Meet
There's an anonymous saying that goes something like "A vegetarian in Argentina is like a duck out of water". Meet, which opened at the end of April, subscribes wholeheartedly to this carnivorous school of thought. Even the locale's name is a play on words that pays obvious homage to the principle ingredient of Argentine cuisine. Let's not beat around the cactus, amigos: Meet is a seriously authentic Argentinean steakhouse, complete with sizzling open kitchen, beef direct from La Pampas and a burly South American chef.
It's the brainchild of owners Gary and Alan, extensive globetrotters and wholehearted aficionados of South America's food and lifestyle. Noticing the obvious gap in the Merseyside market, they wasted no time in creating one of the most exciting dining venues in the city. In the three months since its opening, Meet has been enjoying such success that a sister restaurant in Chester could soon be on the cards. It seems the punters just can't get enough of those steaks.
The carefully designed interior creates an authentic setting for this unique restaurant: wooden floors, tavern-style ceiling, cow hides and cacti a-plenty. Yet the venue acknowledges its location in the city's business district: modern upmarket features include bold stainless steel, dark leather seating and a contemporary bar, the rustic combining with the avant-garde to create a distinctive look. Match this visual candy with electronic tango or salsa tunes and energetic Latin American staff led by manager, Ricardo and you've got a winning atmosphere that keeps people coming back for more.
The menu, authentically Argentinean, is different to any other you'll see on Merseyside. Appetizers include morcilla a la parilla (grilled blood sausage with chimichurri, a sauce of herbs and chilli), picadita (a selection of cured meats, marinated olives and blue cheese), and empanada de carne (a traditional pastry filled with meat). To be fair, the menu has more than ample provision for vegetarians including starters such as provoletta a la parilla (grilled provolone cheese), and empanada Capri (mozzarella, tomato and basil filled pastry), a perfect example of the strong Italian influence in Argentine cuisine.
Grilling is the most popular mode of cooking in Argentina and Meet's menu includes a lengthy selection of food de la parrilla (from the grill) including skirt, rib-eye, sirloin and fillet steak, ribs, churrasco (slices of marinated sirloin), filet mignon wrapped in bacon, chicken basted in chimicurri, and home-made burgers. For die-hard meat lovers, the parrillada for two people includes skirt steak, chorizo, morcilla, ribs, pork chop and chicken all done on the grill. Not much in this section for veggies, save some meat-free sausages. The selection de la cocina (from the kitchen) however includes a good choice of seafood including salmon picante, bacalao al horno (roasted loin of cod and salsa verde), and langosta gaucha (grilled lobster tails with chimichurri butter). This section also includes a choice of two traditional milanesas, or breaded meats, and estofado (a home-made beef and chorizo stew). Sides include various salads, and potatoes in different guises. Top of the dessert menu is helado (ice cream), a favourite end to an Argentinean meal. Other choices include tartita de flan (an egg and caramel custard tartlette), and crepes de manzana (caramelised apple and blackberry stuffed pancakes).
The quality of cuisine in Meet is in itself enough to guarantee enduring success. However, it's the underlying customer-focused philosophy that throws the winning punch. As the personnel like to point out, it's based on a simple premise: the first time you visit you're a customer, the second time you're a friend, and the third time. . .well the third time, you're family.
Meet
2 Brunswick Street
Liverpool
Tel: 0151 258 1816
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