The menu includes hot dogs, burgers, pizza, mac ‘n cheese and doughnuts
A restaurant in Wirral specialising in American diner-style food blew me away with its extensive food choices and flavours.
The Good Hood in West Kirby opened its doors in December 2021, bringing a taste of New York to the seaside town.
I came across the restaurant on Instagram and instantly knew I had to visit due to the funky décor and delicious-looking food. I finally visited one Monday lunchtime, and although the venue was pretty quiet (the restaurant is busier in the evenings), we were warmly greeted and told to select any table.
I selected a cosy booth against the main graffiti feature wall which comes complete with neon signage. There's also a "Tool Box" on each table containing cutlery and condiments - The Good Hood truly is unlike any restaurant I’ve been to before.
The waiter handed me a large brown paper bag which the food menu is printed on, and inside the bag was the drinks and vegan menus. The drinks menu had all the usual options including soft drinks, cocktails, wine and beer. However, it was the prosecco and gin frozen slushy section that caught my eye. I decided to go for the "Sugar T*ts" slushy - vanilla meringue gin and raspberry prosecco frozen slush and it was very refreshing and a lovely flavour combination.
When the waiter brought my drink to the table, he also handed me what looked like a 100 dollar bill. Looking a tad puzzled, he explained that the special note can be used on my next visit to get 2 for 1 cocktails.
When it came to the food, as there were two of us, we decided to try and sample a little bit of everything. We each went for a hot dog and also shared a vegetable pizza, artisan fries, mac ‘n cheese and coleslaw.
The "Chilled Hot Dog" was a soft brioche baguette containing a jumbo pork smoked sausage which had been soaked in beer and was cooked to order. It came complete with slow cooked onions, ketchup and mustard. The sausage was absolutely delicious and the beer complimented the yummy smoky flavour well.
The veggie pizza, which was served in a cardboard pizza box, came with red onions, tomato, jalapenos, pickles, slow slaw, smoked chipotle, mozzarella and oregano. The thin dough was soft and tasty, the vegetables were cooked perfectly and the tomato sauce was rich.
The artisan fries were thin and crispy, tasting more like crisp sticks rather than "normal" fries. They were unlike any fries I’d had before and were delicious.
But it was the two other side orders that stood out the most.
The mac ‘n cheese was without a doubt the best I’d ever had, and the coleslaw was creamy and moreish. Next time I visit, I think I’ll order one of each as my main meal!
The amazing food didn’t stop there though and despite both of us already feeling full, we couldn’t resist sharing the "Donut On A Stick".
In a quirky twist, The Good Hood gives you a pair of retro 3D image binoculars to view the dessert menu and as soon as the image of the donut stick appeared, I knew it was the one for us.
The doughnut, full of sticky strawberry jam, comes with chocolate and strawberry sauce, mini smarties, jelly sweets and chocolate pieces sprinkled on top. It also has a marshmallow on top which the waiter toasts in front of you.
The donut on a stick looked incredible, had the real 'wow factor' and was one of the most fun and delicious desserts I’ve had in a restaurant. The restaurant is currently creating an outdoor area ready for the warmer months, and on Sundays adults can enjoy "Bottomless Lunch" for £17.50 each (minimum four people).
The Good Hood is open seven days a week and is at 22 Banks Rd, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 0RD.