It’s pretty much the furthest thing you could get from a traditional greasy spoon – and it’s been going for well over a decade
Bacon pancakes at Moose Coffee
A Liverpool café has established itself as a cult favourite with brunch lovers thanks to its epic pancake stacks, extensive menu and convenient city centre locations. Moose Coffee has operated out of the same Dale Street site for 15 years, having first launched in Crosby.
Moose now has sites on Dale Street and Hope Street, Plaza 1821, as well as Manchester and Leeds. And despite such a lengthy spell in the same Dale Street location, the venue still routinely boasts queues out the door – a testament to the quality of the breakfasts and brunches being served up each and every day.
The Dale Street branch of Moose earned itself a spot in the ECHO’s definitive guide to the very best breakfasts in Merseyside. It received praise for the “generous portions that leave you thoroughly fed”. Our guide recommended trying the ‘Lula Puebla’ for £10, which features smashed avocado on toasted sourdough with chipotle chilli jam, poached eggs, pico de gallo, feta, chilli flakes, coriander, and a lemon wedge.
Moose also offers sweet options like homemade pancakes and Belgian waffles, which have earned it an army of dedicated fans who are willing to brave the queues for a towering stack of goodness.
Speaking to the ECHO previously, Moose’s marketing and social media manager Neve MacNamara said Dale Street is probably the company’s busiest location, and tried to explain the secret to the long-standing success.
She said: “I think because when in the 2000s the brunch scene around Liverpool wasn’t what it is today. It was either greasy spoons or restaurants around there and Moose is inspired by American breakfast culture and bringing that to the UK.
“Dale Street was our second place after Crosby but I think it’s been such a staple on the street for so long. I think [the popularity is down to] our offering, our customer service and the consistency that the company has had over the years, we want to make sure the service and the quality of food is the highest it can be.”
Moose prides itself on its locally sourced produce, with Neve explaining they buy their eggs from Wirral, their meat from Crosby and their cheeses from the Lake District.
Moose Coffee’s famous fluffy pancakes(Image: Manchester Evening News)
She said over the past 15 years, the street has blossomed into a brunch destination, adding: “The location is amazing with a lot of international football fans, we get so many fans who have come over for the football because of the hotels. Because we offer such big portions, it’s not a little artisan shop, it’s a full dining experience, not just small plates – that’s what people love about it, they’re getting value for money and we are filling you up for the day.”
While the most popular dish is probably one of the pancake stacks, Neve said certain dishes like the Lone Star Moose breakfast and the Mighty Moose breakfasts have been on the menu since they opened 15 years ago, and these tried and tested classics are one of the reasons customers are still queuing out of the door every single day.
Moose Coffee’s Double Dutch breakfast(Image: christopher megrath)
The ECHO’s life reporter Christopher Megrath reviewed Moose Coffee in November 2024 and described the café as “the perfect spot for a cold, rainy morning”.
He said: “The menu was stacked with more breakfast options I’ve seen on any menu. After much deliberation, I opted for two pancakes filled with chorizo and topped with fried eggs. I also ordered a side of poached eggs with hollandaise sauce out of sheer gluttony.
“I’m glad I didn’t order toast too because I struggled to finish the pancakes. They were thick, fluffy, and delicious. A generous pot of syrup was available to glaze the pancakes to my liking. Everything was mouthwatering—from the creamy canary yellow hollandaise to the hot chocolate helping wash down every bite.”
Emilia Bona made the Moose Coffee pancake mix at home
Moose recently launched a home kit for fans to recreate its delicious pancake stacks at home. A post on the Moose Coffee Instagram account said: “For 18 years, we’ve been serving up our authentic North American buttermilk pancakes across the North West. After plenty of tweaking—and lots of tasting from our wonderful customers—we’re thrilled that you can now make our signature pancakes at home.”
When the ECHO tried out the kit, the mix made 10 mammoth pancakes, but could definitely have made more if we had been a bit more conservative with the mixture.
The finished result had that signature buttermilk taste that’s sweet but also a little bit savoury, with a fluffy, soft texture and plenty of rise.