While I made a fault with my main, the starter was the star of the show
Our two main pasta dishes with the restaurant’s special pumpkin dish, a side of garlic and mozzarella bread, and sweet potato fries
It was only a matter of time until I waltzed through the doors of Liverpool’s latest Italian restaurant to see what all the fuss was about. That moment arrived last week – precisely at 6:30pm on Thursday, October 16.
I had made a booking for two at Farina on Richmond Street. Located in the city’s unofficial Italian quarter, the snug venue is slotted between Gran Caffe and Mind Charity Shop.
Formerly known as Hey Farina when it first opened its doors in 2023, the venue was recently reimagined as a new concept – one that sees customers able to pick from more than 15 varieties of freshly made pastas. It is the latest venture to come from the Cillo brothers, Paolo and Donato, and his son, Antonio.
The siblings and their wider family, originally from Potenza in Basilicata, are at the helm of several venues throughout Liverpool, including the city’s tallest restaurant. This considered, I’d say anyone familiar with the work of the Cillo family, knows they are in capable hands.
The pumpkin and gorgonzola cappelletti special
Upon arrival at number 24, was I instantly whisked away to a historic European village along the Mediterranean coastline?
Not quite; the interior is one that I felt many establishments in the area possess, but with this came a sense of warmth and familiarity.
The whole atmosphere was relaxed and cosy, allowing the food to speak for itself and for me, it was a starter, that did all talking. But before I give praise to a £9 dish, a few other options warrant a mention.
Farina lets guests watch as the food is made in front of them
My table ended up ordering homemade arancini, sweet potato fries, garlic mozzarella bread and pumpkin and gorgonzola cappelletti.
All were as expected, although I must admit I couldn’t bring myself to try the arancini – ever since someone once likened it to maggots years ago, I’ve been unable to stomach it.
For mains, we decided on four formaggi gnocchi with added Italian sausage and black truffle and mushroom paccheri. With the gnocchi, I did what anyone would do, and said yes to extra parmesan, but, to my own fault, this was a cheese overload.
Luckily, in our group of friends, we have an unspoken tradition of sharing our dishes when trying out a new restaurant. This meant that by sampling a little of everything, I was able to balance out the richness of the gnocchi with the creamy paccheri.
The garlic prawn starter
The standout dish, however, was the garlic prawns. If they had been available as a main course and dessert, I would have happily handed over my money there and then, tapping my Apple Pay without a second thought.
This flavourful seafood dish was definitely the right choice, with the cherry tomato, garlic and chilli sauce on toasted homemade bread, adding an extra layer of depth. It served as a bold reminder that Italian cuisine extends far beyond just pasta.
Having said that, there was multiple other items on the vast menu that I’ll be sure returning to try.
With there being so many create-your-own-options and toppings to choose from, it felt like I had only scratched the surface with the menu. Next on my list to sample is the brand’s signature crispy pizza Romana.
Farina is open every day from 11am for lunchtime diners, to 8pm on Sundays, 8.30 pm Monday – Thursday and 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays.