The Carpathia Champagne Bar & Restaurant, situated within 30 James Street, takes its name from RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued the 705 RMS Titanic survivors.
On the top floor of 30 James Street with stunning views of the waterfront, this place definitely has location on it’s side.
As a rare, sunny and warm Liverpool day drew to an end – there really was no where better to be than on one of the two sun soaked terraces that lay either side of the Restaurant. With one side offering views of the Albert Dock and the other The Three Graces.
We started with a few “appertifs”, or cocktails as they are more commonly known! I tried the Carpathia Bellini to start with which was an absolute delight. Sweet and refreshing on a hot summers day.
I was then recommended the Carpathia’s twist on a Pornstar Martini which was absolutely divine. It was served with beautiful little edible flowers floating on the surface which was also, very nice indeed.
The interior of the restaurant is beautifully appointed. It is very luxurious, as are the rest of the communal areas in the restaurant. The collected items from the White Star line offer a point of interest and conversation which is nice.
The menu is good, and varied. To start, I had the Coquille St Jacque Scallops served in a half shell. The scallops were cooked to absolute perfection and the presentation was stunning. The creamy duchess potatoes complimented the seafood well. It was a delicious, yet light starter. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
My dining partner had the Confit Chicken which is paired with Red Pepper and Truffle. It came served with a delicious soft Tomato bread that complimented the entire dish perfectly. It was presented well and was again, a well thought out starter.
For the mains my dining parter splashed out with a Fillet Steak served with a roasted butter Fondant. It also came paired with a large flat cap mushroom, cherry tomatoes on the vine and appeared to have been cooked in a garlic butter. So a somewhat more fancy twist on your classic steak and chips. The steak was absolutely cooked to perfection and the sides were too delicious.
I opted for the Corn-fed Chicken Supreme which as a twist on a classic was served on a bed of Mushroom and Rocket Risotto which was topped with a veal jus. The veal really complimented the dish well. It’s strength contrasted with the delicacy of the risotto and made for a divine dish.
We had a little break between courses as the weather was so warm, and of course, the cocktail list still needed testing. I was offered a Raspberry Collins which was summery, light and refreshing.
At first looking at the dessert menu, it seemed a little unimaginative in comparison to the rest of the menu but I could not have been more wrong. I opted for the Strawberry, Cream and Vanilla Panna Cotta which came served with perfectly cubed Strawberry jelly and Mascarpone. It was light and summery and just lovely. A perfect end to a perfect meal.
My dining partner kept it simple and went for the Malteser Cheesecake. Instead of your classic cheesecake base it was made with a crushed Malted Milk biscuit base which was absolutely stunning paired with Maltesers.
Our waiter, Giovanni, was absolutely excellent. I really could not have asked for any better. He was attentive, and offered advice on menu choices which was excellent. I can’t imagine running round a restaurant in 30 degree heat is an easy job yet Giovanni did it with ease whilst making us feel very welcome. He really could not do enough for us.
The Carpathia have something really special here. They fill a gap in the market for somewhere to go for a special occasion that there is absolutely nothing to fault. The decor is great, the menu is great, the staff are great, the views are even better! There really is nothing more, any diner could want.