LONG after many a pretender to its A-list crown has lost its shine, Liverpool’s Newz Bar remains a star attraction.
But, if the killer-heeled blondes capture all the headlines at Newz after dark, then in the daytime it’s an altogether different story.
Then the high-backed red semi-circular booths early hours witness to so much Laurent Perrier downing and intimate liaisons, become a stylish lunchtime location.
In these credit-crunched times, though, you have to evolve to survive and so presumably it’s with this in mind that Newz recently launched its new menu.
Unlike an element of its clientele, perhaps, the emphasis is on non-pretentious. It is divided into a selection of light bites, snacks and salads – ideal for a quick working or shopping lunch – and Great British Classics more suited to an after-hours dinner.
That is, of course, unless like me you happen to choose a dining companion with what could politely be described as a healthy appetite. Then all bets are off, and the entire menu becomes fair game whatever the hour.
As a result, while I fixed on the light bites, he concentrated firmly on the British Classics offering every man’s dream line-up of comfort food favourites, including beer battered fish and chips, mixed grill, steak pie and sausage and mash.
Having seriously considered the 8oz steak, I eventually talked him down to the marginally more lunch-appropriate homemade beef burger with cheese, bacon, tomato & lettuce, served with fries (£7.95). I considered the chicken Caesar salad, which seemed like a bargain at £5.95, but aware that I would only steal his fries if I didn’t have my own, I went instead for the roasted Mediterranean vegetable and hummous wrap (£5.95).
This was scheduled to be accompanied by fries, but I’m not a fan of the skinny variety so I asked if it was possible to swap for hand-cut chips, also from the sides list.