So, on with the food. My partner had a starter of leek and potato terrine with ham hock, home made piccalilli and sour-dough crostini (£4.30). I must admit I was not sure what a crostini was when she placed the order. But I must confess, as I am one of those annoying pickers who likes to taste their partner's dish, I can say I thoroughly recommend this course. I had clasoutis of goat cheese and sunblushed tomatoes with a rocket salad tapenade (£4.30). This was equally tasteful. For the main course, my partner had pan-fried corn-fed chick-en, savoy cabbage, pancetta dump-ling, dauphine potato and sorrell butter sauce (£13). I chose the pan fried rump of lamb with crushed new potatoes and warm mixed bean salad(£14.80). The lamb was cooked to perfection and, overall, it was a great dish. This was all washed down with a Chilean merlot, which, at £11.75, was reasonably priced and, unlike wines at the lower end of the price scale in some restaurants, of good quality. After this my partner had classic sticky toffee pudding with toffee ice cream (£4.50) which she said she enjoyed. But I noticed her looking upon my dessert with a somewhat envious eye. It was clear from what was presented in front of me that I had made the wiser choice. I had ordered the chocolate and ginger tart which was served with stem ginger ice cream and chocolate sauce (£4.50) and I can happily say this dish is a must for anybody choosing to dine at The Courtyard. With a fusion of different tastes that melt into your mouth it is a perfect way to end such a fine three-course meal. Well almost the perfect way. It tasted so good that I found I just had to order a nice malt whisky to finish off. To sum up the place, the food is superb, the simple design is eyecatching and the service is more than friendly. It is not a place for a quiet meal, though. It is a good atmospheric bistro where people come to enjoy good food with loud laughter and conversation. It is a place for fun, coupled with a good choice of food which includes an array of beef and seafood dishes as well as vegetarian risotto and a pasta linguine course. However, with a basement toilet reached by stairs into the restaurant from the courtyard it is not disabled friendly. And as for the lack of a smoking policy...
 The Courtyard, Dale Street, Liverpool, Tel: 0151 236 5556
Menu: A good mix of traditional and European food.
Service: Friendly, helpful and quick without being pushy.
Disabled access: No. Toilets access via a flight of stairs.
Interior: A pleasing simplistic natural effect with exposed brick and lots of natural wood.
Verdict: A great place to go for friends for an enjoyable evening. Stylish, but not pretentious with good food and a reasonably priced wine list. | 
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