Surprising and fascinating, this receptacle of bizarre is a must see: a feast for the curious eyes is guaranteed.

The Venue
Raven claims to be an Irish American grill and beer hall, but visually it does not pay direct reference to either of these countries. If anything, there is a slight German undertone thanks to the old beer paraphernalia display on a tall wall at the entrance.

The place looks spectacular, split as it is over two floors with a decor that will make the day of anybody with a preference for eccentric vintage. Do not expect dusty charity shop furniture; Raven is dark and new but retains a twisted old-time allure.

Grandma lampshades are scattered everywhere, taxidermy ravens appear here and there, books and old photos also peek out from the corners, while a huge brass and a marble chandelier dangles from the ceiling. You are advised to spend a couple of minutes looking at the old prints and photos hanging from a green wall; they are bizarre portraits of women with their bird friends. Mirrors and a couple of out-of-place screens complete the whole.

As with any of the Albert Dock venues, Raven is a large place with lots of room for experimenting with furnishing and decoration. Whoever was in charge of the design used the creative freedom to create a place that is a true receptacle of bizarre, yet it is still elegant enough to be appeal to the squeamish.

The Atmosphere
The Albert Docks is a destination which is popular during the day with tourists, visitors of the Tate Modern and all the locals who want to start the day with a nice meal. At night, it attracts those in town who want a serious lounge bar experience.

At lunch, you find an older crowd of customers in their 40s, attracted by either the Irish or American theme they expect to find here. Most of these are tourists. The night is when Raven unleashes all its potential as a very cool bar populated by the best of the Liverpool crew: most people are in their late 20s and 30s, some well dressed, and some complying with the eccentric decor. All of them are out to have a great time.

The Drink
Raven keeps it surprisingly simple: there are no fancy cocktails or too many bottles of wine and the drink menu is where the American influence exerts the most. Most of the beers are American imports: Dixie, Flying Dog Doggie Style, Goose Island IPA, Juju Ginger Spiced Beer, Miller Gents Draft and Michelob are available as bottles (£2.70-£2.95), while on draught (£2.65-£2.95) you can get an Irish Harp or the obvious Guinness and Budweiser.

There are about two dozen wines to choose from but only five are available by the glass (£3.50 for a small and £4.50 for a large). There is a preference for Californian bottles, but all the classic countries appear on the menu as well. Treat yourself to a Rancho Zabaco Heritage Wine Zinfandel or a Dancing Bull Sauvignon Blanc to keep it American or pick a Spanish, Italian, French, Argentinian or Australian bottle. Prices are average for this type of place and the location: bottles are all priced £12.55 – £25 with many of them closer to the bottom end of the spectrum.

The Food
If the drinks lean towards America, the food is rich in Irish ingredients. From the Gaelic grill you can pick Irish Hereford sirloin (£12) or fillet (£13) steak and Connemara lamb loin (£12), alongside calves’ liver, salmon supreme (£10) or black sole.

Alternatively you can opt for a build your own sausage and mash: pick two (£5) or three (£7) sausages from a range that includes wild boar, smoked bacon and cheese and pork stout and mustard. Then pick your mash (£2) and finally your gravy.

For something with less decision making required, opt for a stew or country classic (£7-£11). Irish rarebit, Feile Bia stuffed pork loin and Irish cobb salad are just a few of the options available. Sandwiches, breakfasts, open toasties (£4-7), desserts (£4.75) and appetisers (£4.75) complete the menu

The Last Word
Eccentric and full of personality, Raven deserves a visit for the visual stimulation it provides. And the fact that it serves decent food and uncommon beers doesn’t hurt either!

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