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 Croqettes.
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!
http://rojapinchos.co.uk/
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.