Originally a bijou clothes shop in Liverpool’s independent quarter, this funky fusion joint is a trendy no-frills kind of place dominated by long communal tables and a chatty crowd. This combination looks to be a winning formula, with Maray having opened two other sites since the success of their initial offering - one down at the docks and another bigger branch on nearby Allerton Road.
At this branch eclectic sharing plates are the deal, with Middle Eastern grills, Asian riffs, Scandi ideas, US dude food and true Brit classics all tossed into the mix to create a melange where you’re sure to find something you like. Typical on-trend picks might range between sweet potato with date molasses and tahini, scallops with curried butter beans and pickled fennel, buttermilk fried chicken with harissa, aioli and pickles, plus various snacks and sides. One fan reckons they do “the best falafel in the UK”, so don’t skip out on the opportunity to try those while you’re there. At lunchtime there’s a very reasonable deal which sees you served three plates of your choice for £13 per person.
If you manage to leave room for pudding, desserts might bring sticky toffee pudding with ras el hanout toffee sauce and ice cream, or a chocolate tart flavoured with orange and pistachio and served with a generous dollop of sweet orange cream.
Global wines, G&Ts, cocktails and world beers are a spot-on match for the food. As a late night venue Maray also provides with a basement bar that serves drink both pre- and post-dinner on the weekends; the low-lit, cosy space is open 6pm-midnight.
In case you’re a linguist and interested in the name, it is a phonetic realisation of Le Marais, a Paris arrondissement that provided the inspiration for the restaurant.