In a restaurant saturated city there is still something missing from Manchester; a damn good roast. I am not saying there aren’t good roasts out there (I’m looking at you Grill on the Alley) but it certainly isn’t something that I see in abundance like other delicacies, the humble burger for example. But that is about to change and I am so happy to introduce one of the best roasts I have had in a long time. Welcome to the city, The Refinery Bar.
Nestled in the heart of Manchester’s Spinningfields is a haven of calm. A large terrace space with fur throws and fleece blankets at the front welcome you into a large space which is cleverly separated into three main areas; restaurant, bar and lounge area. On the Sunday lunch time we visited it was calm and welcoming with a warmth I feel many places in Spinningfields lack. We settled in the lounge area on comfy sofas ready to see what the menu had to offer.
For the health conscious there is a lovely selection of smoothies and I tried the 5 A Day with a fruity kick from blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and apple yet a freshness from mint and a slight sour yet creamy taste from greek yoghurt. It is not dissimilar to the smoothie I make for quick breakfasts so it is perfect for a quick breakfast or the starter to a leisurely brunch, the latter of which we did.
The Sunday lunch menu is small but perfectly formed with two options, beef or chicken. I chose the chicken served as a half roast chicken with pigs in blankets and yorkshire pudding. The chicken is served on top of the tastiest roast potatoes I have ever eaten. The centre is soft almost like a fondant with a perfectly crisp shell. There is also a decent amount of them and that is the story with the meal as a whole. The pigs in blankets are ginormous and I need to have words with my Mum about her versions as they are teeny compared to these bad boys! The vegetables include roasted carrots and parsnips with a healthy sized portion of red cabbage and lots of broccoli. The relevant sauces come on the side so you can add or skip as you wish as well as a jug of both gravy and bread sauce. The latter I have raved about to anyone who will listen, I thought this was a thing of the past! We always have bread sauce on our Christmas dinner and every year it is the only dish my Mum will let me prepare in her meal. This one is just as thick and creamy as mine but a lot smoother, absolutely delicious.
The beef option doesn’t normally come with pigs in blankets but Anoushka saw mine and needed her own, she knew there was no way I would be sharing. The beef was beautiful, cooked pink, and plentiful as with the chicken. The prices are slightly more expensive than other roasts but the size and the quality makes them totally worth it. I can’t wait to go back.
Never admitting defeat I chose a dessert and went with my standard staple of Creme Brûlée. The centre of the creme was perfect; slightly soft and smooth with a good spike of vanilla running through. The sides were slightly more set and a bit overdone but not unpleasant. The sugar top was uneven so tough to break through in some places and I would have liked this to be more even for the perfect crunch.
I liked it so much that I went back on a midday evening the following week to try the cocktails. The London Spritz is a summery gin cocktail with Tanqueray gin, cucumber, elderflower, apple, mint and soda. It is the type of drink that goes down easily thanks to the fruity and fresh flavours. The Candy Shop Sour is fruitier than you would expect but the prettiest drink I have had in a while. Sipsmith gin, rhubarb and custard liqueur and lemon is a fabulous combination and the sugar rim adds some sweetness to cut through the sour flavours.
The Refinery Bar is a great all rounder perfect for a working brunch, drinks with the girls or an intimate dinner. I am struggling to find a reason not to spend most of my time there right now!
I was invited to dine as a guest of The Refinery and was not asked to pay for my food. My second visit was paid for.
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