Up the hill from Liverpool’s Bombed Out Church, Buyers Club’s beautiful courtyard feels a world away from the bustling city centre, even if it is just a stone’s throw away. It’s perfect for lazy evenings in the summer sun with a glass of something nice, and a plate of what they do best - pasta, pasta, and more pasta.
We may have over ordered on starters - but there was much that needed sampling. Burrata with salsa rosca and romesco was a real treat, spread over thin toasts. The solo arancino was another standout - a perfectly crisp umami bomb that we could have eaten by the bucketload. A carafe of fruity and fun Sicilian red was the ideal accompaniment to all this jollity.
We opted for a vegan version of the famous cacio e pepe butter beans, which somehow, even sans cacio, managed to pack as much flavour as the original version. Seriously, how do you do this Buyers Club? We need to know.
Good as these opening acts are, they’re just preparing the stage for the headline act - the pasta. We opted for a glorious beef shin ragu with perfect handmade ribbons of pappardelle, shrouded with generous mounds of Grana Padano. A wild mushroom pasta was similarly bold on the flavour front, though it was perhaps a tad too salty, maybe as a result of veganising the dish.
Full of pasta joy, we had only room for one dessert to share. Despite lustful gazing at the soft serve affogato, we went with the vegan chocolate mousse with malted caramel, hazelnut praline, and salted caramel ice cream. Although rich and delicious, the mousse felt a little more like a cremeux with it’s denser, creamier vibe. A minor point though, and we love a restaurant that offers a thoughtful vegan pud instead of the customary sorbet.
Full to the brim and gazing around the restaurant, we took in groups of friends devouring pizzas, families out for birthday celebrations, and perhaps a few nervous first dates. This is a proper restaurant where life happens, with comfort food aplenty to feed your soul.