Checking out: Red Perilla

Red Perilla Steakhouse is the latest addition to the bar and restaurant line-up of Liverpool’s Allerton Road area. Situated at 336-338 Smithdown Road, Red Perilla occupies a great space with separate restaurant and bar with relaxed lounge area, all finished to a very high standard with impeccable taste.

The restaurant is a long overdue arrival serving up fantastic steaks – with plenty of choice for vegetarians to boot – in an inventive and original way with many dishes based on locally available produce. Red Perilla is a family-run steakhouse set up by the Parry family who opened La Paz in West Kirkby in 2006 for which Head Chef Colin Parry was named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the Wirral Tourism Awards.

The Allerton area of Liverpool is renowned for eateries but Red Perilla has certainly raised the bar since opening this year providing a fantastic dining experience by combining a superb menu with numerous special offers which make dining out great value for money at the same time.
As steak-lovers eternally searching for the perfect steak, myself and dining partner were eagerly anticipating our meal at Red Perilla and from the outset we were not disappointed. The inventive menu offers a wide selection of meat, fish and vegetarian options locally sourced where possible and their specials menu reflects this depending on seasonal availability. There is a broad selection of starters on offer or Deli Boards are available for sharing that offer a little bit of everything. These Deli Boards range from £5.50 - £7.50 per person and are available for a minimum of 2 persons. Homemade pates, cured salmon, speciality artisan breads, and chutneys are just some of the items… There is plenty of variety of main courses which start from £8.95 rising to £24.95 for Lobster Thermidor if you fancy something special. Special offers are available daily, including my personal favourite offer on Wednesdays of a free bottle of house wine per person when a starter and main course are ordered. Other offers include Monday’s 2 for 1 on any main course, up to 50% off your food bill on Tuesdays and more. The menu’s 28 day matured beef steaks include Rib eye, Fillet, Sirloin or Rump and if dining on a Thursday you can take advantage of their offer of a free side order and sauce with every steak.

To start I chose a personal favourite – Potted Shrimp – served with a Rocket, Beetroot and Caper salad, while my very carnivorous friend chose Ham Hock Terrine. Both dishes arrived promptly and were beautifully presented on slates, a detail very much in keeping with the contemporary, sophisticated tone of the restaurant. Fresh and full of flavour, locally sourced and served with delicious chutneys, relishes and dressing I could not fault either dish. The briny capers cut through the mellow buttery shrimp, balancing the flavours perfectly. Service was of a very high standard with our empty dishes removed swiftly and our wine glasses kept topped up with a beautifully crisp, grassy White Rioja.

As Red Perilla is fundamentally a steakhouse, for our main course we had to sample the restaurant’s steak – I chose the pepper-marinated Sirloin and my friend Fillet Steak with Mushroom and Dijon Mustard Sauce. My friend requested her steak blue, and where most restaurants fail to fulfil this to her taste, Red Perilla complied and the steak was in fact perfect. My sirloin (£12.50 for 10oz) was accompanied by an Asparagus and Pea side salad, and for the fillet (£18.95 for 10oz) we opted for the Red Perilla House Salad of Rocket, Pomegranate, Walnut and Parmesan. Other side dishes available on the menu include French Fries, Roasted Vegetables, and other salads. The menu is designed so that customers are able to personalise their steak with choice of cut, size, marinade, sauce and side dish and this freedom really opens up the menu giving diners a wealth of variety. Both our steaks were tender: the sirloin well seared with a lovely smoky taste and complimentary piquant marinade; while the fillet was meltingly soft and full of flavour.
The meal came to a climax with a wonderfully dulcet Vanilla Parfait and a traditional and tasty Eton Mess accompanied by two large brandies. The dessert menu is broad and varying with classics available alongside speciality homemade Italian dishes and also a Cheeseboard option for those who don’t have such a sweet tooth.

Overall Red Perilla was a faultless dining experience: the service was first-rate, the atmosphere relaxed but refined, and the food – the star of the show – was inventive and of a superior standard. Good local produce is used to the max in an exciting and successful menu designed not just for steak-lovers. I would recommend the restaurant to anyone and I will certainly come again. I will be sure to take advantage of the special offers which can be viewed by visiting the website www.redperilla.co.uk.