JAMES MARTIN, MANCHESTER

A couple of months back, Tom & I went for a weekend away to Manchester. You may remember I wrote about our trip to Neighbourhood which is now one of my firm favourite restaurants

Well we also went to James Martin's restaurant while we were there but I got totally side-tracked and forgot to write it up - BUT better late than never aye?

James Martin Manchester is all about classic British cooking. You can find the restaurant in a slightly odd place - at the back of the Manchester 235 casino - and while the location is a bit strange, the food is absolutely delicious.

For starters, Tom went for the wild rabbit with pickled carrot puree, fennel pollen and black trufle (£7.50). Really tasty and not something which Tom had tried before so we were off to a good start.

 I went for an old favourite with the Crabley's goat curd served with salt baked fennel (£6.50). I adore goats cheese - I know it's one of those ingredients which people either love or hate but i can't get enough of it! This curd was so light and creamy - really delicious and a new texture for me!

For main courses, Tom opted for the slow cooked veal ossobuco with green olive and courgette (£18.95). Another new dish for Tom, and while he said it was well cooked, it could have done with a bit more of a sauce to go with it.

I ordered the lamb served three ways - chop, loin and belly which came with asparagus and a mint and rice wine dressing (£18.50). This was also beautifully cooked, although we both felt that the price for the mains was steep considering side dishes were charged as extra. 

 For our side dishes, we ordered portions of cauliflower cheese, dripping chips and seasonal greens to share (£3.50 each). All of which were very good - especially the cauli - which was drenched in creamy cheese sauce.

Of course we still had pudding and both our favourites were on the menu. Tom had bread and butter pudding....

while I went for the Sticky Toffee. Mine was literally incredible, the combination of the hot toffee sauce and cold condensed milk ice cream makes me weak at the knees. I would bathe in a vat of this stuff if I could, but sadly I put on abut 5lbs just by re-looking at this photo!

Overall we both really enjoyed our meal. The food was delicous, I love British cooking and I really can’t knock the quality of the food at all (I just wish there was a little more of it!). 

If you're ever in Manchester, it's well worth a visit. There's also brilliant champagne bar just outside the casino, called Epernay which does one of the best Pornstar Martinis so that's worth heading to afterward for your night-cap!

James Martin Manchester

2 Watson St, Manchester, UK M3 4LP