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HABIBI by Si Hall & Arthur Gold
Not so long ago we heard an exciting rumour that an old Wirral Life favourite had taken residency of the kitchen at Habibi bar in New Brighton ’ s up-and-coming ‘ Victoria Quarter ’.
Pretty much immediately , we scheduled a visit to investigate and sure enough , there they were , tucked away amongst the many gigantic street graffiti artworks , next to the now infamous ’ Two Helmets ’ ( aka James Atherton ) public house .
The buildings facade is neat and unassuming , but clearly when the sun comes out , a major draw will be the large front terrace , with it ’ s benches , tables and huge umbrellas .
Inside is stripped down and relaxed , with an effortlessly cool vibe and pair of comfortable booths in the front window really make the most of the space .
Hospitable as ever , owner Ian Marray , sat down with us to talk through the new menu and give his perspective on what has been a difficult two years for independent hospitality businesses en masse . He said ; “ Running a food business at the moment is truly for the hardcore . Like many of our peers , we ’ ve been set adrift for much of the last two years and it ’ s been a real strain on resources , so we ’ ve had to adapt and fortuitously we ’ ve earned an opportunity to excel here at Habibi . On a positive note , these tough times have certainly focused the creativity of my head chefs , Jake Caunce and Alex Warrington , to refine our innovative and delicious fusion of Mexican and American cuisines and that dedication has really taken us to the next level ”.
Now I already know that the food they served us last year was exceptional , so with Ian ’ s lofty pledge ringing in our ears , we set our expectations high and made our choices , salivating on cue , like Pavlov ’ s proverbial dog .
Needless to say , every dish was absolutely delicious . They have an ability to elevate what is essentially ‘ street food ’, to gourmet levels , with fresh , vibrant flavours and immaculate presentation , rarely found outside larger cities in the UK . This is what we ordered :
Small Plates
• Sweet potato croquettes - With a crunchy exterior , a light , almost whipped interior , punchy jalapeño cream and crispy skins . A real plant based winner .
• Belly pork bites - The most tender belly pork dish I think we ’ ve ever had , coated with a sweet warming glaze , combined with the texture of dehydrated corn for a lovely contrast .
• Birria burnt ends - we ' re told that these are a best seller and it ' s clear to see why , with chunks of their famous ' beef birria ’ served in a crispy coating , presented on a puddle of BBQ sauce made from their own ‘ birria consomme ’. Moreish , tender beefy goodness !
Tacos
• Chicken Tacos - A beautifully presented pair of tacos , with a fried breast strip on genuine soft corn tortillas , sat on top of a baby gem leaf and coated in jalapeño salsa and chipotle crema . The combination of flavours here is remarkable , an absolute triumph of a dish .
• Chorizo Prawn Tacos - , This one packs a punch from the rich , smoky , salty ‘ chorizo mole ’, that seems to elevate rather than overpower the flavour of the delicate ‘ tiger prawn ’. Finished with crispy kale , this is as innovative a dish as I ’ ve tasted for a long while .
Pink Onions - There is a special mention for the ‘ pickled pink onions ’ that are served with selected dishes . They are tangy , sweet and provide nice balance to the richer dishes they are served with , so be sure to give them a try .
American Selection
• Smash patty burger - There is nowhere else we ’ ve tried that is better able to reproduce that authentic exterior crunch on their patties that is commonplace across the Atlantic . We ’ ve said it before and we ’ ll say it again , these are the tastiest burgers on Merseyside !
• Mac & Cheese - Comforting , creamy , cheese crusted heaven .
• Nacho waffle fries - Perfectly seasoned and topped with genuine nacho cheese sauce , bacon dust and house pickled jalapeños . Sounds delicious , tastes delicious , simple as that . Excellent !
Bookings can be made directly on 0151 639 0115 .
34 38 seftonlife wirrallife . com