It's lunchtime in Liverpool city centre's business district and the offering is broad. For something upmarket, head down to Nord or Panoramic 34 or for something quick and easy, get yourself a Bean or a Greggs. But if you're after an unpretentious (not to say the others are pretentious), hearty, sit-down lunch that'll keep you going for the rest of the day, then City Wine Bar is your next stop.
Having opened on Old Hall Street more than a decade ago, the somewhat secluded restaurant has become a well-known spot for the area's workforce. I first stumbled upon it while working as a chef in the district and it quickly became one of my first choices for a Guinness after work. Although, how I afforded to pay £6.
50 per pint on my measly zero-hour contract wage I still don't know. "£6.50 for a Guinness?," you might say.
Well, it is a little much but it's worth it just to be sat in City Wine Bar which has a laid-back but vibrant atmosphere from the minute it opens at midday - only to improve when local workers begin to finish their shifts and pile in. And, despite having been for a drink in City Wine Bar on numerous occasions, I'd only ever eaten the odd sandwich there. An initial plate of hummus and flatbread (£5) was the perfect portion for a light sharer between two people.
The hummus tasted homemade, it packed a good hint of garlic and the micro herb garnish lent a light freshness. And though its flavour couldn't be faulted, it was slightly too wet and almost sloppy, dripping .
