Hope Street, L1

Review by Lydia Connolly

As we approached The Refinery, my dinner date immediately regretted his decision to wear trainers. Hope Street’s latest addition certainly has the appearance of a fine dining establishment; lined with topiary bushes and outside seating, the restaurant sits elegantly on the corner of Myrtle Street.

However once we set foot inside, our outfit choices were no longer a concern as the casual bar layout, industrial themed décor and friendly staff confirmed that this was a destination for social eating.

As we looked over the menu, we ordered cocktails and the artisan bread selection with virgin olive oil and aged balsamic (£3.50). Both Amaretto lovers, we couldn’t resist the Amaretto and Grappa sour (£6.95) and were thrilled with the bar’s interpretation of the classic cocktail.

The menu is split into two sections, big plates and small plates. My date chose a big plate; aged rib-eye steak, roasted rainbow potatoes, asparagus and rosemary and garlic butter (£17.50). The meal was beautifully presented and the steak cooked to perfection.

Upon the recommendation of our waiter, David, I decided to go for three smaller plates in order to get a feel for the restaurant’s social eating mantra. I ordered beef short rib with fennel BBQ sauce and onion rings (£6.50), hand cut straw fries with fried duck egg (£4) and seared scallops, citrus quinoa and fennel shoots (£8).

L to R: Seared scallops, citrus quinoa and fennel shoots; Hand cut straw fries with fried duck egg; Muscovado treacle tart with ice cream and lemon cheesecake

The small plates are definitely made for sharing and portions arrived with the dishes prepared for two people. The beef short rib was amazing and the meat fell apart in my mouth. The addition of fennel BBQ sauce was welcomed as the sweet barbeque flavours worked well with the beef.

The phrase ‘it looks too good to eat’ came to mind when the scallops were served. The shells were lined with a bed of quinoa and the scallops sat on top. Perfectly seasoned, the scallops were tender and full of flavour.

Never one to say no to dessert, I ordered the muscovado treacle tart with ice cream (£5.25) and my partner went for the lemon cheesecake (£5.25). The richness of the treacle tart was complemented by the addition of orange peel and the pastry was soft and buttery. A delight to eat and the perfect way to end my meal.

The bar area was busy for a Wednesday night and I was reluctant to leave. My 7am alarm was the only thing preventing me from staying to explore the bar’s extensive list of cocktails, world beers and real ales.

I didn’t think casual dining could exist beyond a gastro-pub but The Refinery is proof that fine dining can be achieved without the airs and graces.

It’s a restaurant that can boast high quality and beautifully presented food as well as a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

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