Northern Quarter Restaurant and Bar Express Menu

It was Saturday, and we were heading into town to watch a 6pm film at Home, and fancied a light dinner out beforehand.

After a bit of a sniff about on Tripadvisor, we decided on the Northern Quarter Restaurant and Bar. Partly because we’ve both been before and loved it, but also because they have a brilliant Express Menu – 2 courses for £14.95 or 3 courses for £18.95.

4.15pm is an early dinner, but it meant that it was quite a calm, quiet time in the restaurant, which is always rather nice on a busy Saturday in town.

We only went for two courses.  Much as I would have liked a pudding, I was fixated on having a tub of ice-cream at the cinema, so held off.

Jamie had a pale ale rarebit with Goosnargh duck egg and I chose Brixham crab cakes.  Both were delicious and the presentation was lovely too.

Pale ale rarebit with Goosnargh duck egg

Brixham crab cakes

And for mains, I decided to go carb-less with a flat iron steak and a salad and Jamie chose Goan chicken, Asian slaw and chips.  I’m not a massive red meat eater, but the steak was a triumph – very melty and tasty.  Obviously I had to test Jamie’s chicken too, which was succulent and full of flavour.

Flat iron steak

Goan chicken

All in all it was great value for money and a lovely way to spend a wet and windy Saturday afternoon.  The venue is really chilled, unpretentious and classy and I love the large glass windows which look onto the old Smithfield fish markets. I don’t go back to many restaurants, because I always like to be finding new spots to write about, but this place is worth breaking that rule for.

Weekly Eats 13th May

If anything the pace of my eating exploits has intensified despite my good intentions to diet. However I’m pleased to report that I have lost a pound, so I must have made some decent food choices.

So let me talk you through the week:

Monday Lunch: chicken and avocado salad from Pret, starting the week on a healthy note.  It was super delicious actually.

Tuesday Evening: I went to a Cracking Good Food talk about tackling food waste and we were treated to homemade coconut and butternut squash soup and a gorgeous freshly baked very oniony and moist focaccia.  I must must learn how to succesfully make focaccia.

Wednesday Lunch: I was out and about in Didsbury and had a tremendous cheese board at Wine and Wallop.

Wednesday Evening: Jamie Oliver’s butternut squash curry.  One of the best things I’ve eaten all year.  A lot of coconut milk gave a very creamy melt in the mouth flavour.

Thursday Lunch: I went to This and That in the Northern Quarter for the very first time.  Whilst it’s not high end dining, three vegetarian curries and rice for £3.90 is not something to argue with.  I enjoyed the food and the communal eating vibe – it’s fun.

Friday Evening: I was invited to a ‘Cooking Together With The Chef’ evening at Food Sorcery in Didsbury.  The delightful chef Jason Palin helped us cook fish tacos, peri peri chicken and beetroot and chickpea salad with baklava for pudding.  It was such a lively, interesting night, helped along with some tasty prosecco and wine.

Saturday Lunch: I met a friend at Earth Cafe in the Buddhist Centre in the Northern Quarter. Huge quantities of veggie food for just £7, my plate was piled with dal, sweet potato pie, plantain fritter and beetroot salad.  Tasty! And I loved the chilled out vibe of the place.

Avocado and chicken salad at Pret a Manger

Fresh focaccia and butternut squash and coconut soup

Wine and Wallop cheese board

Butternut squash and chickpea curry

This and That rice and three

Fish tacos at Food Sorcery

Peri peri chicken and beetroot and chickpea salad at Food Sorcery

Baklava at Food Sorcery

Dal, sweet potato pie, plaintain fritter and beetroot salad at Earth Cafe

Cosy Thai Bowls at Vivid Lounge, Ancoats

Vivid Lounge is tucked away by a pretty section of the Ashton canal on Great Ancoats Street, it’s described as an ‘Eatery’ – cafe and lunch venue by day, friendly bar and informal restaurant by night. They specialise in great breakfasts, lunches, cakes and Thai bowls.  So quite an eclectic mix.

Vivid was voted one of the 12 best sandwich shops in Manchester by the Manchester Evening News and featured in The Guardian – so I was looking forward to checking this place out!

We went for a quick after work dinner and glass of wine on a friday at 6pm.  It was nice to be somewhere away from the crazy Northern Quarter drunken chaos where you could chill out and have a nice chat.  It had a happy feel to the place! I liked the informal local vibe  – I was guessing that the guys in there were mainly local workers and residents.  Vivid Lounge is a little off the beaten track, so you kind of need to know about it.

The staff were super friendly and attentive and very relaxed, which is always nice.  We ordered starters of deep fried tofu and thai fish cakes.  They were delicious and fresh and I especially loved the tangy pickles that came with the tofu.  And for our mains I went for a king prawn pad thai and Jamie chose pork and cassia leaf curry, thai pickles boiled egg and rice, with some extra pork skewers thrown in.  The food is cooked by ultra friendly thai chefs (we met them) so unsurprisingly it was delicious, fresh and authentic. And I LOVE eating my dinner out of a bowl! I need more of that in my life.

As the evening progressed I noticed that whilst inside the thai bowls were flowing, Vivid’s outside seating area was becoming pleasantly rammed with drinkers.  It looked like fun and again had that relaxed chatty vibe that is sometimes lacking in the Northern Quarter on a friday night.

King prawn pad thai, thai fishcakes, deep fried tofu with chilli and peanut dip, pork and cassia leaf curry

A happy customer enjoys a Thai bowl, while the relaxed drinkers outside soak up the warmth from the heater

I would definitely recommend the Vivid Lounge – their Thai bowls are excellent, and it’s so nice to find somewhere in the Northern Quarter vicinity that hits the sweet spot of buzzy yet relaxed. I need to go back to try those breakfasts!

Thanks to Vivid Lounge for providing the food and drinks.  All opinions and words are my own.