My review of The Hut, Hoylake

After reading one fantastic review after another and being encouraged to try the food here by friends and family. We visited The Hut in Hoylake for delicious Sri Lankan food in Wirral!

I’m glad we did, as it’s quickly become one of our favourite food spots. The Hut in Hoylake is Wirral’s first restaurant offering authentic Ceylon cuisine, and we are excited to visit again to try more of the menu. Here’s my review of The Hut, Hoylake.

The Hut, Hoylake

Since its opening in August, The Hut, located on Hoylake’s Market Street, has received many five-star reviews. The restaurant offers authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. The establishment is owned by Gayan and Shanika, a husband and wife duo who moved to Wirral with their three children in 2021.

After gaining popularity in London by cooking Sri Lankan cuisine for events and high-end clients in Bishops Avenue, Finchley, Shanika, and Gayan discovered Wirral through friends. The couple fell in love with the area and decided to make their dream come true by opening their restaurant here.

Shanika’s father ships spices from the fields of Sri Lanka for her to prepare dishes made with fresh ingredients. Additionally, she incorporates recipes passed down from her late mother.

We were passing by The Hut and decided to pop in at the last minute and see if they had any availability. The staff couldn’t have been more friendly and accommodating. Even though it was clear the restaurant was busy with most tables booked, they kindly managed to fit us in!

First impressions of The Hut, Hoylake

We loved the clean and bright decor. The restaurant is intimate, but there is plenty of space between tables; we enjoy a smaller dining space, but make sure to book a table in advance to avoid disappointment.

My partner and I were new to trying Sri Lankan food, but we didn’t need to worry as Gayan happily went through the menu with us and answered our questions. He was so friendly and engaging, and it was great to have the menu explained so well.

We could tell he’s very passionate about what he does! It just makes a massive difference to the dining experience. The restaurant proudly boasts being the first to introduce Wirral to ‘Hoppers’ – a delicious rice flour pancake filled with curry and topped with sambol and chutney.

Authentic Sri Lankan food in Wirral

To drink, we both had a Lion Lager, which neither of us had tried before. I’m not a massive Lager fan, but this was light and refreshing. There is also a selection of wines and soft drinks.

To start, we had the fish cutlets, which were tuna combined with potatoes and spices, rolled in bread crumbs and fried. We also had the fish rolls, which were tuna combined with potatoes and spices, wrapped in homemade pancakes, rolled in bread crumbs and fried to perfection. Both came with a sweet chilli dip, which complimented them beautifully. The flavours were intense but not overpowering.

We went for the Hut Rice Box with chicken and Colombo Style Nasi Goreng for mains. Both were delicious and bursting with flavour. I found the portions were perfectly sized. You can choose what level of spice you would like, which is excellent, and the entire meal was reasonably priced.

The restaurant has gluten-free and vegan options. We dined in at this restaurant, but they also offer a takeaway menu.

A great night, with great food!

Overall, we had a great night. Visiting a new restaurant with a team excited about the food they were serving was refreshing. The service was fantastic; the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and the food was incredible.

Location: The Hut, 88 Market St, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 3BD

I promise to update this review after trying even more of the menu! If you love Sri Lankan food or are desperate to try something new, we can’t recommend the Hut in Hoylake enough. We are excited to visit again and think The Hut is an excellent addition to Hoylake’s restaurants.