Home Coffee is a fitting name for Liverpool ONE’s latest dining offering.
It’s clearly settled in to its location as, inside the grand 19th Century building, features such as a vintage revolving chalkboard and retro school-style chairs with solid wooden tables not only appear to be a nod to the venue’s School Lane address, but perhaps the building’s former use as an antiques warehouse.
Despite the hard, old fashioned school-like furnishings and minimalist decor though, the venue still delivered a homely, cosy feel during our early evening visit, as candles and dark colours added warmth to the room.
And whilst Liverpool ONE may be best known as a magnet for big names, this new branch of Home Coffee follows the success of its fellow Merseyside venues in Woodside and Oxton, whilst flying the flag for other home-grown businesses, using produce from Liverpool’s Baltic Bakehouse and Wirral’s Claremont Farm.
As we perused the menu, homemade jams and marmalades were littered throughout the delicious sounding breakfast, lunch and afternoon dishes, alongside other homemade delights.
I was drawn to the hot sandwiches section, offering hearty options all served on Baltic Bakehouse bread with a dressed side salad and homemade potato salad. Although tempted to try Home Coffee’s version of the trendy pulled pork sandwich, served slow roasted alongside homemade beans and BBQ sauce (£8), I decided on the chicken, chorizo and parma ham club with mustard mayo and rocket (£8).
My dining partner went straight for the salads and picked out the home-style Caesar with anchovies, pancetta, chicken and parmesan (£7).
When the plates arrived the portions were, as predicted, generous and my club sandwich was piled high and well-filled. The bread was warm and crispy, and the chicken, chorizo and parma ham combination was flavoursome.
My friend described her Caesar salad as “refreshing”, as large chicken pieces were served on a vibrant bed of leaves.
The freshness of the ingredients stood out in the satisfying dishes, both substantial enough to leave us too full for one of the homemade cakes or brownies on offer.
I washed it all down with a North West-produced Frodsham Brewery pink fruit beer (£3.70), while my dining partner picked a glass of Trentham Pinot Noir (£4.50) as the drinks menu extended from teas, coffees and soft drinks to wines, beers and spirits. There was even an exclusively brewed beer called ‘Home’. Although I’ve yet to explore the upper lounge, living room and speciality beer store areas of the venue, it’s clear that with its central location, homemade food and varied selection of drinks it’s the ideal destination for a shopping trip pit stop, or the perfect place to while away an afternoon with a glass of wine, minus the bustle of a bar or pub.
