On my short trip to Liverpool, here are my restaurant finds:
Salt House Tapas: At 1 Hanover Street, in an historic building, this is a very good tapas restaurant where I enjoyed lunch before exploring the city. They offer a 3 plate lunch special at a reasonable price.
London Carriage Works Restaurant: Located next to the Hope Street Hotel, on Hope Street, across from the Liverpool Philharmonic. This is an award winning restaurant with a great local menu and sleek contemporary interior. I had a wonderful pork entrée paired with a perfect English cider.
The Blue Coat: When you visit this art center on School Lane to see the current exhibitions, you might consider eating at the bistro upstairs for locally sourced food.
Cafe at the Tate Liverpool: This is a great spot for a cup of tea after visiting the Tate. It has great views of the docks and the historic buildings of the Albert Dock. The Albert Dock has a large number of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from.
Another local option recently in the press is Panoramic 34 with wonderful views of the city.