Sitting on Deansgate, Electric Shuffle may appear to be another neon lit bar, serving ridiculously priced cocktails, but to my pleasant surprise, a full stomach and a fun afternoon was had. For £12, the bar is serving up a lunch deal that may just be worth the trek into town.
On the menu is an array of burgers, with a vegan and vegetarian option available, and gluten free buns doable on request. Amongst the chicken and beef options, a few varieties are on offer, with choices of grilled or fried chicken, alongside the trendy smash burger. While the thick cut traditional patty is not on display, double stacked smash patties make up for this.
Toppings are varied and interesting, with blue cheese and peri peri flavours switching things up, but for those who’d rather stick to burger classics, attention to detail is given all around. Electric Shuffle have also made a commitment to filling the plate with sides, a sight that is becoming all the rarer in the gentrified burger scene.
With choices of curly, sweet potato or straight cut fries on the menu, there is something to suit all tastes. But, the sides don’t end there, as the chefs pad out the plate with a well-dressed salad, and crunchy slaw, for that added health kick. Sitting down one afternoon, we sampled the buttermilk chicken burger, as well as the blue cheese smash burger. It is safe to say, both dishes were triumphant.
Beginning with the buttermilk chicken, this burger delivered crunchy batter and tender, juicy chicken inside, topped with a generous layer of delectably melty smoked applewood cheese. This combination of flavours was daringly salty, only held back by the crisp lettuce and red onion that contributed to some welcome freshness.
The blue cheese smash burger was a similar hit, with the only real drawback being its messiness to eat, an unfortunate side effect suffered by decadent burger enjoyers. The doubling up of American cheese and blue cheese sauce resulted in a rich flavour, rounded out by the tang of pickles and the fire of hot sauce. Crispy onion and a rasher of bacon only added to the textural success of this burger.
Feeling that we ought to test the basics with straight fries, we went for those, and a side of curly fries, for balance. Both ticked all the boxes; the straight fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, and when dipped in a garlic mayo that packed a punch, were perfection. The curly fries were similarly satisfying, being well seasoned, and succeeding on texture also.
Of course, no lunch deal would be complete without a drink, and with a suitable array of tipples on the menu, you get your money’s worth here. The standard variety of soft drinks are joined by non-alcoholic Birra Moretti, half pints of Amstel, wine or prosecco, so again, there is something for everybody.
The lunch deal is particularly worthwhile if you’re in a rush, as Electric Shuffle advertise that if your meal is not on your table in 20 minutes, then your next is on them. So, from 12-3pm, it may be the perfect treat in between lectures.
While the neon lights are truthfully very present in Electric Shuffle, the decor offers much to keep the eye entertained, with records spinning on the walls and warm lanterns setting the mood. With a well-stocked bar sitting centrally in the venue, it was impossible not to stay for a drink or two.
An expansive cocktail menu, including additions made for margarita month, meant a long time perusing our options, but in the end, we went for an Ayrton’s margarita and a green orchard. Both are unique to Electric Shuffle, thus providing elevated refreshments to be paired with a few games of shuffleboard.
The take on a margarita saw triple sec replaced with rhubarb and ginger gin liqueur, resulting in a sweet and spicy twist on the classic. As for the green orchard, this drink was fruity and sour, thanks to Midori, apple, lime and kiwi, and topped off with a refreshing lick of cider. Both cocktails were very drinkable, and soon left us ordering another round.
For £15, you can enjoy 90 minutes of shuffleboard fun, which we happily indulged in alongside our cocktails. Electric shuffleboards offer four games that can be played, with groups of 2-32, so may be great entertainment for a hangout with friends, date night, or a society social. So, while a slightly pricier hour and a half than the pub might offer, it had to be said that the games were highly enjoyable and left us with that ‘we should do this again some time’ feeling.
Electric Shuffle’s lunch deal is available from 12-3pm on weekdays.
