HUNDREDS of customer reviews have helped to create a ranking of the best places to eat in St Helens.
From restaurants to cafes and a range of different cuisines, the people of St Helens (and travelling customers) have rated which establishment cooks up the best meals across the borough.
With people often looking to Trip Advisor for advice on where best to travel, stay or eat, the rankings are determined by the frequency, quality, and quantity of a place's online reviews.
Top ten places to eat in St Helens as rated on Trip Advisor:
Mr Chan's
With a 4.5 star rating from 341 reviews, Mr Chan's Chinese Restaurant is rated as the number one place to eat in St Helens.
Serving Cantonese, Peking and Szechuan cuisine, the North Road restaurant offers a full A-la-Carte menu along with popular authentic and traditional Chinese meals.
Also offering a takeaway service, the Charlie Chan owned premises has heaps of positive reviews on Trip Advisor, including 295 'excellent' ratings.
One recent review reads: "We are new to St Helens and went for this as [it] had good reviews and [we] fancied a takeaway on a Friday night, [it] was amazing!
"Flavours and food was to die for, portion size good, price was good, very friendly helpful staff, we have definitely found our Chinese restaurant now!
"Will look forward to sitting in and having a meal sometime soon as when we collected the atmosphere was lovely inside and again staff friendly. So impressed [with] one of the best Chinese meals I have ever tasted!."
Ba'Bursi
With a five star rating from 644 reviews, Ba'Bursi is rated as the best Indian restaurant in St Helens.
Using only "fresh and finest ingredients" to prepare their dishes, the family-run business has 563 'excellent' ratings.
Located on George Street in the town centre, the restaurant also has a popular takeaway service.
One recent review reads: "Visited here on Saturday night what can I say absolutely beautiful food.
"The service was second to none all the staff were very friendly helpful all served with a smile.
"The portions were plentiful and quality was of a very high standard. Flavours of the food was amazing - [I] wish we didn't stay so far away as I would return every week.
"Great value for money well done Ba'Bursi."
Toast
Toast Coffee House & Cafe has become one of the best-known cafes in St Helens.
With breakfasts, afternoon tea and lunch menus on offer, the Dentons Green Lane business has a 4.5 TripAdvisor rating out of 434 reviews.
Open from 9am-4pm, and from 10am on Sundays, the cafe has 340 'excellent' online ratings.
One review reads: "This is one of my favourite places to eat in St Helens. My Mum and I eat here every week.
"Food is plentiful, fresh, home cooked and high quality. The steak and mushroom salad is my favourite but I’m told the big breakfast is amazing by my Husband and the cakes are amazing too.
"Staff are really friendly and accommodating. This place is dog friendly [and] my dog loves coming here for a sausage. It truly is a hidden gem."
Vigour
Opening as a Health Kitchen-come-Juice Bar in 2017, Vigour diversified to become a popular "neighbourhood kitchen" on Bridge Street in the town centre.
Opened by childhood friends Scott Anderson, Anthony Georgiou and Chris Heyes, the Sutton-based trio still offer the health foods that kickstarted the business but expanded their menu to adopt a small plate focus and become a licensed bar.
With a five-star rating from 148 reviews - including 136 'excellent' ratings - the kitchen has become a trendy eatery in the centre of St Helens, while also offering a takeaway service.
One recent rating says: "The small plates are amazing. I had lamb shoulder with barley risotto, curried chicken wings and fish and chips.
"The fish and chips was unreal. A small piece of tender fish, covered with a pea mush (not mushy peas), shoestring fries all in a bowl of tartare sauce soup. The essence of great fish and chips - all served by a kind and attentive waiter.
"If this place was in a big city it would be talked about for miles around. If you're in St Helens, you need to go."
Lily's Victorian Tearooms
Serving afternoon tea and traditional home-made meals, Lily's Victorian Tearooms is another popular cafe in St Helens.
Open from 9.30am to 3pm on Hall Street in the town centre, customers can "step back in time" as they dine at Lily's.
On TripAdvisor, they have a 4.5 star rating from 355 reviews, including 260 'excellent' ratings.
One recent review states: "Popped in on Friday lunchtime, ordered the cottage pie, it came with bread and butter and beetroot and was absolutely gorgeous.
"The ladies who serve you are lovely and attentive, the cook is a star and I will be back this week with my mum as I cannot stop raving about this place."
Verona
After a re-vamp and new menu earlier in the year, Verona Kitchen & Bar has been rated as the best restaurant in Newton-le-Willows.
Aiming to become Rosette-starred (held in similar regard as Michelin stars), the Italian restaurant provides wood-fired pizzas and other freshly prepared meals - often "infused with international influences and always made with a twist".
The family business has been scored a rating of 4.5 stars out of 773 reviews, including 570 'excellent' reviews.
Opening in 2017, the High Street restaurant offers a takeaway service as well as an upstairs bar, function room, balcony and beer garden at their premises.
One recent review states: "Stopped in for our first time, for a table of 3. The service was excellent from all staff, in particular, the eastern European lady who was our waitress.
"The food was well presented and flavoursome. We had a child's spaghetti bolognase, tortellini and linguini.
"Would highly recommend and looking forward to going again."
Limassol
Offering Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, Limassol has been scored a 4.5 star rating on Trip Advisor, out of 451 reviews.
This includes 349 'excellent' reviews for the Baldwin Street town centre restaurant.
One recent review states: "Sometimes when you have been to a restaurant in the past and had a great meal, you build it up in your head and are disappointed when you return - trust me this was NOT the case here.
"My wife and I returned after about 3 years and had the most fantastic food the service was excellent and we left feeling full and happy.
We will definitely be back and definitely won't leave it as long - 5 star meal."
Thai Jaa Restaurant
Rated as the best Thai restaurant in St Helens, Thai Jaa offers a wide selection of Thai and Asian delicacies to customers.
Only using ingredients traditional to Thailand, the family-run restaurant has a 4.5 star rating from 399 reviews.
Also offering a takeway service, this review includes 316 'excellent' ratings for the Hall Street establishment.
One review of the restaurant states: "Amazing food as always. - We have eaten at Thai Jaa numerous times both takeaway and inside the restaurant.
"It is always excellent, to the extent [that] I now drive from around half an hour away (Frodsham) for takeaway if I want Thai."
Diya
Another highly-rated restaurant, Diya offers authentic Indian dishes to dine in or takeaway.
Guaranteeing a "special dining experience", the East Lancashire Road restaurant has a Trip Advisor rating of 4.5 stars from 231 reviews.
This includes 199 'excellent' reviews.
One review reads: "A good dining experience [with] friendly staff eager to help and offer advice in regards to the food on the menu [and] good service.
"Food is always lovely [and] I have not had a bad experience yet.
"[I have] dined at many Indian Restaurants but this is definitely up there as one of the best - would recommend it to anyone to give it a try."
The Colliers Arms
Rated as the best pub food in St Helens, the Colliers Arms has a 4.5 Trip Advisor rating from 825 reviews.
Serving "excellent quality home-cooked food", the Kings Moss is known as a friendly and inviting pub to grab a bite to eat.
Located on Pimbo Road, the pub has received 593 'excellent' reviews on Trip Advisor.
One review reads: "Just wow - it's a long time since I have been had meal of this quality.
"I had forgot that there are still some pubs out there that can provide home-cooked food at a great quality and price plus ample portions.
"You must give this place a try - top tip, try the mixed grill it's huge."
Anatolia Grill
Rated as the tenth best place to eat in St Helens, the Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant is a popular eatery on Duke Street in the town centre.
The business has a 4.5 star rating on Trip Advisor out of 349 reviews, with 290 'excellent' reviews.
One review reads: "I'm yet to find a bad word about this place but I can never!
"Service is amazing, [as] always, and the food is so so fresh & tasty! I had the Lamb Mousakka this time and it is honestly one of the most enjoyable dishes I've had in any restaurant.
"I would highly recommend visiting at the next available opportunity. Staff are so friendly too, such a relaxed atmosphere! I will be back very soon that's for sure - 10/10."
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