A new Liverpool Mexican restaurant promising to ‘bring a taste of Guadalajara’ to the city will open this weekend, creating 10 new jobs. Tony McDonough reports
A new Mexican restaurant will open in Cains Brewery Village in Liverpool this weekend, creating 10 jobs.
Launching midday on Saturday March 15, Picante promises to “bring a taste of Guadalajara” to the city’s Baltic Triangle district. It promises to be “part Mexican cantina, part margarita mecca and part Latin house party”.
This venture is a collaboration between a number of Liverpool’s hospitality entrepreneurs, including Joe Wild (Taco or Don’t), Kate Meehan (Gin Journey, Paloma Café, London) and Sally Jo Whitlow (Jenny’s Bar).
They are teaming up with Danny Murphy – originally behind Jenny’s Bar, Berry & Rye, Aloha, Botanical Garden, and Some Place – to open Picante.
Located across two floors in the former Dockleaf site, Picante will conjure the essence of Guadalajara and its bustling cantina scene. The venue’s exterior has bright white and blue and hand-painted signage.
Inside, the ground floor will retain the original features of the historic building (formerly a quality control site for Cains Brewery), with its baby blue tiles enhanced with baby pink trim and carefully curated artwork.
The food menu showcases six taco varieties including Birria, Baja Fish/Phish and Carne Asada. These will be accompanied by bar snacks including pickles, olives with grapefruit and smoked salt and addictive sides such as Bag-o-Nachos and Elote Ribs.
There is a margarita menu featuring frozen, classic and flavoured varieties sitting alongside a rotating selection of more than 40 tequilas and mezcals – all available by the flight. Mexican beers, classic cocktails and the statutory Guinness are available too.
And, starting in May Picante will host Margarita Masterclasses led by renowned drinks expert Kate Meehan – aka ‘Cocktail Kate’ – promising an engaging, hands-on experience for tequila enthusiasts of all levels.
READ MORE: £1bn Liverpool scheme to include 5-star hotel and 60-storey tower
READ MORE: Hospitality venture invests £500,000 into Liverpool
Danny Murphy said: “Picante is the collective vision from Joe Wild, Kate Meeham, Sally Whitlow and myself. We’ve long wanted to create a Mexican cantina-inspired venue and the old Dockleaf site in Cains Brewery Village is the perfect place to bring this to life.
“Our food menu is focused on flavour-packed tacos and snacks alongside a wonderful range of agave-based cocktails and tequilas.”