Billed as 'Southport's premier seafood and steak restaurant', it would be easy to miss Forge…read moreBrasserie as it is rather hidden down a tiny side street off Eastbank Street. However, those brave enough to go down the pokey back road its on will find themselves rewarded with a lovely dining experience, complimented by helpful and friendly waiting staff as well as delicious cooking using locally grown ingredients. As I said, Forge advertise themselves primarily as a fish restaurant, so it's no surprise to find their menu dominated by fish and other seafood dishes. I'm not a big fan of seafood generally but I love fish and have found some of the dishes at Forge are both interesting and tasty, such as the halibut steak and the grilled Dover sole, which although expensive is worth the price. Aside from seafood and fish dishes, their meat menu is similarly impressive as it boasts a good variety of options including roast duck as well as a good range of different steaks. The restaurant may not be in the best location in Southport but it's worth putting that to one side and giving Forge a go, particularly if you're a seafood and fish fan.

A hidden gem in Southport's back streets, don't let the name fool you - it's the genuine article,…read moreno forgery to be found here. It's super duper excellent in fact. You'll get lovely traditional Brit food in here as well as a fantastic variety of very fresh seafood. In fact the catches of the day are available to view in an open fridge, and that ambience of openness continues right through to the open kitchen where you can see the dishes being created. The prices are really reasonable, especially if you take advantage of some of the special offers, and the service is lovely. But even though it's something of a concealed weapon be sure to book in advance. The place is nicely bustling even during the day and it's more than popular, so be careful!

Despite not eating pizza or pasta, Italian restaurants are my favourite kind; if it's authentic…read moreenough, there's always a great atmosphere and the promise of something tasty and, quite simply, a wonderful evening. Gusto always appealed to me, the tinted windows always inspiring a voyeuristic stare and suggesting a restricted exclusivity. I wanted in. The classic Italian food is ideal for lunch or dinner and the restaurant itself, while sophisticated and quite refined is rather laid back and tere is a very informal feel here which is appealing. There is a mix of salad dishes, appetizers and specials available. Insalata dell'Orto e del Mare or Seafood Salad went down a treat; the ingredients were so fresh and tender and only £5. divine. I was really impressed. Forgot to mention- the desserts are AMAZING; Tuscan biscuit; apple tart; pancakes; sorbets there's so much to choose from!

We're in Southport again! I just can't keep away. And yes, it's another Italian! #And I can't fight…read morethis feeeeeling anymooooore#, I'm obviously obsessed with Italian food no matter how much I protest the reverse. This place is packed to the rafters on weekends, after all it's in a prime Southport location on Lord Street where all the very nice shops are and the lovely architecturally historic buildings and the beautiful branch of Waterstones set in an old bank and whatnot. So no doubt hoards descend upon it of an evening, thus you'd be wise to book in advance if you fancy a pizza or pasta here. It's classic rustic Italian fare with a sprinkling of creativity. The salads as starters wind up being absolutely ridiculously huge, and would easily do as a main course despite being only £5.95, and the pizza here is the stuff of legends. Everyone in Southport seems to rave about it and rightly so, it's crisp, fresh and exactly as you'd expect it in Italy with lovely simple thin toppings and doesn't leave you feeling like a doughball by the end of it. There are plenty of pastas to choose from too, and the one with artichokes and truffle oil is just divine. Meanwhile if you're catching lunch there the sandwiches can be made with foccacia. Could I be any more sold? The cheese platter with pears is a glorious way to finish off the meal with a sweet and savoury combo, but if you're in the mood for something far more indulgent there's the quintessential tiramisu, chocolate crepes, pistachio ice cream, apple tart or caramelised fruits with amaretto and marscapone which I really couldn't resist - try it and see what heaven really tastes like. All in all, reasonably priced with great service and a superb wine list in a gorgeous setting. Nothing to complain about here.

Jackson's is another in the wave of fish and chip shops in Southport that tries to entice you in on…read morea cold and wet Tuesday afternoon for some good, wholesome home cooking. Unlike many of its rivals however, Jackson's has the pedigree to boot too as it has recently been voted Best Chippy 2010 (although I'm not quite sure where). As you might expect with such a title, Jackson's offers very good fish and chips that is delicious and filling. Their fish is delightfully crispy and golden, whilst their chips are perfectly fluffy and just the right texture between dry and soggy. Their prices are fairly competitive for the area, meaning you can get fish, chips, mushy peas, bread and butter and a hot drink for less than four pounds, which is great value for money when you consider the quality of the food you're eating. If you're in the area definitely give them a try, whether you fancy a takeaway or a sit down meal.

Gorgeous chips and gravy! The fish is lovely to and big portions! i always make sure i visit here…read morewhen i come back home! Top notch!

Visited here for Father's day in a group of four. We had booked and we're seated immediately. The…read morerestaurant was very busy. Russ the owner for the past 23 years was also working and greeted us all warmly . We all picked three courses for £14 each Excellent value for the quality of food served. The cuisine is English with a Mediterranean twist . All fresh and appetising to look at. You can also choose a Sunday roast . Definitely worth a visit if your in Southport as very reasonable for the ambiance and food quality.

Ah, Auberge. This is one of those places I've visited every now and again when I've been in the…read morebrunette's hometown of Southport, and the standard does shift frequently. Sometimes this French style place is somewhere you want to shout about, other times it's somewhere you want to shout AT. What keeps me coming back is the fact that when it's good, it's really good. The atmosphere is great, very ambient, and the menu always looks very classy but doesn't always live up to its description. The one quality that's never varied however is that of the moules marinier, mussels which are surely to die for. Or at least, make a special journey for. Sometimes accompaniments can be a little undercooked, and depending on your mood the jovial, jokey and bantering staff can either be the perfect tonic or your worst enemy. It's not the most efficient of service but most of the times I've stopped by I've felt well looked after. Despite its troubled past (problems with chefs scarpering with a great deal of moolah), Auberge does come up trumps when it wants to. A frequently changing menu keeps things really fresh, and the staff do have a lot of advice to offer about the menu. While the wine list can be a little pricey you can often get special offers if you look in the right places, so you might be able to get your money's worth. All in all a bit of a Gemini of a restaurant, but can be worth the risk...

There are some places that are okay to go to after a night out for a kebab or pizza because you're…read moretoo pissed to notice how bad the food taste. Then there are places that you go to of a night out for some scran because you just bloody love the place. Harun's is one such place. Despite recently painting the shop a rancid orange colour, Harun's remains the best takeaway in Southport for you to greedily stuff your mouth with greasy goodness in the early hours of the morning. The food there is well made and delicious albeit not particularly cheap (damn you Southport) and the staff there are friendly and will happily talk with you for hours about good Turkish footballers (believe me; it happens every week when we go). They also have a punching machine in there (perhaps to curb the violent enthusiasm of the Southport residents) which causes much hilarity at three in the morning when my mates decide to show each other who can hit something the hardest. Harun's je t'aime.

This is one of those places you just don't expect to find. Something of a tardis and quirky as heck…read moreon the outside, I was intrigued by this seemingly little tapas and Mediterranean restaurant and had to give it a go. After all, I grew up with Southport, I owe it highlights of the hotspots! First of all, I'll give you the good news. Now, the bad news might just be my personal tastes, and it didn't stop me liking the restaurant at all, so don't take too much notice of me. I don't feel comfortable with that amount of authority, stop it! Anyway, the food. Lovely! It's a traditional sort of wine bar located in a basement and you can get everything from fresh nibbly tapas bits to pasta, steak, surf and turf, generous salads and some great platters to share such as seafood, meat, cheese or nachos. All the kind of food I love and very nice too, plus the prices are beautifully reasonable. So what left me cold? It wasn't the lovely service, that was spot on. Nope, I just wasn't crazy keen on the decor. The outside invited me in with promises of higgledy-piggledy stairs, mismatched chairs, vintage furniture, bare brick walls, odd little trinkets, quaint clutter... and I got uber modern sleek finishes, minimalist walls, smooth leather banquettes ... agh, the juxtaposition was too much! I just wanted there to be more character to the place. I did like the odd little chalkboards and the deli counter, they were a lovely touch, but heck, it's a minor bugbear and it shouldn't keep you away from what's a cute little restaurant with some delicious food and great live music.

Fantastic food and the choice of menu. Staff are friendly and the surroundings are nice. The…read morerestaurant was a lot bigger than expected as it doesn't show this on the website. Would definitely come again.

This was my first visit to Southport and was taken by my colleague to The Office Bar & Restaurant…read more We arrived just before opening at 11am and were allowed in as it was raining. Although the kitchen didn't open until 1130am, we were able to order drinks. The person I was with frequents the establishment on a regular basis, so knows the staff well. When it came to food, there was a very good menu with a wide range of dishes catering to most people's requirements. Food quality was excellent and service was very good (this was standard to everyone & not just because my colleague knows the staff). I paid the bill and was very pleasantly surprised at the cost. It came out far better than I expected. I'd recommend this establishment to anyone and when next in Liverpool, will be making a special effort to eat here. Well done to all the staff.

Really enjoyed the night I spent here. The people are very friendly and down to earth. The drink…read moreselection is fantastic! I heard they were going to start having live music too which would be great! Thanks for an amazing night!

We went last night, they've a great offer on, table d'hote menu is normally £9.95 for two courses…read more(starter and main or main and pudding) but in November, Monday -Friday it's 2-4-1, that means two of you can eat for under ten quid! I had pate and chicken stronganoff, she had salad and a vegetable burrito, service was impeccable, you should try it! They also do Bar food, really reasonably priced

You're homesick. You miss your mummy/daddykins/dog/significant other/catfish/weasel/antfarm. You…read moreneed some of that home cookin' to soothe your lonely soul, something traditional and warming and comforting. And while in this humid heatwave such thoughts might turn your stomach as much as they're turning mine, I'm thinking back to the cold winters of November when I visited Pudding and Pie in a chilly, wind-whipped Southport. It's worse on the coast, you know. Rumour has it that breeze is so sharp it can make your favourite jumper threadbare. True story. Look no further to solve those feelings than the very definition of stodge that is Pudding and Pie, a place where they do a mean fish finger sandwich (whether the fish were mean before they became fingers remains to be seen), a steak and ale pie that views your arteries as a personal challenge, Lancashire hot pot that could rival Betty's in the Rover's, soups designed to put hair on your chest when you're feeling infirm... all 100% home made. And if you've made the leap to the fat-is-flavour side of the river this far, you might as well finish yourself off with an equally cosy pud. Eccles cakes, or fly pies as my mother calls them (thanks, dear parent, for ruining a traditional north westerly baked treat), apple crumble so warm and juicy that Jim from American Pie would want to get a room with it, bread and butter pudding that ain't stingy on the bright yellow sticks of doom... it's all here, waiting to comfort you. The location is pretty delicious too; Wayfarers Arcade happens to be one of my favourite spots in Southport and the ornate architectural delight that it is blankets Pudding and Pie in even more loveliness. Plus it's super central, so once you've had your fill you can either walk off your heavy tummy by hitting the shops with aplomb or head straight to the beach for a lunch-burnin' sand hike. Either way, the staff are lovely and it makes a superb spot for a substantial lunch or naughty treat any time of the day... one I'd highly recommend.

The name of this bistro style café reminds me of that nursery rhyme 'Georgie Porgie pudding and…read morepie, kissed the girls and made them cry'. I always wondered why the girls were crying so much at him kissing them, he must have been quite the hunchback for them to have reacted in that way because in my experience, any attention from boys is usually a good thing as far as girls are concerned. Luckily, Pudding and Pie café in Wayfarers Arcade has no such problems satisfying its customers as it offers hearty home cooked meals at very cheap prices. The food usually changes on a daily or weekly basis as they use local ingredients but the daily specials are definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. They offer a patio seating area in the Arcade itself for you to watch your fellow shoppers as they pass by as well as a decently-sized seating area in the café itself, with interesting Lloyd-loom style chairs for you to sit on. Pudding and Pie also offers a range of scones and cream cakes as well as hot and cold drinks, meaning it is a great place to go if you're in the Arcade and fancy stopping off for a decent meal or a just a small refreshment.

Fish and chip shops are to Southport what Italian restaurants with faux Italian waiters are to…read moreFormby. With it being a seaside town (I'd describe it as Diet Blackpool), fish and chip shops are very, very common in Southport. There are a fair few in the town centre and it only gets worse as you head up towards the front. Some are okay, some are terrible and some, like Harpers, are very good. On the busy Eastbank Street, the takeaway section of Harpers at the front of the shop is quite small and cramped, meaning the busy lunchtime period results in a slightly squashed few minutes. However, the staff there are all very efficient so you're never normally waiting too long. If you're not in a rush, there is a restaurant part to Harpers to at the back of the shop, where you can sit down with your fish, chips and mushy peas and eat in relative peace as you wash it all down with a cup of tea. The food itself is probably the best in the area, with their chips being delightfully fluffy and their fish being crispy and full of flavour. Their prices are a bit expensive but competitive nonetheless, meaning Harpers is a good place to go for a bite to eat during lunchtime.