Alam Balti - Piatti

Sportsmans Arms

➤ East Ch42 9 Prenton Road East, CH42 7LQ, WIRRAL, United Kingdom

Piatti • Pub • British • Burgers • Karaoke

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"Haven’t visited family for years and my father suggested a trip to the sports. I walked in and it was like I’d never been away. Welcomed back and lovely to see old faces who are we looked after by the staff. It gives them company and safety surrounded by familiar surroundings. Impressed with the new menu, had the small planks which was 5 for 12.49 which fed 3 of us. The barmaid commented it was amazing and their ‘Birkenhead tapas’ it arrived quickly and cooked to perfection. Grateful for how they take care of their regulars and go the extra mile to make sure they are happy. Would give more stars if I could and thank you"

Amir Balti House Birkenhead

➤ 26 Grange Road West, Wirral, United Kingdom, WIRRAL

Piatti • Sushi • Cafés • Seafood • Fast Food

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"Haven’t received food, delivery driver was so rude buzzed the buzzer 3 times told me I need to go outside to get the food he isn’t coming in the block. got my shoes on and went out and The driver was gone. called the restaurant they said they will speak to the driver, then called us back with the driver and he said he left the food outside which we have not got !!! Won’t be ordering here again . Don’t deserve to be spoken to like this either"

Wimpy

➤ 31 Princes Pavemant, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead, CH412XY, CH41 2XY, United Kingdom

Piatti • Cafés • Seafood • Fast Food • Breakfast

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"Called in at the Wimpy one lunchtime this week and it was like stepping back in time to a retro (and better) fast food experience. I’m old enough to remember going to Wimpy Birkenhead as a child in the age of red and white plastic tables, and although it’s still in the exact same location, it now looks modern and more welcoming. The food was great cheeseburger perfectly cooked, on a fresh white bun with lettuce and diced onion and thick, crisp fries; and a tender delicious chicken wrap and the table service, cutlery and china plates were a refreshing improvement on the usual burger experience. The owner was friendly and keen to ensure our order was exactly as we wanted it, and that we had every sauce condiment we asked for. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and will be back to try the Christmas burger. Highly recommended."

Fraiche

➤ 11 Rose Mount, Oxton, Birkenhead CH43 5SG, CH43 5TD, Prenton, United Kingdom

Piatti • Fish • French • Coffee • Creative

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"I was distraught when, just before Christmas, I read that Fraiche had closed. It’s a restaurant we’ve been visiting for years. Never had a bad dish, let alone a bad meal. I emailed Marc Wilkinson to offer best wishes for the future and he replied saying he hoped to reopen in another location. So, it was with some surprise that I found he was actually staying in the original Oxton premises. It seems nothing has changed. It’s still a no choice tasting menu, cooked immaculately and served with relaxed style and professionalism. We gave a deep sigh of relief.While you’re having an aperitif, there’s snacks to be had. A raspberry and verbena shot was a sign that, whilst Marc may have had a few months break, he’s lost none of his touch. There’s sweetness from the raspberry perfectly matched by a citrus hit from the verbena. There’s also spiced nuts, a buttermilk and trout roe rice cracker, cheese marshmallow and, perhaps best of the lot, a smoked eel sandwich.Once at the table, we checked that, as before, there are only eight covers in the restaurant, with seven bums on seats. It’s probably as many as Marc can deal with on his own in the kitchen. For a first course there was diced watermelon. I can still remember our first meal at Fraiche, eleven years ago, when it was also watermelon to start. Then it was mixed with raw tuna so you couldn’t really tell which was which until it went into your mouth. Now, there’s cubes of salty feta and a whack from basil. Smoked salmon follows, in a light dashi broth, with a crunch from small dice of cucumber. Bread was served round about now – four different ones – the fennel one being a stunner, IMONext up, a set parsley cream was topped with thinly sliced raw ? scallop and a shaving of truffle. Then a more assertively flavoured “textures of artichoke” dish – sliced raw Jerusalem artichoke, an ice cream, a crisp and, probably, other preparations that I’ve forgotten. For contrast there sweetness from a passion fruit jelly and crunch from hazelnut. It all works really well. Sea trout had been lightly cooked – I think I recall Marc doesn’t use a sous vide machine so I guess this had just been poached. It comes with a squid ink cracker, salty samphire and a lovely passion fruit mayo. On every single previous visit to Fraiche, the fish has been over favourite course and, at this point, it was the front runner. The final savoury course was an intricate preparation of Cumbrian lamb. There’s a slice of perfectly pink loin ? and some long cooked breast. There’s also classic French lamb accompaniments – black olives in the form of a crisp, shallot, tomato and aubergine. Pre-dessert was a knockout combination of yuzu, orange and a little background hint of liquorice. Texture was more than a foam but less than a mousse. It’s really good. At the beginning of the meal, you’re asked whether you want to end it with “salt or sugar”. Salt gets you cheese. Sugar gets you a dessert which proved to be the best course of the evening – and it’s rare that we would say that. It’s another “textures” thing – this time of exceptionally flavoured Gariguette strawberries. They sit on a shortbread ? tart and there’s fresh berries, marinated ones, a gel and an ice cream as well as a coconut meringue crisp.Coffee was good although somehow during their closure the espresso machine went missing, so we had to settle for a cafetiere. Petit fours were excellent. It had been a lovely evening when we “oooh and ahh’d” over the food several times. And then it was off into the night having, in truth, paid a bill that was remarkably good value for this quality. Oh yes, and there’s a little pack of homemade hobnobs to take away just in case we get peckish on the hour’s drive home."

Broadway Steak And Wine

➤ 5-7 Broadway, CH63 5ND, WIRRAL, United Kingdom

Piatti • Wine • Steak • Burgers • Vegetarian

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"Broadway Steak and Wine serving good food and drink in a good atmosphere.Well worthy of a 5* review but did feel rushed as people were waiting for our table. Meal type: Dinner Price per person: £30–40 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5"