This
post features a small selection of lunchtime snacks and meals deals that I have
enjoyed recently.
Please
note, that by no means is this a comprehensive or balanced list of the many options
available in the city centre at the moment.
The
cheapest lunch on my list can be enjoyed for just £3, rising to £7.95.
Best
value for money: Kukoos by Zouk
Sample
dishes: Lamb, Spinach & Humous Hot
Wrap (£3) and Large Mixed Salad
(£4.50)
Kukoos
(next to Odd Bar on Oxford Road) is a casual café style concept from the Zouk
Group (see here) serving Indian, Moroccan and Lebanese style street foods and
snacks. Open daily from 10am to 10pm they serve tasty soups, wraps, dosas,
falafels and alike.
Kukoos
is next door to a Subway but at just £3 for one of their ‘Hot Wraps’ I’d choose
Kukoss every time! The wraps are also available with Spicy Meatballs, Chicken
Tikka or as a variety of veggie options.
Asking
for a little bit of everything, my large mixed salad featured Tabbouleh,
Quinoa, Spicy Chana Chaat and Indian Spiced Cauliflower that were all
particularly enjoyable.
Best
for a Chilled Relaxing Lunch: Fyg
Sample
dish: ‘Posh’ Fish Finger Sandwich (£7.50)
Fyg
is a Northern Quarter deli, wine shop, café and tearoom (opposite the Church St
car park exit). It’s the type of place where you can sit and read the paper or
do some work on your laptop.
I
stopped by for a ‘Posh’ Fish Finger Sandwich made with salmon goujons in a
lemon and parsley crumb, tartare sauce and deliciously fresh bread. The tea was
decent too.
Alongside
a wide range of ‘Gourmet Sandwiches’ they also sell ‘artisan’ pies, sharing
platters and cakes. What’s more, the deli has a good selection of quality
products – I was especially impressed with the cheeses.
Best
for Taste: SoLiTa
Sample
dish: Pulled Pork Toastie (£5.95)
It’s
no secret that I’m one of SoLiTa’s biggest fans – so much so that they recently
asked me to road test sample dishes from their new lunch menu!
I
had test versions (pictures may vary from the finished products) of the Nduja Spiced Boston Baked Beans; their
take on the Rueben; the NY ‘Marinara’ Meatball
Sub and the Pulled Pork Toastie.
I
suggested a few tweaks here and there and even came up with an idea of my
own – the ‘KFBLT’ (that makes good
use of the ‘Kentucky Fried Bacon’ that they use in their KFB Burger).
The
best dish for me is the Pulled Pork
Toastie – I know that if I was able to lunch at SoLiTa everyday, I’d soon
pile on the pounds!
Best
for Veggies: Oak
Street Café (Manchester
Craft & Design Centre)
Sample
dish: Mixed Salad (£4.95)
Housed in the Victorian building that was once a fish
and poultry market, for those that don’t know, the Oak Street Café is one of the city’s hidden gems.
The café
serves homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, cakes
and alike (not all their dishes are veggie). To go with a lovely pot of Masala
Chai, I ordered the Mixed
Salad with Lemon & Herb Cous Cous and sweetly, spiced
Indian Cauliflower.
Best
for Tea and Coffee: North
Tea Power
Sample
dish: Ham & Cheese Croissant (£3.50)
Without
a proper kitchen, the food selection at North Tea Power is limited but they do
have a decent selection of cakes, sandwiches and soup. They also offer a wide
selection of teas and some of the best coffee in Manchester.
The Ham & Cheese Croissant may not be
the most exciting menu item I’ve covered here but at £3.50, it makes for a good
light lunch and allows room for a cake too!
Best
Healthy Option: Yuzu
Sample dishes: Tonkatsu (£7.95) and Organic
Salmon Don (also £7.95)
Another of my favourite Manchester
eateries, Yuzu is an authentic
Japanese restaurant that offers an excellent lunch menu. The menu, which starts
at £5.95, also includes Tempura Veg and Organic Teriyaki Salmon, which come
with their fabulous rice and miso soup. Gyozas and Curry Udon are also
excellent options.
All
these venues and places featured offered swift, friendly service and are ones
that I’d be happy to return to time and time again.
Follow @HungryHoss
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