TGI Friday's

Valley Park Road, Prestwich

As a youngster, TGI Friday’s was one of my favourite places to go for tea. With a buzzing atmosphere, balloons and delicious food, the kind of which we’d never eat at home, it was such a treat. This was back in the day when there wasn’t an abundance of American diners. Going out for a really nice burger and chips wasn’t the everyday ordinary. Outside of the fast food chains, there wasn’t a huge amount of quality Stateside food to be enjoyed.

Over the years, the portions became smaller and the quality declined. With the rise of ‘dirty’ treat restaurants in and around Manchester such as Solita – ‘home of the Big Manc’ – and Almost Famous, quite possibly the best burger joint in the North West, TGIs sadly struggled to compete. It turned into another run-of-the-mill chain, serving no-better-than-average conveyer-belt food.  

It had been several years since I last ate at a TGIs. Frankly, I wasn’t particularly interested in returning. I might have been persuaded to go in the week, as they do a set price menu from Monday to Thursday, where you can enjoy two courses from as little as £10.99. But pay a la carte prices? No thank you.

Last Friday, I met my friend for tea. Yes, TGI Fridays on a Friday! I’m not sure that’s ever happened before. I’ll admit, I was dubious. As soon as I walked in, the nostalgia hit me. It’s still got that atmosphere, the buzz, which I remember from childhood. The ‘every day is Friday’ kicked-back, chilled-out vibe.

It was full, but not too noisy, which I was pleased about, as I remember it could get quite rowdy back in the day.

The menu had changed quite a bit since my last visit. They’ve moved with the times, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. There’s a rather expensive Vegan Burger being advertised on the table – although quite how they can justify charging £15.99 for a product that doesn’t actually contain any meat is beyond me.

To start, I had the Lightly Spiced Shrimp – five moderately sized shrimps (prawns to the likes of me and you) Cajun battered with their tails intact. They were nestled, or should I say thrown, on a bed of limp lettuce that was slightly on the slimy side. The selling point was Friday’s ‘legendary’ Jack Daniels glaze which accompanied the shrimps and made for a sensationally tasty dip. 

Lightly Battered Shrimp

My friend, who ordered the Sesame Chicken Strips, her favourite appetiser, commented that on occasions when the restaurant isn’t so busy, they’re usually better presented. Now, TGI Friday’s isn’t exactly the home of haute cuisine and the starters are designed to be nothing more than a nibble to whet your appetite, so it’s not a major problem, but if the chefs do get sloppy the busier they become, it’s not acceptable.

For main course, I perused and pondered before falling back into my comfort blanket and ordering one of my old favourites. We all have that one favourite we know we’re safe with. Having consumed some top-notch burgers in and around Manchester, I just know if I ordered one at TGI Friday’s, the chances of me being disappointed are mighty high.

I had the Chicken Finger BLT: crispy chicken breast tenders with tomato, crispy bacon, lettuce and melted Monterey Jack cheese, served in a soft ciabatta. The chicken was succulent and the ciabatta was soft and not dry or chewy. It was just as enjoyable as I remember it being all those years ago. The accompanying honey mustard mayo added extra flavour. I lathered it on my sandwich before using the remainder to dip, making sure I’d mopped it all up. I upgraded my French fries to the sweet potato alternative for an extra £1.50 and it was worth it. 

Chicken Finger BLT

Presentation has improved since my last visit. Oval-shaped, branded plates have replaced the deep-dish, red-rimmed plates of old, and serving the fries wrapped up in a paper cone rather than thrown on the plate is a nice, neat touch. 

Inside the Chicken Finger BLT

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my visit to TGIs on Friday night. I arrived feeling very dubious but left feeling as though I’d fallen in love with the place all over again. Considering it was so busy, the service was fast and efficient. We’d eaten our starters and main courses within an hour and fifteen minutes.

My birthday may have been and gone, but the staff spotted a present from my friend lying in a gift bag on our table and asked if we were celebrating.

‘It’s a sort of belated birthday celebration’, I told them, ever so sheepishly. Fast forward an hour and, when we asked for the bill, I was presented with a balloon crown, a huddle of front-of-house staff singing their trademark birthday ditty and a complimentary piece of birthday cake. 

Birthday Cake

Years ago, they used to give you a piece of their famous Chocolate Fudge Fixation dessert. These days, it’s a pink and yellow vanilla sponge with icing, much more like traditional birthday cake, which I think is a better idea. So, if you’re celebrating a special occasion, be sure to let the team know.

Of course, TGIs isn’t strictly for Fridays. As their slogan says, ‘in here, it’s always Friday’. I’ll definitely be popping back for some midweek meals to see me through the dark, dreary winter nights.  

All menus are available online at:

https://www.tgifridays.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiA98TxBRBtEiwAVRLqu1ycn4g3dMblyV1AXXl4AHQ5tRkQOLzruwt7-1gZsY2a4pfTHhY5uRoCfSMQAvD_BwE

The Grill on New York Street

New York Street, Manchester

January really isn’t a particularly enjoyable month. We may still be munching our way through those Christmas chocolates, but the dark nights, cold weather and depleting bank balance make for a pretty bleak time.

Luckily, for fellow foodies, it isn’t all bad, as many of Manchester’s restaurants offer discounts to entice diners out of their bunkers and encourage them to put their hands in their pockets at a more affordable price.

It’s certainly worth looking out to see what deals are knocking around. The Grill on New York Street has been on my ‘to dine’ list for quite a while. Ordinarily, it would be a restaurant I’d save for a special occasion, as it’s not cheap, but with a whopping 50% discount available every day for the whole month, it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go. 

It has a New York City vibe, with the glamour of the Big Apple and a menu packed full of steaks and grilled seafood. We were seated on the indoor terrace in a comfortable and spacious booth. The staff were friendly, welcoming and very attentive. We weren’t rushed, we ordered in our own time and our waitress was more than happy to answer any questions we had. Oh, apart from the fact she forgot to tell me that they had no Cauliflower Cheese Soufflé, which I wanted for starters.

Still, I forgave her, as my second choice, the Lemon Peppered Squid, was delicious. There were both rings of calamari and mini squid, all lightly dusted in crispy batter. It melted in your mouth and was served with garlic aioli, which, in my opinion, is the condiment of the Gods. It goes so well with everything. The portion size was generous too. 

Lemon Peppered Squid

For main course, I had King Prawn Fajitas. I wouldn’t normally order Fajitas, as I don’t like messy finger food, nor do I appreciate loads of chunks of dry meat on a sizzler. Other establishments are missing a trick by not offering a King Prawn alternative. You only got five prawns, but they were massive and incredibly succulent and juicy. They were accompanied on the sizzling hot plate by lots of onions and peppers in a tomato sauce, so it was delicious tasty. There were all the extras, including salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cheese and shredded lettuce. The wraps, of which there were four, could have done with being a little larger. As is always the case, it was difficult to cram all the filling in without it getting messy. 

King Prawn Fajitas

My Grandma had a sirloin steak, a generous 280g slice of prime beef, 28 days wet and dry aged and air dried for 24 hours in an in-house Himalayan rock salt chamber to ensure the meat is tender and flavoursome.

Cooked medium, as requested, it was teetering on the right side of pink and was succulent and juicy, melting in the mouth. Served with Blackhouse chunky chips, which were very well seasoned, she opted for gravy as her sauce option. Again, why is this not a more popular option? Forget your rich peppercorn, Bernaise, Diane or blue cheese sauces; the humble gravy is definitely the way to go. I’m not a steak person but I can appreciate how good the quality of this dish was.

Sirloin Steak with Chop Gravy and Blackhouse Chips

Fish is much more my thing. It feels much lighter and fresher. My Mum opted for Pan Fried Sea Bass, of which there were two fillets, served on a bed of jewelled beetroot cous cous with mint yoghurt and parsley oil. The beetroot cous cous was something different. It had a strange texture that was almost a little bit rubbery, but that’s not to say I didn’t like it. 

Sea Bass

Although not strictly necessary, my Mum and I shared a portion of Blackhouse chips. They caught our eye as we walked through the restaurant on the way to our table and we just couldn’t resist them.

Despite it being 50% off, they didn’t scrimp on the portions. Ordinarily, my Fajitas would have been £18.95, the Sea Bass would have been £19 and the Steak £26, plus £2.50 for the gravy, so it’s not exactly extortionate anyway and definitely worth the price.

Despite being determined to go home after two courses, the lure of their extensive and enticing dessert menu proved too much. When it’s half price, it would have been ludicrous for the king of the cakes (myself) to go home without one final bit of indulgence.

I was torn between the Cookies and Cream Cheesecake (as you know by now, cheesecake is my ultimate favourite) and the Blackhouse Banoffee Pie. Luckily, our ever-so-friendly waitress was on hand to help me make my decision. 

Blackhouse Banoffe Pie

The main question which was going to help swing my decision one way or another was the base: was it biscuit or was it pastry? It was a biscuit base, she informed me. Sold. However, she then explained that the ‘Blackhouse Banoffee Pie’ was made unique by the fact that it would be served to me at the table, allowing you a little say in how much of it you wanted. An empty bowl was placed in front of me and the enormous pie was scooped into it, before being covered in butterscotch sauce.

‘Keep going’, I chuckled as the sticky, albeit lukewarm, butterscotch sauce was poured over my pie. To think I was prepared to order something else or, worse still, skip dessert completely.

I missed being able to cut through all the layers, as you can with an individually crafted slice, and the biscuit base could have been a little bit thicker and crunchier for me, but the banana, toffee and cream ratios were perfect. Cream isn’t necessarily my favourite, but it makes for a lighter dessert and compliments the sticky sweetness of the caramel sauce. 

Apple & Rhubarb Crumble

Sticky Toffee Pudding

I’m forever grateful to Blackhouse for their January sale as, had it not been for their 50% discount, I probably wouldn’t have tried The Grill on New York Street. Subsequently, I would have missed a truly stunning dining experience. I can’t wait to return.

Website: https://blackhouse.uk.com/restaurants/manchester-new-york-street/

The Cake'ole, Bradford

City Park, City of Bradford

Welcome to The Cake’ole: the quaintest, quirkiest cake shop in the North. The Cake’ole is a fairy tale-themed café with quirks in every corner. Serving up a delicious range of hot and cold sandwiches, stunning sponge cakes, afternoon teas and hot chocolates, it’s like dining at a real-life Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Inside The Cake'ole

My friend, who lives in Skipton, first told me about The Cake’ole (a name which I’m still unsure how to pronounce). When she showed me pictures of their cakes, I was immediately sold, so we met for a cake and a catch up whilst on a day out in Bradford.

It was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday lunchtime, but it was the first weekend in January, and it made for a relaxing lunch. Whether you’re after lunch, afternoon tea or a quick coffee and cake catch up, The Cake’ole caters for you.

It’s a fairly large but basic menu, with a choice of hot and cold sandwiches, paninis and salads. Orders are placed and paid for at the till, before your food is prepared by the ever-so-friendly staff and delivered to your table.

We started with a spot of lunch. I had a warm tuna mayonnaise and cheese toasted panini. Served with salad and a handful of crisps, it was well presented and tasty, with plenty of filling. My tea for one came in a beautiful china teapot with a matching cup and saucer. Loose leaf tea always tastes better out of china. The second pot I ordered was significantly larger than the first though – sneaky!

Tuna Mayonnaise and Cheese Panini

There was a delay on one of our sandwiches, but the staff were apologetic enough and offered to refill my friend’s tea as a result, so you can’t complain about that.

Of course, the sandwiches were only the warm-up to the main event, which was the cake. The impressive display of cakes takes pride of place at the end of the counter. Three-tiered sponges in a plethora of colours and flavours are the main attraction. Varieties on this particular day included Mars Bar, Milky Way and Lemon and Elderflower. A generous slice of sponge cake can be served with a scoop of ice cream, at no additional charge. The ice cream is drizzled with molten chocolate, which solidifies nicely on top of the ice cream.

The Milky Bar cake was a delight: deliciously light, fluffy and moist vanilla sponge layered with white chocolate frosting, topped with a generous but not-too-sweet layer of white chocolate icing and finished off with a few giant Milky Bar chocolate buttons. Beautifully presented and extremely well-priced, at just £3.95 per slice – not much more than you’d pay in a high street coffee chain for a tiny little square of cake.

Milky Bar Cake

As I wasn’t planning on returning anytime soon, I thought it’d be rude not to take an extra treat away with me, especially whilst they still had a delectable-looking Christmas special. So I packed up a Festive Winter Slice: a yuletide take on a Millionaire’s Shortbread, one of my favourite sweet treats. It was a thick, biscuit base filled with mincemeat, topped with a layer of caramac-style white chocolate and decorated with holly. It travelled all the way back to Manchester with me and made for the perfect accompaniment to my Sunday afternoon cuppa the following day.

Festive Winter Slice

The Cake’ole is a little gem. I’m already planning another trip to Bradford in the future, purely so I can visit this magical rabbit warren of a cafe again. You’ll also find branches in Skipton and Keighley.

Mogul

Sefton Street, Whitefield, Manchester

In all the years I’ve lived in Whitefield, one of only a couple of the local restaurants I’d never tried was Mogul. It’s an Indian restaurant housed inside a converted church on the corner of Sefton Street, just off Bury New Road.

Why have I never been? In all honestly, I’m not entirely sure. I don’t eat Indian food very often and, as a family, the Forts of India, located further down Bury New Road, has always been our go-to Indian restaurant of choice. The Forts of India is the superlative Indian restaurant and is the highest-end of curry houses. You could consider the Forts to be the fine-dining of the Indian restaurant world, whereas Mogul is much more of a middle-market curry house.

That said, across the festive period, they were running an excellent set price menu, where you could enjoy a four course banquet for £30. We decided this was a good option for New Year’s Eve. This is an exceptionally good price for New Year’s Eve, as many of the other restaurants were changing extortionate prices of £65 per person.

Our table was booked for 7:30pm. The table was ours for the night, with the idea being that you can stay to let the New Year in if you so wish. The restaurant was packed to the rafters when we arrived, with no staff around to greet and seat us – not exactly a good first impression. The small bar area at the entrance was full of people either waiting for tables or waiting for takeaways. I had to ask the manager twice before we were taken to our table ten minutes late at 7:40pm. They’d squeezed in as many tables as physically possible, so there was no room to swing a cat. We were placed slap, bang in the middle of the restaurant, surrounded by two large parties and spilling over into the aisle where the staff were struggling to squeeze past – quite possibly the worst seat in the house.

The banquet began with poppadums – two each – along with the traditional accompaniments of mango chutney, red onions, mint yoghurt, coleslaw and lime pickle. We got two poppadums each, which I was impressed by, as they’re large and, by the time you’ve piled your toppings on, are quite satisfying. They were served warm but not quite crispy enough for me. All the accompaniments were delicious, however, and they didn’t hesitate when I asked for the tray to be refilled.

The second course was a mixed starter, which consisted of an onion bhaji, a meat samosa, a sheikh kebab and a spicy chicken wing with a side salad. I ordered the vegetarian alternative, simply because I preferred the selection of an onion bhaji, a mushroom pakora, a vegetable pakora and an aubergine pakora. I’m not sure the aubergine pakora was included in mine. Whilst I can’t be sure exactly what it was, I seemed to have a tofu pakora on my plate, given that the filling of one of them was white and tasteless with a foamy texture. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t an aubergine. The samosa, mushroom pakora and onion bhaji, however, were delicious and the salad was fresh and crisp.

Mix Starter

Vegetable Mixed Starter

As they served our starters, we ordered our main courses. There was plenty of choice available as part of the set menu, but they were very flexible and were willing to accommodate more or less whatever you wanted. I had a Vegetable Korma whilst my friends had sizzlers – one chicken, one lamb. The sizzlers were huge and full of big chunks of meat along with peppers, onions, mushrooms and capsicum, accompanied by a sauce of your choice – one had masala, the other pasanda – both of which were tasty and not spicy, which is exactly how I like my curries.

Chicken Tandoori Sizzler

The sizzlers looked impressive and they’re certainly a lot bigger and hence better value for money than a normal dish, but the idea of being presented with huge chunks of dry meat just doesn’t appeal to me. For me, meat is just not essential and I find vegetables much tastier. It also meant it wasn’t as filling so I could enjoy more of the side dishes. As part of the banquet, we were given sides of pilau rice, a plan naan bread and chips to share between the three of us. The chips were thick cut and very tasty, definitely my favourite accompaniment. The naan bread was bland and the pilau rice was unremarkable; I’ve had better. The portions of rice and naan were very generous; there was more than enough for the three of us.

The main courses were served with pilau rice, chips and naan bread

 The korma itself was deliciously creamy and full of coconut, whilst not being overly rich. There was a good selection of vegetables in there as well for plenty of colour and flavour, including carrots, potatoes and cauliflower.

Vegetable Korma

Unfortunately, having finished our starters, we had to wait 55 minutes for our main courses. It was 9:30pm by the time they finally arrived, a whole two hours since we arrived. We had to chase them up twice before they finally came out of the kitchen. The staff were clearly rushed off their feet and, to their credit, were apologetic, but to wait almost an hour between courses is totally unacceptable. Yes, it was New Year’s Eve and yes, they were very busy, but this really is no excuse. A restaurant should be able to run efficiently at full capacity on what is one of the busiest nights of the year. Poor service simply cannot be excused. We also had to chase up a second round of drinks which we’d ordered to go with the main courses.

To the manager’s credit, he apologised for the wait and, half-jokingly, offered us an extra slice of cake for dessert. There was no way we could have managed two puddings, given the amount of food we’d already consumed. Perhaps a free drink or some money off the bill would have been more appropriate compensation.

We were suitably stuffed after our main courses, but when there’s a dessert included I simply can’t say no. It’s unusual to have dessert after an Indian meal, but I appreciate the fact that they made an effort with proper puddings. There was a choice of chocolate fudge cake, sticky toffee bomb or carrot cake, all served with ice cream. I had carrot cake, which was light enough to squeeze in after the first three courses. Carrot cake isn’t a dessert you see very often. It’s more of a cake you’d tuck into with a cup of tea in the afternoon rather than something you eat after a meal, and it doesn’t really work with ice cream, but it was enjoyable all the same.

Carrot Cake

Being incredibly greedy, I helped my friend finish her sticky toffee bomb. This was a sponge soaked in sticky toffee sauce with a hint of ginger. It wasn’t a traditional sticky toffee pudding but was enjoyable, with the sponge being light, fluffy and moist.

Sticky Toffee Bombe

The restaurant had become much quieter by the time we’d finished our meal. I expected a DJ to have made an appearance by this point, but it hadn’t happened, so we decided against sticking around until midnight and headed home to watch the fireworks on the telly instead. There wasn’t really much going on, which was a shame. I was hoping for the opportunity to dance after our meal.

We’d paid a £5 deposit per person at the time of booking, which they failed to deduct from the bill at the end of the night until I asked them to do so.

The quality of the food was excellent and the banquet menu was superb value for New Year’s Eve. The a la carte menu is also very reasonable and considerably cheaper than the Forts of India, although the quality of the food certainly isn’t quite on the same level. As in life, you get what you pay for. Despite the sensational value for money, the poor service would perhaps make me think twice about going again for a special occasion.

Website: http://www.mogulrestaurant.com/