Only 13 restaurants in Merseyside have received the award
Only 13 restaurants in Merseyside have received the award
Yet another Liverpool restaurant has gained national recognition after it was awarded with an AA Rosette. But its head chef says they aren’t content with just one, and would like to go for a second.
Only six months after opening, Parr Street’s Voyagers Restaurant has earned the prestigious accolade which recognises restaurants that achieve standards that stand out in their local area. According to the AA, establishments awarded one Rosette “serve food prepared with care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients.”
Jake Parry, head chef at Voyagers said: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the AA Rosette. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We strive to create memorable dining experiences, and this recognition inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of our culinary offerings.”
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Jake was head chef at Gary Usher’s Pinion in Prescot, moving to the Wirral’s Woodcote Hotel for a year before opening Voyagers. Speaking to the ECHO, the 30-year-old Welshman said: “Never in a million years did we expect to get a Rosette within six months. We were thinking maybe more after a year or so. It was a nice surprise.
“We’ve got a good team front and back of house. I think, with us being a new opening, we had the time to select the right people. Hiring can be a bit difficult once you’re actually open but we managed to do it before we were trading.
“We had the time to put things in place, put processes in place, get the right people in, take our time with it and it has paid off. We’d like to go for a second Rosette, definitely.”
Voyagers offers a seasonal small plates menu that aims to highlight the finest local ingredients while incorporating global culinary influences. Divided into three sections, From the Sea, From the Land, and From the Garden, the menu caters to diverse preferences, including vegetarian and vegan options. Signature dishes include the Sticky Glazed Short Rib and Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Mushroom Purée, and Lemon Thyme Crumb.
The AA Inspector commended Voyagers, stating: “The dining menus provide clear fresh appeal and a contemporary outlook. Dishes sampled were fresh, balanced, and had clear flavours with a sense of ambition.”
The AA Rosette scheme, first introduced in 1956, is a nationwide programme that assesses the quality of food served in restaurants and hotels.
Its aim is to celebrate successful cooking at different levels across the UK, championing culinary excellence and rewarding commitment to high-quality customer experience. Every year, the AA’s inspectors travel around the UK tasting food before confirming their Rosette recommendations which are usually announced twice a year in January and September.
Since the Rosette scheme was established, it has celebrated successful cooking at different levels across the UK. Only about 10% of restaurants nationwide meet the standard required to receive one Rosette or more.
The AA can award up to five Rosettes to a restaurant, with five being the pinnacle, where cooking is on par with the best in the world. The London Carriage Works (one Rosette), Manifest (two Rosettes), ‘8’ by Andrew Sheridan (three Rosettes) and last month’s entrant, Vetch (two Rosettes), are among 13 restaurants in Merseyside which have been awarded the prestigious accolade.