Free State Kitchen is an independent restaurant at 1 Maryland Street in Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter. It serves contemporary versions of American classics in a relaxed dining room, with a secluded garden and terrace adding one of its most distinctive features. The restaurant currently opens from Wednesday to Sunday and recommends booking during busy periods.
Freshly made burgers are the core of the menu, using pure beef patties, locally baked bread and chips cut from Lancashire potatoes. Choices range from a simple classic burger to versions with American cheese, barbecue sauce, caramelised onions or fried buttermilk chicken. Hot dogs and American inspired appetizers extend the menu beyond burgers without losing its focused identity.
Gluten free beef patties and hot dogs, allergen free chips and gluten free buns give diners several practical options. Vegan cheese and mayonnaise are also available, and many dishes can be modified on request. Those provisions do not replace an allergy conversation, so guests should still confirm the current ingredients and kitchen procedures with staff before ordering.
The garden makes Free State Kitchen especially appealing in warmer weather, while the indoor restaurant remains informal and comfortable through the rest of the year. Its position between Liverpool’s cathedrals and near theatres and university buildings suits lunch, dinner or a meal before an event. The emphasis on local sourcing and in house preparation gives familiar American comfort food a clear Liverpool character.
Address: 1 Maryland Street, Liverpool L1 9DE, United Kingdom
Free State Kitchen Menu
Appetisers
Buffalo Hot Wings
Our buttermilk marinated chicken wings tossed in Frank’s hot sauce & blue cheese dip; *celery sticks optional*
Classic Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce, Grana Padano, house Caesar dressing & homemade garlic croutons. Gluten free croutons available. Add chicken breast for 3.25, add bacon for 2.50, add anchovies for 2.50.
Chef’s Salad
Please refer to the specials board for our seasonal salad special
Sticky Sausage Links
Pork chipolatas tossed in BBQ sauce & caramelised onions, served with BBQ dip & a Dijon mayo dip
Boston Clam Chowder
A homemade bowl of rich creamy chowder with onion, potato, celery, clam meat & smoked bacon with toasted sourdough or gluten free bread. Ideal for sharing or great as a main!
Sweetcorn Chowder
It’s the perfect lunch dish! A creamy homemade chowder with sweetcorn, potato, onion & celery with toasted sourdough or gluten free bread. Ideal for sharing or great as a main!
Old Bay Salmon Cakes
Fish cakes flavoured with Maryland’s Old Bay seasoning, Tabasco, roasted red pepper & celery with garlic mayonnaise, mixed leaves & lemon. The large is an ideal sharer or main!
Handhelds
Served with fresh cut rosemary salted fries. Our 5oz 100% beef patties are served on brioche buns. All beef burgers are gluten free • Gluten free buns are available. Add an extra patty or fried chicken 4.25, add bacon for 2.50.
Double Deluxe Burger
Double beef burger (10oz), American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion & FSK secret sauce
Double French Onion Burger
Double beef burger (10oz), garlic butter, Swiss cheese, caramelised onions, Dijon mustard mayonnaise
American Cheeseburger
5oz beef patty, American cheese, onion, ketchup & mustard
Classic Burger
5oz beef patty, lettuce, onion, tomato & mayonnaise
Barbecue Cheeseburger
5oz beef patty, Applewood smoked cheddar, barbecue sauce, caramelised onions & baconnaise
Buffalo Fried Chicken Burger
Fried buttermilk chicken thigh, Frank’s hot sauce mayo, American cheese, lettuce & tomato
Garden Burger
Homemade all vegetable patty, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion & spicy chipotle chilli yoghurt
Vegan Market Burger
Homemade all vegetable patty, vegan cheese, vegan chipotle mayo, lettuce, onion & tomato on focaccia. Add guacamole for 2.50.
The Free State Dog
¼ lb beef dog, griddled with mustard, ketchup, American cheese & caramelised onions. Make it a chilli dog for an extra 4.75.
Other Mains
Reuben Sandwich & Rosemary Salted Fries
Home-made salt beef on toasted sourdough, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, house thousand island dressing & a gherkin
Beef Chilli Cheese Fries
Fries topped with homemade beef chilli & cheddar cheese
Veggie Chilli Cheese Fries
Fries topped with homemade bean chilli & cheddar cheese. Vegan cheese available
Creamy Mac ’N’ Cheese
Macaroni pasta in a rich and creamy cheese sauce topped with caramelised onions & cheddar cheese. Add fried chicken & buffalo hot sauce for 4.75, add bacon for 2.50.
Homemade Chilli Nachos
Corn nachos with homemade chilli, guacamole, vegan chipotle mayo, jalapeños, cheese & coriander. Choose bean chilli (V) or beef chilli. Vegan cheese available.
Sides & Extras
Wedge Salad
Crispy iceberg wedge, dressed with blue cheese, walnuts, parsley & garlic croutons (contains nuts)
Chopped Salad
Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red pepper & garlic croutons with balsamic glaze
Mac ’N’ Cheese
Macaroni in a rich cheese sauce
Onion Rings
Homemade buttermilk marinated onion rings in a light & crispy coating
FSK Slaw
Homemade with apple, peppers, celery, onion, carrot, red and white cabbage & yoghurt dressing. Vegan slaw also available
Rosemary Salted Fries
Fresh cut fries seasoned with rosemary salt
Homemade Desserts
Made in house with love
Salted Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Rich chocolate brownie sprinkled with Maldon salt, served warm. Gluten free option available.
Baked Cheesecake of the Day
Classic American style baked cheesecake with a biscuit base
Choc Peanut Butter Sundae
3 scoops of Cheshire Farm vanilla & chocolate ice cream, with a chocolate peanut butter sauce & whipped cream
Lotus Biscoff & Raspberry Sundae
3 scoops of vanilla & raspberry ripple ice cream, Biscoff pieces, Biscoff sauce & raspberry sauce topped with whipped cream. Vegan alternative available on request.
Classic Affogato
Espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream (dairy or vegan). Add Baileys 50ml 5.00, add Amaretto 50ml 5.00, add Biscoff sauce & biscuits 1.50.
Cheshire Farm Ice Cream
Vanilla / chocolate / strawberry / honeycomb / raspberry ripple. Vegan vanilla / vegan raspberry ripple / vegan chocolate.
Children’s Menu
Includes a main, juice or squash & Cheshire Farm ice cream. £10. For children up to 10 years old.
Cheese Burger with Ketchup and Fries
Porky Sausages and Fries
Mini Hot Dog with Ketchup and Fries
Veggie Burger with Mayo, Lettuce and Fries
Also available vegan (VG)
Creamy Mac ’N’ Cheese Bowl with Veggie Sticks
Vanilla Ice Cream
Chocolate Ice Cream
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream
Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream
Honeycomb Ice Cream
Hot Drinks
Espresso
Americano
Latte / Cappuccino
Flat White
Tea
Yorkshire tea / Earl Grey / chamomile / green / mint
Draft Pints
Victoria Málaga Spanish Lager 4.4%
Freedom Lager 4%
Northern Monk Faith Hazy Pale Ale 5%
Bevvie Across The Mersey Session IPA 4.2%
Glen Affric Brewery, Birkenhead
Damm Lemon – Spanish Lemon Beer 3.2%
Estrella Damm, Barcelona
Beer Cans & Bottles
Estrella Galicia Gluten Free 5.5%
Heineken Lager 5%
Alcohol Free
Guinness 0.0%
Damm Spanish Beer 0%
Estrella Damm, Barcelona
Cider
Bulmers Red Berry & Lime Cider 4%
Bulmers Apple Cider 4.5%
Wine List
Luce D’Oro Ribolla
Italy • Lightly floral fizz with peach, citrus & soft creamy bubbles
Gialia Vino Spumante
Versetto Extra Dry Prosecco
Italy • Fresh & zesty prosecco with citrus, grape & orchard fruit flavours
El Ninot De Paper Blanco • Viura / Sauvignon Blanc
Spain • Gently fruity, floral, citrus & apple
Il Meridione • Grillo
Sicily • Honeyed ripe citrus, floral & spice
Cocktails
9.75 each or two for 18.50 on the same cocktail
Aperol Spritz
Aperol, prosecco & soda
Limoncello Spritz
Limoncello, prosecco & soda
Hugo Spritz
Elderflower liqueur, prosecco, soda & mint
Sarti Spritz
Sarti rosa liqueur (passionfruit, mango & blood orange), prosecco & soda
El Sueño Margaritas
Original – El Sueño tequila, lime & agave. Spicy – El Sueño tequila, lime, agave, Tabasco & Tajín chilli lime.
Soft Drinks
Sodas
Coca-Cola / Diet Coke / Coke Zero / Sprite Zero / Fanta / Pepsi Max Cherry / San Pellegrino orange & pomegranate / Appletiser / ginger beer
Soda Folk
Root beer / cream soda / cherry soda
FSK House Lemonade
Lemon / strawberry & lemon / raspberry & lemon / watermelon & lemon
Hershey’s Iced Chocolate Milk
With whipped cream