A perfect summer late afternoon, with a stroll through a delightful park to eat at the Watering Can might be as good as it ever needs to get.

Feature by Jean Hill

The Watering Can is part designer potting shed, rustic and immersed in greenery, part carved wood and then it integrates into a stylish conservatory, with indoor and incorporated  outdoor space. We, His & Hers, were there to sample the new summer menu. Sometimes it just feels good to be alive in a leafy green, lush setting.

We were warmly welcomed and guided to an outdoor table, nestled amongst the flora. The summer lunch menu incorporates meat, veggie and vegan options. There is a gluten free and a kids’ menu. This is thoughtful food with high ambitions.

I opted for a starter of falafel, hummus, crispy chickpeas, chermoula, pickled red onion and flatbread. Chermoula is a Moroccan relish made up of parsley, cilantro, garlic, citrus and warm spices. It was the perfect blending of ingredients: crispy falafel with spicy, creamy sauce and crunchy pickled red onions.

Sandwiches, with a superior edge, really cut it. Our editor opted for IPA beer battered coley goujons, lettuce, homemade tartare sauce on toasted brioche. The creamy, slightly sharp tartare sauce was a perfect foil for the coley goujons, that came with a depth of ale infused batter encasing flaky, fresh fish.

My main was roast chicken supreme and it was. The combination of pancetta, white wine and tarragon formed a creamy sauce, rich with herby flavour. Yet the star of this dish was the chicken. It was tender and succulent with that old fashioned flavour  that spoke volumes about the higher welfare meat policy employed by the restaurant.

The summer menu includes roast beef sandwich, falafel tortilla wrap, steak and home-made bread. There are super healthy salads, one with orange and feta.

The menu is inspired by the surroundings. Fruit and vegetables are locally sourced, fish is either sustainable or farmed. The atmosphere is magical: there is no other restaurant in the Liverpool area quite like it. The staff are friendly, really well-informed and I took advice on the chicken and it was right on the money. This is very much a team enterprise with an impressive Head Chef: Samantha. A thank you goes out to Mazz, Sam and George. We had a great evening and we will be back.

Tel. 0151 3192366.

https://www.thewateringcanliverpool.com

From the archives: The Watering Can launches new summer menu and extends opening hours.