From gourmet burgers to fried chicken and ribs, Liverpool’s restaurant scene has become a carnivore’s heaven of late. So when I heard about a forthcoming Argentinian eatery with beef taking centre stage on its menu, my craving for a simple but seemingly unpopular vegetable heightened.

As it turns out though, there’s more to CAU than meat. My dining partner and I took our table in the vibrant Castle Street addition on a surprisingly busy Wednesday evening and wasted no time in scouring the varied menu.

Firstly we tackled the drinks selection – a broad array of cocktails, shakes and smoothies to authentic Argentinian beers and wines. As it was midweek, I opted for the Virgin Mojito (£2.50) – a lime, apple and mint mix which still packed a punch despite its lack of alcohol – while my dinner date supped a thirst-quenching Quilmes Lager (£3.95).

Our waiter guided us through the food – a choice of burgers, salads, steaks and big plates incorporating meat, fish and vegetarian options – and I was won over by the enthusiasm for the restaurant’s pride and joy; its grass-fed Argentinian beef.

Easing into the feast gently, I started with tomato and goats’ cheese bruschetta (£3.75) before moving onto a main of 220g rump steak (£13.95) with salad and the addition of chimichurri sauce (£1.50), which was hailed as “Argentinian steak’s best friend”.

The tasty bruschetta arrived ‘burnt’ in a traditional style, with the goats’ cheese delightfully gooey.

My main lived up to the hype; the steak was cooked to my chosen ‘medium’ perfection and oozing with juices. The chimichurri sauce didn’t disappoint either, adding a flavoursome freshness to the red meat. Crispy shallots gave my side salad extra bite.

Meanwhile, my dining partner started with belly of pork tempura (£7.95), which softened the blow of his first choice main – twice cooked pork belly – being unavailable that evening.

Served with sweet CAUchup, the crispy coating was beautifully light and filled with tender pork.

For main, he chose the market fish of the day (£14.50) – sea bream with chorizo and clams – and a tomato salad side (£3.95). The flavours of the generous dish complemented each other well and, although in terms of portions the side wasn’t necessary it was a refreshing addition.

We could just about make room to try something from the dessert menu, which was infused with Argentinian delicacies.

Without hesitation, my partner picked the Pina-CAU-La Da Pudding (£5.25). The grilled pineapple dish was a tropical treat as rum caramel gave a boozy kick, cooled by coconut sorbet.

I, however, found it difficult to steer from my cheesecake obsession and chose CAU’s take on the classic, served with caramelised banana. It was smooth, creamy and accompanied by a thick smear of caramel. Whilst it tasted delicious, it was too big to finish.

Having obliviously whiled away a couple of hours in CAU – which seems to have struck the balance between a relaxed lunch or after-work haunt and a chic destination for special occasions and nights out – it was time to bring our visit to an end. But the freshness and quality of the food coupled with staff’s attentive service and knowledge of the menu was enough to get us thinking about returning.

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