Restaurant Review

Jimmy’s

130 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4JA

By Jack Poland | South American | ££ |

Arriving at Jimmy’s, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were entering another typical cool bar that just happens to serve food if you get peckish after your third pint. It should quickly become clear however that there is far more than meets the eye at Bold Street’s latest addition.

In the shadow of the Bombed Out Church, Jimmy’s inhabits the former home of the Cabin Club and it’s keen to stand out.

My fiancée and I were greeted by bright fluorescent lights and Davie Bowie staring down at us from the walls. If we weren’t ready for the Jimmy’s experience before, we certainly were now.

With a menu strongly influenced by South America, it was fitting that we were greeted by the super-friendly Rio who spoke passionately about the carefully-crafted offering of food and drink.

We couldn’t have been seated at a better table to enjoy our drinks either. Jimmy’s could quite easily boast one of the best dining views in the city. The iconic St. Luke’s sat resplendent looking over us as we people-watched the hustle and bustle around it.

With an offering of larger dishes and smaller bites in front of us, we decided to try as much as possible and plumped for both options – we went small and plentiful for the starter and massively indulgent for the main. We weren’t disappointed.

For nibbles we opted for the flatbread/guacamole (£3) – when in Rome (or should that be Mexico City?) – salt and pepper halloumi (£5), Cajun jackfruit tacos (£4) and spiced fries (£3.50) for the side.

The guacamole and the jackfruit were far-and-away the surprise of the bunch it has to be said. The halloumi was delicious (but when is it not?!) and the fries were a perfect accompaniment to the vibe of the restaurant.

Both the halloumi and Cajun jackfruit however were really a cut above. The jackfruit did its job absorbing all of the delicious flavour of the surrounding spices while the guacamole had a unique kick that we’ve never had anywhere else before. Both dishes really lived up to Jimmy’s ethos of ‘food that’s a little bit different … but in a good way.’

When it came to the mains we went for the Hannan burger (£9.50), which came with the amazing Jimmy’s Special Sauce, and the JFC (crispy fried ‘chicken’, sweet curry and rainbow salad) (£12).

As much as there is to look at in Jimmy’s – the view, the lights, the wall art – all eyes are on the plates when the food arrives. Conversation became an afterthought as we ploughed into our mains.

The burger, with its secret sauce, was cooked to perfection and didn’t just rely on its accoutrements for flavour, which is so often the case in other restaurants. The veggie curry certainly didn’t lack in flavour either and any veggies who might think a menu with a South American influence can’t be for them – think again.

There is plenty to talk about when it comes to Jimmy’s – a cool venue, an amazing location and great music. The food, however, is the star of the show. The careful blend of all these qualities is just right and should be enough to make it a must-visit for you this year.

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