Pinion

Just a minute's walk from the Shakespeare North Playhouse, this locally useful Merseyside eatery from Gary Usher is now a daytime drop-in, serving breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes until 3pm. The bistro menu and evening meals are no more, although those who crave Usher’s addictive Parmesan and truffle fries won’t be disappointed. Otherwise, expect full-on fry-ups, smashed sausage muffins and scrambled tofu bagels ahead of burgers, weekly ‘scouser pies’, soups and sandwiches (from 11.30am) – plus buttermilk waffles with add-ons such as caramelised banana or honeycomb ice cream for afters. To drink, a handful of wines by the glass, Siren craft beers (brewed specially for Pinion) and various softs fit the bill.