On paper The Blues Kitchen is a cliché, a successful chain in London trying to expand and insert itself into Central Manchester for the prestige, without offering anything new for the city. A bar, a restaurant and a night club, it feels less like a real establishment and more like a business idea dreamed up on a sofa, somewhere at the end of a long night out. However, just past the threshold of the dining room, this assumption is shattered. Every nook and cranny here has so much detail, the staff have to spend a week learning the story behind them all, from the bespoke tiles to the rare whiskies behind the bar.
The combination of dim lighting and confusing décor will test your ability to walk in a straight line, so don’t lose track of the host as they seat you. Wait until after you’re in a chair to start admiring, and tune into the sound of soul, jazz and, importantly, blues music as you peruse the menu. On the walls, 20th century music icons like Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Bob Dylan are quite literally venerated here, they are framed, in custom made pictures in the style of Eastern Orthodox Saints, a subtle tribute to John Coltrane who was actually canonised after his death.
If you’re sat near Stevie Wonder you might even be able to see the braille pressed into the canvas, maybe a superfluous detail but one that really demonstrates why The Blues Kitchen is in a league of its own. Unfortunately though, this is not an interior design magazine, the purpose of this review was to try the new two-for-one burger deal currently running on Sundays.
When it comes to drinks list, the cocktails are served to a high standard and can only be described as delicious. Most students, though, might want to leave the £12 martinis to the city workers once they see the prices, which is why I’d recommend splitting a shake with a friend, unless of course you’re brave enough to stomach a whole one. The peanut butter milkshake has a strong nutty flavour without being too sweet and its slight saltiness helps it surpass other flavours. Additionally, it is vegan, along with a lot of other dishes served there.
On the menu you’ll find a mix of food, heavily influenced by the American South, that’s both comforting and fits in at a high end restaurant. Everything on offer has been checked and approved by the owners, the most recent victim of their mysterious selection process was the jerk chicken, which I was told had been removed so suddenly they hadn’t had time to take it off the printed menus. Fortunately though, this isn’t the case with most items. The cheeseburger, especially, will not disappoint, presented tidily and containing all the traditional toppings with the welcome addition of caramelised onion to balance the sweet and savoury.
If you’re looking for something you won’t get in other restaurants, though, the beef dip melt is a must, a sandwich filled with beef shin and oxtail accompanied with a pot of sauce so rich it could be eaten by itself. The tenderness of the meat made for a nice mouth feel that worked well with the toasted sourdough. The fries, while seasoned generously, didn’t deliver a crispy texture and so were the only real disappointment of the meal.
Usually all of this would set you back over £30 but thanks to the deal it would be half that, much closer in price to a gourmet smash burger from Rusholme, but with the bonus of a warm and comforting atmosphere. Included in the offer is a whole range of other choices as well, from the Crispy Chicken Sandwich to the Big Boss Burger, and of course there’s the Vegan Cheeseburger for any vegetarians out there. There’s not much to criticise here, except the service charge which might catch you out when its time to settle the bill.
In summary, The Blues Kitchen is not just a restaurant but an example of how creativity and hard work can come together to make a space uniquely enjoyable to dine in. There are not many places you’ll go to that are as heavily curated as this and if you need an excuse to go, now is your chance to take advantage of the two-for-one deal to get a delicious burger for great value.
The Blues Kitchen is currently offering a 2 for 1 deal on all burgers on Sundays. Open Monday 12pm – 12am, Tuesday & Wednesday 12pm – 1am, Thursday 12pm – 1.30am, Friday 12pm – 3am, Saturday 11am – 3am, Sunday 12pm – 12am.
