The Side Door

Now two things which I am a big fan of are good food and the theatre, so the fact that the Side Door is located within close proximity to The Everyman and The Hope Theatres means that I have visited here on many occasions. This is a small bistro which really punches above its weight and has always delivered a top quality dining experience.
The Side Door is basically a great place for a pre theatre eat and let me tell you these two things go hand in hand. The grilled rump steak here is sensational and melts in mouth and the chefs always cook it to absolute perfection. The prices are okay but can be a little high, however let me say that the cost reflects the value and quality of the product.
There is a really relaxed and refined ambience about this place meaning it is always a pleasant place to eat, especially before a great night of showmanship.

The Side Door on Hope Street is one of those places that most Liverpudlians walk past every day without paying a second glance. Yet, by ignoring it, they’re doing themselves a bit of a disservice — mostly because this is a lovely little restaurant which serves up some truly delicious food.
I came here for lunch a few weeks back and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Although small, the restaurant itself is perfectly formed and almost achingly elegant — as soon as I was seated I immediately found myself removing my elbows from the table in record time in case my grubby mitts stained the brilliantly white starched tablecloth.
The food itself was both beautifully presented and wonderfully delicious — I ate a wonderful plate of Quail with hoummus and assorted flatbreads which was originally designed to be a starter, but which the chef was kind enough to make up into a main course for me.
However, for me, the stand out course at The Side Door was the dessert. OH the dessert. I ordered an Apple and Calvados trifle which I could happily eat for the rest of my life. When I die, heaven will be made of this dessert and I will be able to eat it without putting on so much as a pound in weight. It was so good that if it was a man I’d get down on one knee and ask it to marry me. Just thinking about it now is making me drool on my laptop in a remarkably unsightly manner.
The Side Door is a perfect pre-​theatre restaurant, particularly if you’re looking for good food at a good price. Oh, and be sure not to leave without sampling their puddings. You can thank me for it later.

Down the road take a left and its the door on the side… The side door… Seriously how on earth do they come up with these names… comedy value… to the maximum!!! This is a bistro for theatre goers I suppose, located in the theatre district I imagine it is an eating hole before you go sit and watch something artsy.
The food. right…Must say their rump stake did come up trumps for me. As good as it was, and it was good. What gave me more pleasure was stealing half of me friend’s sticky toffee pudding (with its cosmically tasty toffee sauce and soothing vanilla icecream… mmmmmmmmmmm) as he retired to the little girls room. You snooze you lose I say matey, oh yess!!! I’m not sure whether the pudding was really that good or perhaps it was the crime itself that made it taste so good. What put icing on my crime cake was that he didn’t even notice half of it had gone upon his return… fantastico!!! I definitely made it out the side door after that daylight robbery… I shall return to the door on the side indeed and perhaps get my own toffee pudding next time.
One thing is for sure I won’t be leaving it on my plate and going anywhere anytime soon… no sir!

Hope Street. You can’t turn a corner without bumping into a really good restaurant. Competition in the area is pretty fierce so how do you decide where to eat? Simple — try them all. Not in one day, obviously, but at least be aware that you should try The Side Door at some point.
This is a small and intimate little restaurant and makes a very worthy contender for the Hope Street dining crown. It’s a hugely pleasant experience in general, but what really sets the place apart is the staff. They’ve tapped into that difficult medium of friendliness without over-​familiarity, but the word ‘helpful’ seems to encompass a lifestyle choice for these people. Difficulty with the menu? They’ll offer plenty of advice. Going for the set menu but fancy substituting one thing with something else from the a la carte? They’ll bend over backwards to sort it out. Or if you’d prefer a starter as a main? No problem. Throughout the whole evening or lunchtime these guys will remain professional, polite and highly efficient.
The décor is lovely here, very tasteful and the whole place feels spotless and fresh. The food itself is delicious; I had The Side Door recommended to me by a foodie friend and I wasn’t disappointed, it’s very wholesome tasting and the portions are more than adequate. The size of the restaurant almost highlights your importance to the staff, who will definitely make you feel like you’re the only ones in there. It’s not the cheapest option in the world but without a doubt it feels worth what you’re paying. Plus if you can make room, the sticky toffee pudding is bliss. This place can’t be faulted really!

If you are the kind of person who likes the cosy intimate dining experience before or after the big and sometimes much louder experience of a great play or a stunning concert then the side door is definitely for you. Situated at the geographical midpoint between the Philharmonic Hall and the Everyman playhouse it is a very easy walk to either. If however you are coming into the city by public transport you will need somewhat more fortitude and physical capacity to ascend from the city centre stations to hope street.
I would say the Side door is definitely for couples and smaller family groups. The food is good value in terms of the high quality for the price but is not by any stretch priced for those on a tight budget.
Whilst you won’t find Scouse on the menu, the best bit is the Scouser twist to food service. The Side Door has universally friendly staff, engaging you in that almost unique Liverpool way from the moment the take your coat to the point at which you pay your bill. To my way of thinking the Side door is a great all round dining experience and I know that when you experience it you will want to return for the encore.

I would highly recommend this establishment. I’ve been for several meals here and have never been disappointed. The décor is quite acceptable; the service discreet and efficient; but the food — to describe it as outstanding would be perhaps slightly too generous, but it has certainly been consistently very good, and it has always been very reasonably priced too — it’s possible to pay a lot more in other establishments these days for the same quality of food. All in all, if you’re looking for good food without breaking the bank you could do a lot worse than eat here.

This is a little gem situated on hope street is in walking distance of all the theaters and bars. A delightful menu consiting of seasonal favourites to satisfy the most demanding taste buds. It is great value for money if you choose the 2 for 1 deal which is only on specific days, but the menu is still comprehensive. The Atmosphere is relaxed and is perfect if your looking for something which is not to over the top. Over all then, a place which serves a variety of meats and fish cooked to an excellent standard in a pleasant atmosphere.