27 Jan Wreckfish & The Nadler Hotel
Happy 2020 and Chinese New Year! I’m feeling super inspired by trips to new destinations, uncovering gems closer to home (and at venues near you!) as well as by my fellow foodies and I can’t wait to share them all with you.
Some of you may already know that I’ll be leaving the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in March to join the London Philharmonic Orchestra as their new No.6 First Violin. This means I have to eat at all my favourite Liverpudlian places in the next few months! I’ll be posting lots of photos on instagram so if anywhere in particular takes your fancy and you’d like me to go into it in more depth on Minn’s Munchtime let me know.
We start the year with Wreckfish. Owner and chef Gary Usher first set up a pop up restaurant in this previously derelict Georgian building. Fast forward to 2020 and it has established itself as a must eat in Liverpool. Chefs serve classic bistro dishes alongside those with influences from further afield. French onion soup for example, or chicken liver pâté contrasting with za’atar spiced torched sea bass. I headed straight for the mains with perfectly pan roasted duck breast, crapaudine beetroot (believed to be one of the oldest beet varieties, records go back one thousand years) and a duck leg croquette. What lifted this dish was the orange blossom vinegar which was in the form of a puree dotted prettily alongside the breast. The rich earthiness of beetroot and citrus notes really brought the best out of the duck. Mr Munch picked the braised featherblade of beef with beetroot ketchup and crispy cavolo nero. A hearty dish with fab gravy.
Let’s talk about the parmesan and truffle chips. Drool-worthy. I’m slightly obsessed with truffle (if you’re also a truffle nut you need to have Little Furnace’s Alhambra Bianca pizza. Truffle oil central). Truffle, parmesan and crispy fluffy chips are a match made in heaven ✨Do not leave this restaurant without ordering them!
We added veg in the form of mulled wine braised red cabbage. If you love cinnamon spiced food this will be right up your street. I’m partial to it mainly at Christmas so that boat has now sailed for me but it works well with richer dishes like the beef.
For dessert we shared a poached pear paired with baked soft cheese, prune puree and a scoop of armagnac and prune ice cream. The cheese is more like a mousse – creamy, light and with subtle flavour. I’ve not had armagnac ice cream before but it was great. The booze was warming but not overpowering and the bits of prune kept it sweet. A delicious end to a fantastic meal!
I recently stayed at the Nadler Hotel just opposite Wreckfish. They have a nifty little relationship which means you can opt for breakfast at Wreckfish for £15 a day. Cue poached eggs with lovely runny yolks and crispy bacon on avocado toast. One of the top breakfasts I’ve had! When I checked Wreckfish’s breakfast menu, said meal plus a green tea normally would cost £14.50 so in my case it would have been better to not book via the hotel and simply eat there as a normal customer. That said it does depend on your choice, though if you got porridge and tea you’d be around £5 worse off which can add up if you’re staying more than a few days. I’d expect there to be a better deal for hotel customers.
The Nadler is an understated hotel – I couldn’t find the entrance for ages as it’s both black and set back from the street with a ramp and two sets of sliding glass doors. It’s great location wise as you’re walking distance from Lime Street and Central stations, The One shopping centre, Docks and tons of restaurants from Bold Street down to the centre of town. One of the points which drew me to the Nadler is that each room has a kitchenette complete with all the basics including a microwave, kettle and mini coffee machine. I find this much more convenient and also means you’re not spending so much money eating at restaurants three times a day. My one niggle about the room is that the curtains don’t overlap the window enough to block light coming in from the top. If you’re someone who needs complete darkness you’d want to wear an eye mask or have a room not overlooking Seel Street. A couple of the finishes in the room are a little worn (sliding door handle was very loose) but overall it’s a good size, functional and comfortable. Reception staff give you a warm Liverpudlian welcome and are generally very helpful.
I hope you enjoyed reading about Wreckfish and The Nadler – please give this a like if so! Have a great week and see you next time.
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STATS
Wreckfish Bistro, 60 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BE
Dinner total receipt (2 people): £85
Breakfast with Nadler Hotel: £15 per day per person
Rating: 8.5/10
The Nadler Hotel Liverpool, 29 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AU
Total receipt incl VAT (3 nights): £321.60
Rating: 7/10
Nearby venues: Cavern Club, Philharmonic Hall, Arts Club, St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool Cathedral
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