Name your fav local independent record shops!

[Macca]

Hi Dan,

As far as I know, I don't think they've got anything to do with that, but I'm not sure. It would be interesting to find out

I wonder what Martin bought then when he was in Liverpool?

Marco.

I never bought anything I was meeting family for a meal - it took an hour and a half to get served by which time it was too late for a wander round the shops - still I am up there next weekend staying in Bold Street so will have a chance to wander a bit.

Probe was owned (maybe still is) by the same bloke who manages Half man Half Biscuit so there is a connection. He taught me at school as well.

[DanJennings]

Wikipedia strikes again

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probe_Records_(shop)

It appears Probe Plus is affiliated with the shop.

[Marco]

I never bought anything I was meeting family for a meal - it took an hour and a half to get served by which time it was too late for a wander round the shops...

Nightmare, mate, that's f*cking ridiculous.... But you must be one very patient muchacho.

I'd have given it 30 mins, TOPS (more like 20, probably), and then hauled the manager or owner's ass over to complain, and if my meal didn't arrive within 10 mins MAX after that, I'd be off, with him or her having a flea in their ear!!

I have a low tolerance threshold for incompetence and disorganisation in restaurants, and so no way would I have waited an hour and a half!! WTF was their excuse? Also which restaurant was it, so I'll know to avoid it like the plague

- still I am up there next weekend staying in Bold Street so will have a chance to wander a bit.

Nice one. Sounds like you'll be able to make up for it then.

Probe was owned (maybe still is) by the same bloke who manages Half man Half Biscuit so there is a connection. He taught me at school as well.

Ah, I didn't know that. He's certainly a helpful chap, as are all of the staff.

When I'm in there, it's not uncommon for me to arrive at the till with about 50 (usually quite obscure) albums on vinyl to have a quick listen to on their resident T/T (they just skip through the tracks to give me an idea if it's my kind of music or not), which they do gladly, before I buy what I fancy.

Mind you, it's also not uncommon for me to leave having spent about £250, so their efforts are always worth it!

Marco.

P.S Dan, noted

[Thing Fish]

I echo the above. 1 1/2 hours. I would have walked out!! That's talking the Micky.

I'm the same as Marco having a low tolerance threshold.

The older I get the more I turn into Mr Angry...

[Macca]

It was some faux Italian place on the Chevasse Park but I can't remember the name of it. The food was good when it eventually arrived. We were chatting so the time passed without noticing really.

Years ago I might have made a fuss I can't be bothered nowdays. There's no excuse for poor, slow service but it is regretably what one comes to expect in this country if you go somewhere new. I usually eat places I know and where I'm known so as to avoid it.

[Marco]

It was some faux Italian place on the Chevasse Park but I can't remember the name of it. The food was good when it eventually arrived. We were chatting so the time passed without noticing really.

Lol... You wouldn't have been able to chat from the noise of my rumbling belly!

When I'm at a restaurant, I'm there because I'm hungry and ready to eat. That's the primary purpose of my being there. Chatting can be done later. What was it the old Buitoni pasta ad used to say "Don't talk, EAT"!

Dave, the problem is that the more folk who let these idiots away with shoddy service, the more they'll try to get away with it, so you have to complain, if necessary, to raise their standards to something more acceptable.

Anyway, Martin, I guess we’re all different I just wouldn't have had your patience, particularly when there are 100s of restaurants in Liverpool to choose from. I hope you had a nice day otherwise

Do you like authentic Chinese food? If so, I can recommend you somewhere just off of Bold St where the food is utterly superb, and the service just as good! I always go there before my record buying trips.

Marco.

[Macca]

Do you like authentic Chinese food? If so, I can recommend you somewhere just off of Bold St where the food is utterly superb, and the service just as good!

Marco.

Do I like Chinese food? Is the Pope Catholic? Recommend away!

[Marco]

Mei Mei in Berry St:

http://www.restaurant-guide.com/mei-mei.htm

Trust me, the food is utterly superb and totally authentic. Not too expensive either. Avoid the plebs set lunch menu, though.

Ask for Bernard, the manager (tall thin guy with a bald head), and tell him Marco (the big Scottish chap, who always comes in with his wife, sent you) and ask him for the Dim Sum menu, and also what he would recommend from the proper Chinese menu (which is written in Chinese).

Their 'Three meat hotpot' is particularly good! Bear in mind that about 70% of the folk eating there will be Chinese.

Oh and from there, Hairy Records, at the top of Bold St, is only about five mins walk

Marco.

[Macca]

If there are Chinese eating in there it's always a good sign. My favourite place was like that - used to go there with my old man when he was still alive. Oilskin on the tables and an old coke machine in the corner. Unrealistically good food. The bloke retired and sold up in about 1994 and it was never the same after that.

Anyway, I'll check out Mei Mei on Friday, cheers Marco.

[Marco]

No worries, mate. Mei Mei, in Berry St, is right in the heart of Chinatown, and Liverpool has the oldest one in Europe, so there are loads of good Chinese restaurants there.

We've tried most of them and the best, without doubt is Mei Mei

Another good one, just along the road from Mei Mei, is the Yuet Ben (it's been there for years): http://www.yuetben.co.uk/, but that's only open in the evening.

Right next to that, if you're interested, is an excellent Chinese food market. We always stock up there with goodies to take back home, particularly big bags of Thai scented rice (we use a lot of it), which work out way cheaper than the tiny things you get in supermarkets.

Enjoy, and do let us know how you get on at Mei Mei... Don't forget to ask for Bernard!

Marco.