Liverpool Lil’s
2942 Lyon St (off Lombard), 415-921-6664
Lunch Mon-Fri 11am–2pm, weekend brunch 10am–2pm
dinner 5–midnight, 7 days, with light fare served until 1am.
Liverpool Lil’s has been around since 1973. I first listed it in my 6th Edition of San Francisco on a Shoestring in 1990, and have carried it ever since. It has become an icon of its neighborhood, and seems to improve with age.
Of course, prices have gone up with time, but they still classify as “affordable,” especially since an ample mixed salad or soup (at least, a $5 value) is included with the entrees for both lunch and dinner. For example, the steak and kidney pie, with soup or salad, was $8.95 in 1990, and is now $10.95, for a huge portion. Many dishes are now in the $10.95 to $16.95 range, but with a $5 salad thrown in, they become decidedly “affordable.”
The most expensive dish on the menu at Liverpool Lil's is a 12-oz, 21-day-aged N.Y. steak, seared with brandy, and served with a mixed house salad. This compares very favorably to the large steak houses, like Harris or Izzy’s, where a similar dish can be up to $25 — without the soup or salad.
Liverpool Lil’s has a decorative, typical pub-restaurant atmosphere, with high ceilings and many artifacts on the walls. They serve continental fare as well as English-pub specialties, such as, beer-battered fish and chips, steak and kidney pie, barbecued ribs Portions are extra-large.
Lunch and dinner prices are the same; lunch specialties are more limited (nine items) but include the more popular entrees, such as steak and kidney pie, BBQ ribs, , meatloaf, pork chops, seafood stew, 12-oz steak.
Appetizers. Relatively, on the high side, but each is almost a meal in itself. In fact, an appetizer plus a soup — e.g., onion or salad — would make a full and satisfying meal.
Here are some appetizers — Gulf prawn cocktail with horseradish sauce $11.95, baked brie and roasted garlic, served with French bread and fresh fruit garnish $8.95, a full pound of Manila clams steamed in a white-wine butter—and-herb sauce $12.95, large portion of Prince Edward mussels in tomato and herb sauce $11.95, chicken liver and armagnac pate’, served with capers, onions and warm French bread $8.95. Also, French onion soup topped with gruyere, mozzarella & parmesan cheeses (a great favorite and a great buy) $5.95, mixed green salad $3.95 small, $5.95 large, spinach or Caesar salad $5.45/7.95.
Lighter fare, e.g., Lil’s burger with grilled onions and melted cheddar cheese on a sesame bun, with shoestring fries, a meal in itself $8.95, grilled garden burger $8.95, English-style fish and chips, cod in a beer-batter, with shoestring fries $11.95, fresh roasted turkey breast , or Cajun chicken with cheddar cheese sandwich $8.95, Reuben sandwich with corned beef, sauerkraut, & cheddar cheese $8.95, Lil’s Liverpool burger or garden burger $8.95, classic club $8.95. All sandwiches are huge and are served with choice of shoestring potatoes or coleslaw.
Entrees, served with mixed green salad or soup (substitute French onion soup for additional $3.25), e.g., steak or kidney pie, served in a crock topped with puff pastry $10.95, barbecued ribs. baked in a tangy sauce and chutney $13.95, Manchester Wellington, ground chuck wrapped in ham & pastry, baked in béarnaise sauce — calories! — $11.95, chicken Dijonaise, double chicken breasts, sautéed in sauce of white wine and Dijonaise mustard $13.95, vegetarian plate $10.95, 12-oz N.Y. steak or pepper steak, aged 21 days, rubbed with cracked black pepper & finished in brandy & green peppercorn $18.95 (great buy with soup or salad), tournedos Raphael, broiled prime beef filets, with mushroom caps & béarnaise sauce $16.95.
Desserts. All $4.50, change daily, e.g., pies,(apple, berry), cheesecakes, Grand Marnier mousse.
Beer & wine. Bud $2.50 pint, Guinness $4.50 pint. Wine by the glass $5.25-6.75, house wine — glass $4, half carafe $8, carafe $16 (Novo River white, Domaine St. George red). Bottles start at $19. Corkage $10. No regular Happy Hour, but snacks are served with drinks in the late afternoon.
Liverpool Lil's reviewed 3/1/03 by Louis Madison
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