Fine dining for up to 50 people with views over the Liverpool waterfront will be offered from next month on a new balcony at the 7th floor Carpathia restaurant at the 30, James Street hotel. The building was originally the offices of the White Star Line, owners of the tragic Titanic, which hit an iceberg and sank in 1914, killing more than 1,500 passengers in the freezing seas; 1,352 men, half of which were crew, 109 women and 53 children.
On a happier note the restaurant menu offers such starters as pan-fried sea-bream with salt baked beetroot, lemon balm and olive oil (£9.50), and confit duck leg terrine with orange gel, baby onions, beetroot puree and sourdough (£7.50). Main courses are such as fillet of red mullet with a citrus and peanut crust, chilli and garlic greens and minted pea puree (£17.50) and 8 oz fillet steak, short beef rib and potato lattice with white onion puree, baby vegetables and roasting jus (£28.50). Desserts include sticky toffee pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, and almond brittle and baked rhubarb and custard cheesecake with set rhubarb jelly and stem ginger, both at £6.50.
The RMS Carpathia, the ship the restaurant is named after was the closest to the tragedy prepared to help at around 58 miles away, and around three and a half hours travelling time. She was a ship owned and operated by Cunard, rivals of the Titanic’s White Star Line but took considerable risks steaming at more than its rated full speed through the same ice-field that had sunk the Titanic, arriving one and a half hours after the sinking. The 705 survivors found hot coffee and warm blankets waiting for them as well as food and medical attention and responded by later awarding medals to the Carpethia’s Captain, officers and crew. In addition Captain Rostron was knighted by King George V and received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honour the United States Congress could award.
The balcony at the Carpathia restaurant also offers excellent views of the Liverpool waterfront and the iconic Liver Building with the two metal cormorant-like Liver Birds, now symbols of Liverpool mounted on top of the domes. The female, apparently known as Bella, faces out to the sea it looks after, whilst the male, known as Bertie, looks over and after Liverpool. Legend has it that if they faced each other they would fall in love and mate, and then fly away, resulting in the destruction of Liverpool.