Where to this Sunday.....

For some reason we have lost our last 4 posts! Argh...

Trying to find them now...

Where to this weekend? Any suggestions

Choice Bar and Restaurant, Castlefield

Choice Bar and Restaurant, Castlefield

Date of Visit: Sunday 20^th November 2011

Cost of Sunday Lunch: 3 courses for £15.95

Roast O Meter:

"A first class British choice in beautiful surroundings with wholesome, hearty and satisfying food"

With the promise of authentic dining in smart surroundings, The Roast Review lands at Choice for Week 2 of the 2011 Roast Review.

Voted one of the top ten places to dine by the riverside by the Sunday Times, Choice poses as an intimate, hidden away treasure in the corner of Castlefield. Understated, classy, friendly and inviting, Choice is the perfect environment for a relaxing, chilled out Sunday late afternoon. Overlooking the beautiful canals, you feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester City Centre. Exactly what I need after the week I’ve had.

The ever popular 3 courses for £15.95 strikes again. There must be some clever theory behind this price tag with most of the local restaurants adopting the theory. The menu choice is good; emphasis is not on ‘Sunday Roast Dinner’ at Choice, indeed the set menu actually runs pretty much all week long. Not a problem. In fact, I actually quite like it. It strikes me more of a “Traditional Winter Menu”.

The choice of starters was a little narrow with a choice of Pea and Broadbean Soup, Red Onion and Beetroot Tartlet or Terrine to pick from. However all looked appealing and seasonal to tie in with that winter mood.

The Red Onion and Beetroot Tartlet was enjoyable. Very much a ‘home cooked’ taste to this dish, a good balance of flavours, sweet and earthy with pastry that didn’t leave anyone asking that awkward question of “So where did the pastry come from?”

My partner in crime chose the terrine of 3 Cheshire meats which consisted of local sausage, black pudding and bacon served with salad and mustard vinaigrette. Without doubt, a dream for any meat lover, perhaps a little heavy for a starter but none the less – a showcase of good quality local meat.

The front of house staff were friendly, polite and down to earth. No faffing, no airs or graces just a good quality friendly service with a smile. The restaurant was quiet but quickly picked up as 6pm approached. The time in between each course being served was perfectly executed. Just enough time to relax to the background music and take in the surroundings.

The Roast beef looks fantastic. I’m 30 seconds away from drooling as it approaches. No time for manners. I dive in. Two slices of perfectly cooked cut meat lie before me. Not too thick so you’ll be wishing you had a chainsaw and not too thin for it to be lost in the gravy. A big thumbs up. It tastes unbelievable. Someone get me the number of the butcher. This is exactly how British Beef should taste. This is England. This is why we are so god damn proud to tell everyone this is our National signature dish.

What other treats lie on my plate, ahh, to the left, standing as tall and proud as our very own Big Ben was the Yorkshire pudding. Another British beauty.  Another result for Choice. The dish was completed with the usual appearances. Tatties were fluffy with that crispy finish and nicely seasoned. The vegetables did not shine with the same glory as our King Roast Beef and Queen of Yorkshire Pudding but … still held their ground and finished off a very good Roast Beef Dinner.

The duck has to be tasted to be fully appreciated. Half a dozen fancy adjectives still couldn’t do this dish any justice. A Battle of Trafalgar in a dish! Exciting flavours to be found from France and Spain battling with the grand British Duck (and support from some Roasties).

This dish is a spectacular success. We end this battle of foreign flavours in a ceasefire, handshake and a mutual acceptance that together it works bloody beautifully! Confit Duck Leg on Chorizo and White Bean Cassoulet to give it a name! The meat gracefully fell off the bone without any effort, a melt in the mouth success. The star of the show.

Not being a huge fan of Bread and Butter pudding or Crème Brulee, I was a little disappointed to see my only other option would be cheese. But I am reliably told by our waiter that they are both delicious and a fitting way to end this winter feast.

The bread and butter pudding was chocolate laced served with a vanilla cream, a heavy way to end the 3 course meal but satisfyingly tasty. A cheeky appearance from France again with the crème brulee – a raspberry treats to be found in the middle giving this dessert a nice edge.

I walked away feeling proud to be British. It’s reassuring to see restaurants continuing to challenge British cuisine, not losing focus with over the top surroundings, striving to source locally and most impressively offer traditional yet innovative takes on classic British favourites. Not a bad choice at all.

Starter ★★★★★★★★★ (6)

Meat ★★★★★★★★ (9)

Potatoes ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Veg ★★★★★★★★ (6)

Yorkshire ★★★★★★ (10)

Gravy ★★★★★★★ (6)

Dessert ★★★★★★★★ (6)

Serving Size ★★★★★★★★ (9)
Menu Variety ★★★★★★★★★ (6)

Environment ★★★★★★★★ (7)

Service ★★★★★★★★★★ (6)

Atmosphere ★★★★★★★★ (6)
Value for Money ★★★★★★★★ (7)

Overall Score: A hearty and worthy 72% 

Mint Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Manchester Mint Hotel City Cafe

Date of Visit: Sunday 13th November

Cost of Sunday Lunch: 3 courses for £14.95

Roast O Meter: 85% 

"Delicious offerings, brilliant service and a tasteful experience at Manchester's Best Hotel 2011"

Expectations were high for the Mint Hotel after recently winning the fiercely competitive Manchester Hotel of Year Award. What better way to start off the 2011 Roast Review Season with visiting a local favourite. Invited by Jack Appleton, (who recently won Employee of the Year Award for Manchester Hoteliers Association) to experience this award winning establishment we felt compelled to start off the 2011 Roast Review Season with a promising contender of Roast of the Year.

Upon entering we were greeted by a smiling receptionist and were politely pointed in the direction of City Cafe. First impressions of the hotel presented an appropriate summary of the entire experience, fresh, sophisticated and beautifully stylish.

Arriving in to the restaurant, my trusty companion and I were greeted by Ricardo, who would prove to be the Star of the Show. A minute or two later and we are seated overlooking a little hotspot of activity in Picadilly. A great opportunity for some lazy Sunday people watching. Would we be enjoying a Sunday Lunch today? The answer was a big YES after seeing the Yorkshire puds on the table next to us. 

The atmosphere of City Café was welcoming, a stylish, trendy modern take on the classic Hotel restaurant layout. I could quite easily see myself relaxing here with friends after a morning shopping in town, spilling down from my hotel room after a heavy night out or treating someone special to a fancy lunch out. A great achievement for a hotel restaurant.

Warm crusty bread was served as we chose a fruity Spanish Rose to enjoy on this crisp Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately our choice of wine had sold out. Not a problem we were told. Another wine would be served, a little more expensive but at no extra cost. Phew! A simple problem so simply resolved and without fuss.

The choice of starters ensured that there everyone would walk away happy. We both decided (going against the number 1 golden rule of reviewing, I know) on the Smoked Salmon and Eggs Benedict after hearing a friend describe it as the best he has ever tasted! The opening act did not disappoint. The egg was perfectly poached, the salmon, deliciously fresh and the accompanying, notoriously difficult Hollandaise sauce was delivered in a somewhat scientific manner of success; achieving that distinctive lemony flavour and achieving the near impossible… it was warm.

Now, down to business! The Roast dinner options were good with the regular meats popping up. What to choose this week? Let’s go for the Beef. The Mint prides itself on using local produce so fingers crossed – our local Northern cows wouldn’t disappoint. Ricardo suggested the beef served pink. Phew! He knows his stuff. The beef was succulent, well-cut and cooked to perfection. This is looking pretty good!

Roast potatoes were served in a separate dish which was a nice, perhaps unrequired touch! (Apologies to the pot washer). We quickly snatched up our two potatoes each … oh dear … I always feel three is a good number to start with. Before I could even consider finding my first fault, Ricardo had offered to bring more. Good Man! Perhaps he has studied The Roast Reviewers’ funny ways.

Hello Horseradish! Perhaps the leading lady in this show. Homemade we were promised and hands-down the best I have ever had. Resembling more a mousse than a sauce, this little beauty tingled the taste buds and gave our cow a good kick up the arse. 

Roast Potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings were well cooked, tasty, maybe a little room for improvement on the Yorkshire Pud, it didn’t have that WOW appeal that takes years for any Grandmother to perfect. You know the ones! Vegetables were spot on. A great selection of seasonal favourites and a special mention for the carrots.

The main performance left us full (with a little room of course for dessert). The portion sizes were perfect, a hearty Sunday Lunch. For a greedy Roast Reviewer, there would be no complaints of interval walk outs today.

Back to the show …

A trio of desserts were served, Peanut Butter Cheesecake, Panna cotta with an Orange Coulis and a Chocolate Delice. My trusty companion described the desserts as, and I quote “the closest thing to an orgasm I am likely to experience this year.” Chef … you do good things to bad women! A big thumbs up to end a tasty three course meal.

A port was offered (nice touch) however coffee was chosen. Dress shopping would follow our Sunday Lunch and we did not want anyone getting home with a £500 credit card sting thank you very much Ricardo. As a whole, the service was outstanding. Ricardo was attentive, charming and somehow achieved that impossible balance of always being there but not feeling as if he were at the table. Silver Service – but toned down for a friendly and welcoming Sunday Lunch.

As for the food – beautifully presented, healthy yet hearty portions and simple yet perfectly executed flavours to excite any Roast lover.

Overall – for our first 2011 Roast Review, we were treated to a spectacular performance. It’s going to be tough one to follow but you know what, the bar has been set which is no bad thing.

Starter ★★★★★★★★★ (9)

Meat ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Potatoes ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Veg ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Yorkshire ★★★★★★ (6)

Gravy ★★★★★★★ (7)

Dessert ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Serving Size ★★★★★★★★ (9)
Menu Variety ★★★★★★★★★ (9)

Environment ★★★★★★★★ (8)

Service ★★★★★★★★★★ (10)

Atmosphere ★★★★★★★★ (8)
Value for Money ★★★★★★★★ (9)

Overall Score: A whopping 85% 

An introduction

As the chill sets in, there is simply no better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon than by munching lazily through a thoroughly indulgent Sunday Roast Dinner.

The Sunday Lunch Roast Review Blog has been launched by a self-confessed Roast enthusiast. Choosing to remain anonymous I have given myself the rather exciting title of The Roast Reviewer. All in the name of a good cause.

Why? Simply put, I cannot count the number of times I have had conversations on where to find the BEST Sunday Roast Dinner up in the North West. There was no useful information online and suggestions were slim! It was time for action.

Taking on the very tough, gruelling and challenging mission of sampling Roast Dinners every Sunday – it is my intention to offer useful, honest and enjoyable reviews showcasing the positives of my adventures but taking into consideration areas which require improvement!

The Roast-o-Meter takes into account all aspects of the Sunday Lunch experience from the venue, from service, through to quality of food, value for money and overall experience of the visit.

After weeks of enjoying Roast Dinners across the North West my mission will end with the Annual ROAST OF THE YEAR Awards in which I shall call upon my fellow Roasters to help me with the very important task of choosing the Number 1 Sunday Lunch Roast Dinner.

Suggestions are always more than welcome. If there is a pub/restaurant that you would recommend – then please get in touch. You can find me on twitter. @roastreview