Foodie Review #1 - 19 Cafe Bar

Hello and welcome to my very first foodie review! I am super delighted to be writing this review because this was the first time I've been out for food since the beginning of lock-down. Although it's only been a few months, I genuinely feel like it's been light years since going to a restaurant or cafe, and I've really missed it.

At the beginning of the year I made a promise to myself that this year I would try out a new eatery every month at least but obviously Covid had other ideas, so I've actually only managed to visit two so far this year! Because of this, I absolutely will be making up for lost time and visiting as many quirky and cool restaurants or cafes as I possibly can, so feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below.

After deciding to take the plunge and venture out into the world (and after a little scrolling on Instagram of course) I found 19 Cafe Bar, a very cute little independent brunch cafe in Manchester's Northern Quarter. What drew me to them originally was a little video they posted of their Kinder Bueno pancakes (check them out here - they look insanely divine) because I absolutely LOVE the trend of stacks of sweet pancakes smothered with chocolate bars, sweets, fruits or sauces. I know, I know - I'm truly a sucker for advertising, but hey, clearly theirs worked a treat!

Anyway! I dug a little deeper on their insta and found exactly what I wanted to see - that they've made safe and essential changes in order to keep their staff and customers safe during the pandemic. This was something that was really important to me if I was to visit a restaurant/cafe again, so I was really happy to hear this! As you can see from the image below, when we got there we saw that they had protective screens up and that tables were adequately distanced. When we arrived we were asked to sanitise our hands using the sanitiser provided, order and pay via contactless and also sign in and provide a contact number. This was all super quick and simple and put my mind at ease. Our server - who was wearing a mask and gloves - was very friendly and efficient too.

The Decor & Atmosphere - 4.5/5

As you can see from the photo above, the decor inside was pretty simple. There was lot of wood (I asked my partner how he would describe it and he genuinely just said "wooden"...) partnered with exposed brick style walls, which is quintessentially Northern Quarter. Although fairly plain, I think it's also cute and modern, and completely fits with the whole vibe of the place.

We were able to choose our own table so sat by the window, a choice admittedly made for the natural light rather than the view! The table decor complemented the rest of the modest furnishing well; there were tiny little mason jars of salt & pepper, a sugar bowl and an empty bottle of ginger beer homing a single artificial flower. I thought this last touch was cute, especially since our flower was bright yellow (my favourite colour) as you can see in the pic below.

The atmosphere was pretty good too. There were only two other tables seated which I appreciated in the current climate, the music was fitting and at a nice volume (this might sound irrelevant but I personally hate loud music when I'm eating...I'm clearly getting on a bit!) My only gripes were the temperature and our rickety table. It was a bit chilly, however a) we were sat by the window and b) I'm always cold, so this didn't mar the overall experience. The table wasn't a major issue either, it was just a bit difficult to not spill our drinks! However, considering the strain independent business have been under of late, I think we can let them off.

Drinks - 5/5

As I mentioned before, we had to order upon entry so as to reduce contact with the staff, so we checked out the menu they had outside. They have a range of drinks on offer, including teas and coffees, soft drinks, beers, cocktails and mocktails. My partner went for a caramel latte and a Brewdog Punk IPA (I know, pushing the boat out!) and I opted for an espresso martini. I didn't try either of his drinks but was informed that the latte was creamy, rich in flavour and clearly made with high quality coffee beans. My espresso martini was truly divine; it was smooth and creamy with a silky chocolate flavour. Our drinks were brought over within five minutes of sitting down, which was expected but still appreciated.

Food - 4.75/5

When it came to the food, 19 Cafe Bar lived up to the expectations that we had already formed in the short time we'd been there. We opted for the Club Sandwich and the Halloumi & Avocado Bagel (we didn't fancy the sweet pancakes this time) and were nicely surprised at the quality and volume of both dishes. I didn't taste any of the sandwich, however the notes I got included:

• The bread was well toasted and was of a good thickness

• The chicken was moist (sorry to anyone who cringes at this word!)

• The whole sandwich together was flavoursome

• The dish was good value for money (£9)

• There was a nice stick to play with afterwards (make of this what you will)

He wasn't keen on the smokey coleslaw, however I tried a couple of mouthfuls and thought it was lovely, so I think that comes down to personal taste.

As far as brunch food goes, my opinion is that it should be kept relatively simple and, although very cliche, quality over quantity is rule number one. However, in this instance I was (slightly) proved wrong. My bagel was delightful right down to the last bite, despite that last bite being a struggle due to the sheer volume of food on my plate! There was plenty of avocado, a generous portion of halloumi and two poached eggs all on top of a large white bagel. As you can see the dish also featured a few small pieces of sundried tomato, which added a welcome extra dimension of flavour to the dish.

I had no complaints about this classic brunch dish at all as it was packed with flavour; my only suggestion would be that it's possible to reduce the portion size ever so slightly because by the end I was absolutely stuffed. Saying that, I didn't need to eat again for a good few hours, meaning I didn't have to cook a big dinner before going out for drinks in the evening, which was nice.

All considered, our first foodie outing since before lock-down was a great success. The staff were fantastic, the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, the drinks were delicious, and the food was classic yet tasty - and of course very filling! On their website they claim to have "the best brunch in Manchester" and at this point in time I can't argue with that, so until proved otherwise I'm happy to agree. If you want to check out their menu, you can find it here.

Overall rating: 4.75/5 - couldn't fault the food or drink, the staff were wonderful, but next time I think we'll just pick a different table!

FYI...

We visited at 1.30pm on a Friday, and the meal cost us £32.65 in total.