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.
