Picante, Liverpool Restaurant Review
Mexican Restaurant in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle
New to Cains Brewery Village in Liverpool is Picante, a Mexican cantina promising to bring great tacos, tequila, cocktails and music to Liverpool. Created by some of Liverpool’s well-known independent hospitality figures- Joe Wild (Taco or Don’t), Kate Meehan (Gin Journey), Sally Jo Whitlow (Jenny’s Bar) and Danny Murphy (Berry & Rye, Botanical Garden) – Picante launched with some very high expectations. I popped in to check out the new venue (which has replaced the old Dockleaf bar) and explore the menu for myself – did they live up to their promise? Read my full review to find out.
Too hungry to read it all?
Here’s a quick snapshot of Picante, Liverpool – menu, decor, vibes and price.
- Venue: Picante, Brewery Village, Cains, Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5XJ
- Food: Mexican cantina – think tacos, nachos and corn ribs
- Drinks: Solid cocktail list – margaritas all round
- Decor: Relaxed dining, baby blue colour scheme with lots of wood and bright artwork
- Vibe: Casual dining in the heart of the Baltic Triangle
- Price: £ – ££ around £20–£30pp (depending on drinks)
- Opening hours: Thursday/Friday 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Saturday/Sunday 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- My rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
What to order at Picante, Liverpool
Tacos, obviously. On my visit, I shared a mix of their signature tacos, including Carne Asada, Refried Beans and Baja Phish Tacos, but the Birria Tacos had to be my favourite. I knew going into Picante that the Birria Tacos were top of my list to try, and they lived up to the hype. Super tender beef shin with consomme for dipping, what more could you want? As for sides, I tried their Corn Ribs and Padron Peppers, which ended up being some of my menu highlights! I’ve eaten a lot of Padron Peppers in my time, but Picante’s seemed to have vinegar on them, which was a welcome surprise. The king of sides, however, had to be their Bag-O-Nachos. They were absolutely mighty. Topped with beans (they were unfortunately out of chicken on the night), pomegranate seeds and guacamole (to name a few), this was a seriously hearty side. And at £8.95, a pretty great deal too.
Bag-O-Nachos, Picante.
Birria Tacos, Picante.
Refried Beans, Picante.
My only gripe…no fish tacos! Might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m a fish taco girl to my CORE, so I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t any fish on the menu (only ‘Phish’ which is delicious but obviously nowhere near the same). Hopefully, once they’ve been open for longer, a proper fish taco might make its way to the menu. A girl can dream.
Drinks and dessert at Picante, Liverpool
You can’t go to Liverpool’s newest Mexican restaurant and not order yourself a Margarita to pair with your dinner, can you? For science, I tried their classic Margarita, which was really solid. Nothing mind-blowing (but it doesn’t need to be), but it was super refreshing, citrusy and strong – nothing watered down about their margs, that’s for sure. I then tried a Mezcal Old Fashioned, which was lovely and smoky – big winner in my eyes. As for dessert? After grazing our way through the Bag-O-Nachos (we barely even made a dent), I was at my absolute limit. So, whilst I’d been eyeing up Picante’s Churro Blondie all night long, it didn’t quite make it to my plate this time round. Next time, I’m coming for it!
Padron Peppers, Picante.
Corn Ribs, Picante.
Margarita, Picante.
Final thoughts on Picante, Liverpool
Overall, Picante is a great casual spot for great Mexican food in the city, and I’m excited to see how it fits in with the Baltic Triangle once it’s been open a while. The staff are absolutely wonderful and so welcoming – some of the most welcoming in the city, I might go as far as to say. You’ll definitely feel comfortable and looked after at Picante, that’s for certain. I think there are a couple of things to iron out (ahem, fish tacos on the menu, please!), but I have no doubt that with time, Picante will be the go-to spot in Liverpool for casual Mexican dining. If the buzz of its first few weeks of opening is anything to go by, Picante is going to be popular.
Picante, Liverpool opening hours and information
All the practical things you need to know about Picante, Liverpool.
Address: Brewery Village, Cains, Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5XJ
Opening hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Pricing: around £20–£30pp (depending on drinks)
Follow Picante on Instagram @picante_or_dont_
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I was invited by Picante to try their menu free of charge. While the meal was complimentary, all opinions, thoughts, and recommendations shared in this review are entirely my own and based on my honest experience. This post is not sponsored, and I was not paid to write this review. To find out more information about this, please visit my privacy policy and disclaimer.