Northern Crafthouse

Bury New Road, Whitefield

Northern Crafthouse is a new Mexican/American bar and restaurant that has opened in the centre of Whitefield, following the closure Montecristo, the lacklusture tapas bar that sadly never managed to take off. Northern Crafthouse brings a new concept to Whitefield, where we now have just about every cuisine we could possibly ask for.

American diners are becoming increasingly popular, what with the likes of Almost Famous and Solita trying to out-do each other when it comes to producing the best burgers. Now we have another competitor on our doorstep, as Northern Crafthouse offers a selection of burgers and hot dogs alongside traditional Mexican street food choices of tacos and burritos.

When I first arrived, the welcome was unfriendly, as there were no members of staff by the door to greet you or instruct you to sit down. Okay, it’s a casual restaurant and bar, and soon I realised that you could take a seat wherever you wanted, but considering the establishment is in its infancy, you would think the staff would have gone a little more out of their way to explain this. There are plenty of spacious, comfortable tables, including large booth seating at the back, making it the perfect place to enjoy cocktails with a group of friends later in the evening. Menus, cutlery, napkins and condiments are already laid out on the tables, whilst food is ordered alongside drinks at the bar.

As I’ve had burgers in countless number of places, I fancied something a little out of my comfort zone, so I opted for the chicken burrito, consisting of buttermilk chicken, rice, stealth fries, sour cream, onions, pepper, cajun mayo, mango salsa and ‘guacamayo’. It was a fair sized burrito, crammed full with large, succulent pieces of fried chicken and all the usual fillings, though I’m not quite sure where the ‘stealth’ in the ‘stealth fries’ came from. Decorated with peppers and salsa and heavily drizzled with sour cream, it looked incredibly appetising and was very flavoursome.

Chicken burrito

My vegetarian dining companion had the halloumi burger, with flat mushroom, gem lettuce, red onion, pickle, ketchup and burger sauce. It looked exactly how a burger should, piled high and deliciously yummy. However, I’m firmly of the opinion that a burger should always come with fries, but, sadly, in a modern American diner, fries are often an optional extra. It’s detrimental to the burger, which looks significantly less impressive when it’s lost in the middle of an otherwise empty plate.

Halloumi burger and dusted fries

‘If fries come at an extra cost, I’m going to push the boat out and try something a little different’, was the way in which my train of thought travelled. The chilli cheese fries were out of this world. A basket of fries covered in tasty Chilli Con Carne, pico de gallo, topped with melted cheddar cheese and chipotle sour cream; they brought a whole new meaning to the term ‘loaded fries’. My taste buds were zinging.

Chilli cheese fries

It was a side dish that was almost the same size as my main course. It would work much better to share between two, but as my friend was vegetarian I was (ah hem) forced to eat the whole lot. Naturally, it wasn’t so much of a struggle. They were also very reasonably priced, at just £4. Considering the regular fries are £2.50, the loaded option is a no-brainer.

I was positively stuffed after demolishing the burrito and the fries, but this wasn’t an issue as the only desserts available are the American staples of pancakes and waffles, which are not really my thing, especially not after a stodgy meal. They come with a variety of toppings; granted, the chocolate option, consisting of crushed oreos and marshmallows, sounds appealing, but I caught glimpse of some of the pancakes being brought out and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I have a very sweet tooth, and desserts are massively important part of dining out for me, so I do feel expanding the dessert menu would certainly be a way for the joint to improve.

The drinks are as reasonably priced as the food, and, as the name suggests, Northern Crafthouse boasts an impressive array of craft beers and an extensive range of quirky cocktails, many of which have unique twists, such as being served in a bathtub or a china cup and saucer. As a non-drinker, I was disappointed to be told that they didn’t stock tap water, a definitive sign that they are more of a bar serving food than a proper restaurant.

I certainly wouldn’t hesitate in returning to Northern Crafthouse, especially to sample their delicious-looking burgers and hotdogs. With a brunch menu also served between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm, it’s an all-day establishment designed to appeal to people of all ages, whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, some comfort food after work or wanting to kick-start a night out on the town.