There’s a corner of Smithdown Road where bars and restaurants just seem to take off in popularity.
First of all there’s the Tavern and its legendary breakfast queues, then Spitroast, with its ‘better than Nando’s' chicken and of course Maggie Fu, which during lockdown became notoriously hard to get through on the phone for a takeaway order, such was the demand for its salt and pepper delights.
Taking up a chunky corner space directly opposite The Tavern is Leaf, which opened back in 2019 as a sister venue to the much loved Bold Street café. I’ve visited Leaf several times and it’s nearly always packed - even if you visit mid morning on a Monday.
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Fortunately there’s plenty of seating and it fills up quickly with groups of friends, couples, maternity leave mums and people with laptops, creating a real buzzy vibe and that lovely 'background noise' of chatter.
There’s lot of pretty lighting, no harsh spotlights thankfully, loads of trendy plant life, plus pops of emerald green and flamingo pink colours amongst the decor. It all creates a beautifully blended space that feels both contemporary and a little bit retro at the same time.
Visiting for breakfast recently, it took me a while to choose because there’s such a good selection on the menu and it all sounds delicious. There’s a ‘Full Breakfast’ section with English, Vegetarian and Vegan options, some sweet choices including American Pancakes, Cinnamon Toast and Chai Spiced Porridge.
There’s also Eggs Benedict, Royale and Florentine to choose from, Halloumi and Avocado on Sourdough, or if you’re feeling really hungry there’s Steak and Eggs. I settled on an option from the ‘Something Different’ section - Turkish Eggs, which was £8.75.
The dish includes two poached eggs, garlic and dill yoghurt, Aleppo chilli brown butter, pomegranate seeds and grilled sourdough. I also added smoked salmon for £2 extra.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect and when the order was placed in front of me it took me by surprise. It all looked a bit like a breakfast soup, with quite a lot of liquid.
The sourdough was perfectly chewy in texture and having been grilled it had a nice slightly charred flavour to it. I certainly needed it for mopping up all the yoghurt and the runny poached eggs, which were cooked just right.
It felt like a bit of a tricky dish to eat, having to cut bits, then scoop onto the bread, but I got there in the end, and the overall flavours were really delicious and not like any breakfast I’ve had before.
The yoghurt was rich and fresh and I loved the tartness of the pomegranate seeds as they popped in my mouth. I was glad I’d added the salmon, as it gave some texture to what would have otherwise been quite a gloopy dish, and the smokiness cut through all the creamy flavours. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t really taste the flavour of the Aleppo chilli brown butter, but maybe that’s my uneducated palate.
I finished the dish feeling like I’d not only had something totally different and very tasty, but also quite healthy (no calories on menus here, so I’m sticking with my story). It was all so fresh and lacking in the combination of pork fat and hash browns that I usually go for when eating out for breakfast.
The other thing Leaf does brilliantly of course, is tea. I even forgoed my usual flat white, in favour of a ‘Pure Life Wellness’ herbal tea, which was £2.85 and had a subtle orangey taste without being overly perfumed. Anyone who’s been to Leaf before, or follow them on Instagram will know they serve their loose leaf teas in their famous ‘Where There’s Tea There’s Hope’ glass pots. They always bring a smile and there’s something so comforting about endlessly topping up your cup during a visit - this certainly won’t be my last.
Special mention also for the ever cheerful staff. The service at Leaf has always been impeccable whenever I’ve visited and this trip was no exception.
Leaf is at 364-368, Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 5AN and is open daily from 9am to 10pm.
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