I think I’ve just had the best vegetarian meal in Liverpool

ECHO political editor Liam Thorpe and recent vegetarian head to one of the city’s hippest venues and are smitten

As a recent vegetarian, I’m still in the process of not being jealous of my carnivorous colleagues at dinner.

I became a full vegetarian when my son was born last year. I still enjoyed eating meat, but I felt like I had to do my part to help the planet and also help myself feel healthier. It was mostly good, but eating out often brought with it a bout of jealousy.

That’s because for some restaurants, vegetarian dishes can still seem like an afterthought, as priority is given to the meat dishes that adorn the menu. Overall, I think this situation is improving in the hospitality industry and here in Liverpool. This point of view was only reinforced by a wonderful experience I had last weekend.

As someone who loves to eat out, I don’t know why I’ve never visited Buyers Club before. I’ve always heard great things, but the serendipity and relentless obsession with Indian cuisine somehow kept me going – until now.

Located behind the busy Gardman Street Liverpool city centrethe stylish restaurant and bar has been a key part of the city’s thriving hospitality scene since 2015 and continues to attract crowds of diners and drinkers every week.

In an effort to spend more time with each other after the first year of parenthood, my wife and I vowed to go on more dates in 2025, ideally without our little bundle of joy. Unfortunately, a lack of nanny options meant that little man had to join us this time around – and judging by the way he slumped in front of him, I think he was delighted at this turn of events.

What I loved about the Buyers Club menu was its simplicity. It’s basically pizza, pasta and appetizers done really, really well. It’s been a while since I paid £15 for a bowl of pasta, but when I sampled the sumptuous wild mushroom tagliolini in all its buttery truffle richness, I felt it was worth every damn penny.

My other half was equally excited about her pesto spaghetti with sundried tomatoes, and the little guy sitting next to us couldn’t stop in his mission to eat the special kids’ tomato paste that the attentive staff kindly found for him.

We should also mention the delicious and pleasantly gigantic portion of focaccia bread that accompanied our feast and seemed like a meal in itself. The thick, almost meaty slices were perfect when dipped in the olive oil or pasta sauces we all enjoyed so much.

However, amidst all that deliciousness, there was one particular dish that I have thought about every day since then. Our Cacio e Pepe bean snack had such a profound effect on my psyche that I imagined it in the shower or during our morning office press conference.

Now I tend to make sweeping statements here and there, but I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that I think this is the best vegetarian restaurant in Liverpool right now. It’s the kind of dish where you’re already thinking about the next spoonful before you’ve even swallowed the last, and then worry that you didn’t spend enough time savoring the first mouthful. The kind of dish you start to miss before it’s gone. The kind of dish that makes you want to marry and move to a small farm in sunny Italy.

What we’re talking about is a stunning and incredible cacophony of butter, pepper, truffle and pecorino cheese that somehow gets better with each taste. In case I haven’t said it enough, I am head over heels in love with this plate of food.

But don’t let my ravings about this particular offering lead you to believe that the rest of the menu isn’t absolutely top-notch either. Simply put, this is a Liverpool restaurant at its peak and everyone involved should be proud of themselves.