The Attic Bar

The new wave of hearty cheap dining that appears to be everywhere, is a result of our current economic climate. With little money floating about the general public are not willing to pay huge amounts for a meal, and more and more people are aware that cheap food can be good food, even great food. You only have to look at London to see the forefront of this movement, thriving restaurants like Pitt Cue Co, MeatLiquor, Mishkins, Duck Soup and Santa Maria, are packing in the customers night after night, without a hint of a Michelin star between them.

This is a form of dining that should be equally at home in Liverpool, we’ve never had the same disposable income as our southern capital. Yet, for many years pseudo fine dining restaurants have been common place in our city, we have more than our fair share of Bar and Grills, serving expensive unimaginative food with overpriced drinks. Of late, however, we are once again cottoning on to London’s lead, with our usual 18 month delay. Camp and Furnace, Lucah Libre, Tribeca and The Shipping Forecast, amongst others, offer good food that doesn’t break the bank. The Attic Bar, in what was 33-45 on Parr street is certainly following in their footsteps.

The Attic Bar can be found in the Par Street Studios building, take the entrance up some quite steep stairs and a rather obvious collection of music cover artwork. I’ve always wondered how many drunk punters have fallen down these stairs in the wee small hours, I imagine it’s quite a few, they seem precarious without any alcohol in my system. What lies at the top of these stairs is a newly decorated, relaxed and informal bar, comfy seating and an impressive cocktail bar lend an air of sophistication that is countered by the large flat screen TV’s.

The menu is written on two big black boards, a comforting sight in my book, nothing fancy here, mainly burgers with a few other sandwiches thrown in, this is a broadly american themed menu, all at very reasonable prices. £6.95 for a chilli cheese burger and chips, is a   price not to be sniffed at, what arrived was a bun packed full of rich warming chilli, smothered over two patties. The burgers are also covered in melted cheese, they are well cooked being left soft and tasty if a touch over seasoned. The burger as a whole could really have done with some lettuce and onion to add a touch of crunch, and the sourcing of the bun needs work, but this was a very good effort. Great crunchy chips made for a nice plate of food at a very good price.

So the Attic Bar is certainly aiming for cheap good food, and that is what it does, a good selection of burgers all at £6.95. This isn’t the best burger you’ll ever it, but it’s approaching the upper end of the spectrum and at prices that rival anything Ronald is currently selling. Is this the best burger in Liverpool? Maybe, is this somewhere you should visit? Yes.

Note: This review was an invite, Jack the head chef asked 
me in and my burger was free.