Revolution

Arch 7, Manchester Deansgate Locks, Whitworth Street

Throughout my Uni days, I heard the name ‘Revolution’ uttered more times than I care to remember. It’s a chain of bars that seems perpetually popular with students, so I was expecting it to be more a nightclub. The possibility of eating there had never crossed my mind.

On Sunday afternoon, we wandered over to Deansgate Locks for a leisurely lunch. Housed inside one of the iconic, converted railway arches, this particular bar is stylish and chic. With everybody sat outside on a glorious day, there was a lack of staff around as we walked into the quiet dining area, leaving us unsure as to whether we were supposed to seat ourselves or wait to be shown to a table. Once we were given some menus to peruse, we were similarly confused as to whether we were supposed to order our food at the bar. It’s safe to say the welcome could have been better.

Food wise, it’s a large menu with a selection of typical bar food. There are burgers, pizzas, hot sandwiches, steak, fish and chips; all the usual bistro favourites. It’s all very reasonably priced, and it’s worth bearing in mind that a decent selection of the menu forms part of a ‘2 courses for £10.95’ deal, which runs all day from Monday to Friday. If you’re more interested in nibbling than having a full meal, there’s a bar snacks section which can double up as tapas, with three plates for £14.

I had the Smokin’ Bacon burger – a beef burger topped with smoked cheddar, chorizo ketchup, streaky bacon, ‘smokinnaise’, crispy onions and Wotsits (yes, the cheesy orange puff crisps). I love a good burger and I’ve eaten a lot of exceptionally tasty ones, so I’m rather picky these days when it comes to what is, for me, the ultimate comfort food. The burger itself was average, cooked well but a little bit dry, but its accompaniments made for a tasty bite. The bacon, chorizo ketchup and ‘smokinnaise’ made for a meaty flavour and the garlic aioli with which it was served was delicious. I liked the sound of the Wotsits, but they were a bit soggy with all the moisture and subsequently didn’t add much in terms of flavour nor texture. The fries were served very well seasoned; I didn’t even need to add salt! As burgers go, it was nothing ground-breaking, but it was ideal for a casual lunch.

Smokin' Bacon Burger

There’s only a small selection of desserts. When there’s chocolate brownie and cheesecake on the menu, an ice cream sundae is generally not something I’d take a second glance at. That said, as it was a warm day I was in the mood for a thirst quencher.

The Chocolate Concrete Sundae was chunks of chocolate brownie sandwiched between scoops of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with salted caramel and chocolate sauce and topped with popping candy and Rainbow drops. Unusually, there was more brownie than there was ice cream, which was a welcome surprise and made my venture into the world of sundaes worthwhile. It came with a bourbon biscuit in place of a papery wafer too, which can only be a good thing. Thanks to all the hidden chunks of brownie, it tasted much better than it looked.

Chocolate Concrete Sundae

Revolution at Deansgate Locks is an ideal place for casual daytime dining, particularly if you want to combine it with cocktails in the sun. Relaxed and quiet, perfect for a catch up, but the staff could have been slightly more attentive.

It’s worth mentioning that you can sign up for a Revolution card, which will bag you to 25% off your food bill. Ask your waiter for the details.

Food and cocktail menus can be found online at: https://www.revolution-bars.co.uk/