138, Duke St
L1 5AG
Tel: 0151 708 9095
www.savinarestaurant.co.uk

Progressing Duke Street’s increasingly apparent mission to provide every culinary style under the sun, the Savina Mexican restaurant opened its doors late last year. Adjacent are Japanese and Italian restaurants, with a British gastro-pub and Chinese restaurant just down the road. It’s a heady mix, but one that proves the ‘Ropewalk’ area’s credentials as a truly burgeoning part of the city centre.
So what has Savina brought to the fray? Named after one of the fiercest chilli peppers in the world, a distinctly hot menu, you might presume. Naturally, Savina’s menu does have the odd fiery dish guaranteed to have you steaming towards the water jug, but there is also a more refined and well-constructed set of options.
You can tell you’re in for a more sophisticated Mexican experience as soon as you walk through the door, with clean lines, dim lighting and subtle, modern accoutrements a stark contrast to somewhere trying to recreate a more traditional ‘Mexican’ look. The bar has a sleek, minimalist aspect, and the tables are large and sparsely adorned, something I always appreciate (you can fit more on the table!). The service is informative and more importantly very friendly: you’re made to feel so welcome, the waiters probably have to prise most customers out their seats at the end of the night.
Starting with a Savina Special cocktail, a cool blend of fruit juice, rum and Grenadine, we were presented with a selection of starters on our visit. Best were the jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, the hot chillis calmed reassuringly by the warm cheese: perfect. This contrast worked really well elsewhere in our meal. Other winners were Savina’s speciality ‘canapes’, the Gambas Toast, which featured generously-sized king prawns on garlic toast topped with frijoles and guacamole, and the fried chicken goujons covered in crushed nachos.
Main courses include the recognisable (fajitas, enchilladas, burritos etc), and the less familiar, even to Mexican regulars (slowly-steamed salmon infused with Mexican spices, pan-seared king prawns with lemon salsa). One surprise we went for was the chicken in spiced coconut sauce (£10.95), not dissimilar to an Indian korma, but great alongside the chorizio potatoes and Mexican rice. The veggie enchilada (£9.95) was crammed full of delicately spiced courgette, pepper and mushrooms, with a creamy cheese atop the tortilla, and avoided being too stodgy. There are two traditional desserts available, the Cajeta (£3.95) and Quebradizo (£4.50), the former a caramel cheesecake, the latter chocolate wrapped in a cinnamon and honey dusted tortilla. Both home-made, and both excellent.
After a bottle of the robust and powerful LA Cetto Valle de Guadelupe red (£16.95) and finishing with a coffee flavoured Tequila slammer, we left Savina vying to return as soon as possible.

 

Opening times
Mon-Sun: 12pm-10.30pm
Wine List
Very good, the Mexicans are recommended
Lighting up
No smoking throughout
Child friendly
Yes, children’s menu available, all dishes £3.95.
To the point
Excellent, honest service. A restaurant rightly proud of its wares.