp Sauvignon Blanc. There is also an array of soft drinks, beer, cava and gin on offer at Roja Pinchos and on Sunday, they do an amazing offer, which is £15 per person for a glass of Cava and unlimited Pinchos! This is an unbelievably brilliant value offer, and understandably booking is advisable.
Even though we were almost full,  I had heard rumours that one of the best ways to end a meal at Roja Pinchos is by having a portion of their delightful homemade Churros. For the uninitiated, these are like long donuts, served warm and dusted in sugar. I was reliably informed that the Churros came with a choice of dipping sauces, such as milk chocolate or toffee. I asked for milk chocolate and in no time, the Churros arrived. My-oh-my, what a delight! They were crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy within and still warm as I took my first heavenly bite. The warm melted chocolate just added to the sensation, this was not a dessert, it was an experience! I was very reluctant to share, but since I am a kind person I grudgingly relinquished half of the Churros to my dining companion, who agreed that they were amazing.


 The heavenly Churros with warm milk chocolate dipping sauce.




As you know I always cast a critical eye over the bathroom when I review a restaurant and I am happy to report that the bathroom at Roja Pinchos was immaculately clean, with thoughtful attention to extra details such as hand wash and a scented diffuser.  
We had a wonderful time and I would not hesitate to recommend Roja Pinchos to anybody who wants a break from the mundane. Pinchos are such a fun and convivial way of dining, as you can share with your companions and discuss the food, returning for more and more morsels every time you run out. Even though I went with one person, I can imagine Pinchos being such a fun evening meal if you were with a group of friends, as there is a fun and companionable vibe to the whole experience. A huge thank you to Edward and the team for having us, I can’t wait to go back soon for more Pinchos and of course, more of those amazing Churros!



 Sesame seed and Goat's Cheese.



 Seafood and rustic bread.



 A selection of ham.



 Serrano Ham and Dates.



 Red Pesto.



 Manchego cheese, tomato and Anchovy.



 A small selection of the exquisite wines on offer.


Edward and his talented team hard at work



 Outside looking in.



 Self-promotion and chilled Sauvignon!



Delicious! 


 The talented team of chefs.


 Me with the lovely Luis!


Roja Pinchos. 
50 Berry Street, 
Liverpool, 
L14JQ.

Telephone: 0151 378 9563



*Disclosure:

We were kindly invited to try the delicious food at Roja Pinchos as a guest of Edward and the team, the meal was therefore complimentary for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are nevertheless my own and honest, we had a wonderful time and I highly recommend the restaurant to everybody.



75 comments:

  1. Wonderful post! The food looks amazing :) I don't think we have any restaurants like this in my hometown, although we have lots of coffee shops :) x

    www.sheintheknow.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was amazing food. I always love a selection of good coffee shops, I am addicted to coffee!

      Camille xo

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it really was delicious :)

      Camille xo

      Delete
  3. That looks so good! Love the way you took the pictures
    Would you like to follow each other on GFC and Bloglovin ? :)

    kisses
    http://shinkusara.blogspot.nl/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, it was really good :) I will definitely follow you!

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was so delicious :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  5. sounds like a lovely place to dine at

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was really lovely :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  6. This looks soooo good! Anything with chorizo is a winner for me! x

    http://www.curiouser-and-curiouser.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it really was delicious and the different dishes were all so innovative :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  7. Lovely post! The food looks amazing, it looks like you had a wonderful time! I'm becoming hungry just reading about it haha x

    clarkecouture.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, it was a lovely night and I really ate far too much ;)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  8. Looks like you had a lovely time! All that food is making me hungry! xx

    www.lulabelloves.com/blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was a lovely evening and sorry to make you hungry ;)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  9. The dishes look amazing, looks like you had a great time, I'm a new reader, xo!
    www.klimver.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much it was such good fun, I look forward to checking out your blog :)

      Camille xo

      Delete
  10. What a fab concept! I'd love it if we had some kind of restaurant like that round here. Delicious looking food :)

    Hannah x | hannatalks

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Hannah, I had never been to a Pinchos restaurant before so I am hoping that there will be more of them popping up over time, it is a fun concept I agree :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  11. That looks like a lovely place to dine in, the food looks delicious. I also love the fact that everything is in small bites, that way we are able to taste more options. Lovely review on a gorgeous looking restaurant!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much it was a really fun evening and I agree, I like the idea of small bites so that you can try more of the food :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  12. Wow! looks so incredible! The desert looks amazing! x x

    www.beyondthevelvet.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was really delicious and the dessert was amazing :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  13. It looks absolutely incredible and I love the idea of counting the empty sticks in the end- I would love to visit when I can now xx

    Blonde Of Carbs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, I agree that counting the empty sticks is such a fun idea :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  14. I need to go to this restaurant
    http://exitwonds.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, so glad you liked the review :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  15. Replies
    1. Thank you very much Lizzie, it really was good :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  16. Yumm! This looks so good. I do love tapas, I always like trying lots of little bits and bobs, get to try so many things. And churros are my absolute fave! x

    Jasmin Charlotte | UK Lifestyle Blog

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Jasmin, I love Tapas too and I agree Churros are amazing :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  17. All that food looks incredible! I really love Spanish cuisine and always head to a bar for pinchos when on holiday so this place looks totally up my street! :) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was my first time trying Pinchos and I loved them, I can see why you get them whenever you go on holiday :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  18. Wow all of those wonderful food pictures are making me drool with hunger! The chorizo sausage and quail egg combo looks divine! Trying a new trendy restaurant is always such a fun experience, lucky that you got to do so at such a fun event :)

    xx Debbie

    www.whatdoffydoes.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was a lot of fun and I am so glad that you liked the food pictures :)

      Camille xo

      Delete
  19. I love tapas and have been meaning to try pinchos. The goats cheese ones look delicious!

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, I love Tapas too, I really like the variety of flavours and Pinchos were fun to try :)

      Camille xo

      Delete
  20. I love the idea of this - although I have a feeling that the fact that they are on little sticks means that I'd eat far more than I should... but then again.... why not eh?!! Great photo of the sesame and goats cheese by the way! xo
    www.lovedbylaura.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, I agree! I definitely ate a lot more than I usually would, they were just too irresistible :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  21. I'm glad to see Basque cuisine is getting the attention it deserves!

    Silly Medley: Lifestyle and Travel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. Me too, it certainly deserves the attention :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  22. Just yummm check out my new post here http://shizasblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much and of course :)


      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  23. This food looks so yummy
    xo
    www.laurajaneatelier.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Look yummy
    would you like to follow each other ? I'll follow back after it

    Www.miharujulie.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much and of course :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  25. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, it was really delicious :)

      Best wishes,


      Camille xo

      Delete
  26. this place looks Fabulous!
    Kisses from Miami,
    Borka
    www.chicfashionworld.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Borka, it really is a cool place :)

      Best wishes from England,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  27. Omg Roja Pinchos looks so amazing! I love their presentation, and it seems like you really enjoyed it. Thanks for the great restaurant review, I love seeing fellow food bloggers! :)

    Chelsea
    Chowing Down by the Bay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Chelsea, I am so glad you enjoyed the review. It is a pleasure to meet another food blogger :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  28. The pork croquettes look delicious, but the desserts are killing me! This was a great account of your experience of the restaurant and how lovely to have been invited to the place! :)

    aglassofice.blogspot.co.uk

    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for your kind words Gabrielle, I am still dreaming about the Churros almost a week later!

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  29. so delicious this post ;)

    http://retromaggie.blogspot.pt/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Maggie, I am so glad that you enjoyed reading it :)

      Best wishes,

      Camille xo

      Delete
  30. Everything looks delicious. If you like Pintxos, you should come to Basque Country, in the north of Spain, it is the paradise of pintxos. In Spain churros with thick hot chocolate are usually for lazy weekend breakfast or for the afternoon in winter. :-)

    www.kikabibi.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm salivating looking at all of these photos. o_O I never tired of food pics. Haha <3

    - Anna

    www.melodicthriftychic.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. The food looks amazing, especially the churros! It's funny I like to check the bathrooms at a restaurant too. A clean bathroom is usually a good sign of a clean restaurant.

    http://www.mintnotion.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow that food looks amazing, those dessert look delectable!!
    Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yum! That all looks amazing!
    Melanie @ meandmr.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I LOVE tapas. This looks great! I put it on my list for 2014 to try new cuisines. I only tried two... but it was excellent. I need to make a list for this year, but that one was so fun I might have to do it again. :) XO -Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

    ReplyDelete
  36. Woow what a lovely set of food. You should take me next time ;)

    itsjustwinnie.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  37. It looks like an awesome place with some really good elaborated food! Great! I hope you had fun! With love,
    Vera

    http://theflashwindow.weebly.com/

    ReplyDelete
  38. love churros :) thewanderlustblogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  39. Omg I would not be able to move after a meal like this, so decadent. I would especially love trying the churros with milk chocolate dipping sauce. What?! Who even has that?! So cool.

    Z. | J. POTTER

    ReplyDelete
  40. Gorgeous blog!
    Let's follow to each other! Let me know :)

    www.anetesdomas.blogspotcom

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love tapas style places. I haven't been to one in the longest of times though. Maybe this weekend I'll venture into a joint!

    Sxx
    www.daringcoco.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. This restaurant looks amazing! Especially the churros- mmm!

    Rachel xx
    http://www.thedailyluxe.net

    ReplyDelete
  43. How nice!
    I follow you, if you like to reciprocate this is my blog: http://theroaronthecatwalk94.blogspot.it/ a big kiss and good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Ooooh my, this looks right up my street! All of the food looks delicious, and any restaurant is a winner in my books when they serve churros.

    She's So Lucy

    ReplyDelete
  45. I think this Roja Pinchos restaurant serves very delicious and healthy food to their customer. Is that so? Well, I also tried Pork Croquettes at some of the San Francisco restaurants and really like the dish. Now, in every weekend I go there to eat Pork Croquettes.

    ReplyDelete
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