After Julie's Fancy Dress closed down, 877-879 Moss Bank Way in Bolton has been occupied by Zest Fine Foods, Delicieux, and now Café Italia. Only time will tell whether the tradition of businesses failing there will continue, or be abated by traditional Italian fare.

If there's one thing Bolton and Horwich in particular has an abundance of, it's Italian restaurants. Within a 10 minute journey you have Max Italia, Leo's, Casa Nostra, Il Toro, Ask Italian, Bella Italia, and within 5 minutes walk, Chianti. The question is whether Café Italia can make itself stand out amongst the competition.
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In this particular instance, I only popped in for breakfast, as I kept meaning to visit since it opened, so I may have to judge the "more than just a café..." tagline another time.

First impressions are good. As you walk into the venue, it distinctly feels more like a restaurant than the casual coffee shop feel that Delicieux had, but not as formal feeling as when it was Zest. The floors have been stained in a deep red, the furniture is dark wood with cream upholstery, and accent colours are in soft natural pastels. Although it may look a little more formal, there are also a few couches and the outdoor balcony seating area for those just fancying a coffee and a croissant. One big addition since Delicieux's occupation is the addition of a large window on the front of the building, which lets a lot more light in, and makes the space feel brighter and more airy.


The formal aspect includes being seated upon entry and given a menu, which is a nice touch, but whether such attention will be able to be maintained as it gets busier is yet to be seen, especially with how incredibly busy Delicieux got, leading to its decline in customer service. The menu is traditional Italian fare, and ranges from breakfasts and lunches to full evening meals and traditional Italian desserts. It's not an extensive menu, but what is offered is a good selection.

I just fancied a breakfast, so I asked for a cup of tea and queried whether I could get a cheese and ham toastie, as the menu mentioned sandwiches on the breakfast part, but not whether they were served hot/cold, and also didn't mention a price. The member of staff behind the counter said that wouldn't be a problem, and she'd be happy to ask the chef to make me a toastie. Good so far! I wasn't asked what type of tea I wanted, but given it was breakfast, I suppose 'English Breakfast' made more sense.

The tea was brought over in a pot which provided two cups, a jug of milk and a selection of sugars and sweeteners in sachets. Always nice to have the choice rather than receiving one type and having to enquire about more. The tea was good, but the teapot was one with slight pouring issues, leading to a wet table.


My toastie took a bit longer to arrive, but it was hot, and made with good ham and good cheese. What more could you ask? And the best part was that a pot of tea and a freshly made toastie (a possible off-menu item) came to just . Bargain!
£3.90

Early reports mentioned that for the first few weeks of operation, the restaurant was cash-only due to needing to set up a card reader, but this is now not an issue, and I was able to pay easily with my card.

Although it was only a quick visit, the restaurant seemed friendly, well appointed, and clean (including the toilets). The staff are friendly and professional but not overly intrusive, which could be taken as being aloof by those expecting a similar operation to those of the previous staff.

As I left I noticed that there was a nice selection of deli goods on offer, and a good selection of ice creams available, which may prove popular in the warmer months.


















My only particular negative is the same problem which plagued all of the venue's previous owners... the parking. The parking has always been minimal there, and is tight and tricky to navigate. It's fine when it's quiet, but whether it will affect custom on busier days remains to be seen.

All in all a pleasant first visit, even if only a quick one, and I definitely intend to visit and try some of the Italian meals for dinner sometime!



Café Italia
877 - 879 Moss Bank Way
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL1 5SN
(01204) 495 039
www.cafeitaliabolton.co.uk



Cafe Italia on Urbanspoon

Café Italia

by on 12:56
After Julie's Fancy Dress closed down, 877-879 Moss Bank Way in Bolton has been occupied by Zest Fine Foods , Delicieux , and now ...
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In America, Five Guys Burgers And Fries is on the same par as Burger King, KFC and McDonalds etc, but in the UK it's been marketed somewhat at a premium, so I went to The Trafford Centre to try the newest store and see what the fuss is all about.

Short answer? I've no idea, it's the same in the UK as it is in America, which is pretty bland and underwhelming really.

I score it two stars because of two things; the location, and the staff. The location is gorgeous, sitting in The Trafford Centre's Great Hall, and the staff are friendly, professional, and cheerful.





The food? Meh...

I ordered the "Little Cheeseburger" which was £5.50, and the "Little Fries" which were £2.75, but didn't fancy a drink at £2.50, even if it was the Freestyle Coke machines, which, by the way, had just UK standard fizzy drinks in them, and didn't have Root Beer, as a member of staff told me they couldn't get the licensing for it (or something similar!).

After the pleasant interaction with the staff, and seeing the venue, all that was left was to try the food. For £8.25, I was left pretty underwhelmed.

I wanted to sit in their outdoor area, but there were no doors leading to it from the restaurant itself... you have to leave the restaurant, and walk through the Great Hall to the main exit, then walk around the front of the building to the seating area. Very odd.

Now for the food.

The burger I chose with a simple ketchup and mustard topping, but aside from being a juicy burger, it had no actual flavour! It was exceptionally bland, and there was way too much sauce, so it felt like the bun (which was okay, if not a bit crumpled), was pretty much just ketchup and mustard. I get the impression that if you chose a burger with tons of the 'free toppings', you'd find that it'd taste the same without the burger patty as it would with it!
Bag O Grease
The ketchup and mustard sandwich.

Worst still were the fries. Their whole schtick is that everything is cooked in peanut oil and with skins-on, and so they're meant to be crunchy and crispy.

They ain't.

These fries were floppy and FAR FAR TOO SALTY!! It felt like eating actual salt, to the degree that it made me feel a bit unwell, and I had to LEAVE most of them, which is something I just don't do, leaving me feeling disappointed and ripped off. They were also incredibly greasy... the bag was covered in oily splashes, the table had a puddle of oil on it afterwards, and I had to go to the 'restrooms' to wash my hands afterwards due to how greasy they now were!

 As it stands, Five Guys is "alright", if you fancy a burger, you could pop in there, but I personally find it a bit pricy for a quick burger and fries.

Give it a go by all means, but I don't imagine you'll go back again afterwards. 

I won't.

I also sincerely hope the "Employees Must Wash Hands" sign in the restrooms was done as a nod to American culture rather than something necessary for staff to be instructed to adhere to!

Five Guys Burgers And Fries
The Great Hall
The Trafford Centre
Manchester M17 8AA
(0161) 748 7267
https://www.fiveguys.co.uk






Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Urbanspoon
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Jippie's Deli at Botany Bay is the delicious evolution of what was once The Cheese Shop. Jippie's now offers beer, wines, vinegars, sauces, pies, snacks and chutneys as well as a wide variety of cheese, so it only made sense to embrace the title of "deli". Located on the ground floor of Botany Bay, it sits in the middle new food hall area. Janice, the vivacious owner, tells me that the name "Jippie's Deli" is based on her son's nickname, who has been known as Jippie since he was small. When asked why, she laughs and says, "I've no idea, actually!"



And embrace it she has! As well as the delicious deli offerings, she also offers a dine-in menu of classics such as the Ploughman's pie or quiche, meat platters, cheese platters, and tapas selections, all at reasonable prices. You can even enjoy your lunch with a beer or a glass of wine.

Today I opted for the Ploughman's Pie Platter, which comes with your choice of cheese and pie (both of which are available to purchase seperately also), and I accompanied it with a chilled lemon and lime flavoured water. I chose the Blacksticks Blue cheese and a classic Figit Pie, but the meal that appeared was very generous for a Ploughman's! Fresh crispy salad, apples, grated carrot, boiled eggs and juicy tomatoes accompanied my pie and cheese, along with fabulously crunchy croûtons and fresh bread from neighbouring store All You Knead, and accompanied by chutney, silverskin onions, and coleslaw.



Needless to say, it was a delicious lunch, and very filling. I even had to take some home with me. The quality of the ingredients and size of the portions are something Janice takes great pride in. She tells me her plans for future dishes and potential stock additions to the deli, as well as her plans to attend occasional food festivals to offer her products (including cakes), and promote the deli. 



















The other big feature of the deli is The Cheese Shop, which offers a huge array of various cheesy delights, from wonderful local cheeses, to sticky toffee cheese, white stilton, and even the notorious "Kick Ass" and "True Grit" cheeses. The Cheese Shop itself is worth a visit alone, but I personally wouldn't be able to come here just to browse at the cheese, and not end up ordering something delicious and fresh for lunch!



So when you next find yourself in Chorley, or on the motorway zipping past that big Botany Bay mill, consider pulling in and giving Jippie's Deli a try for a nice lunch, or if you want to take home a pie and some delicious cheese. You'll thank me later. 




Jippie's Deli
Botany Bay
Botany Brow
Chorley
PR6 9AF
07850 014320

Jippie's Deli

by on 13:40
Jippie's Deli at Botany Bay is the delicious evolution of what was once The Cheese Shop. Jippie's now offers beer, wines, ...
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Red's True BBQ already exists in Leeds, and is well loved. But now it has landed right in the centre of Manchester, just off Albert Square, and is immediately identifiable by its big red neon sign, a style of which you will find continued inside.


I'm a sucker for a good theme in a restaurant, and Red's has a theme I've never seen before... religion! Or rather, it's own religion, where the subject of worship is meat, and instead of God, the creator is "Red" (you can guess!), and the exclamation "let there be meat!". Frankly this is a vegetarian's nightmare, and a meat lover's wet dream.

The venue itself is interestingly decoratred. It's very industrial, like being in some sort of inner-city meat packing district, complete with corrugated iron cladding and chain-link fencing, occasionally splashed with colour from some very vibrant neon signs. The nice part is that the theming is consistent, but as a restaurant it still feels very clean and functional.























We had no wait when we arrived on a late weekday afternoon, and were promptly seated, and given a copy of 'the good book', which as well as the menu, also explains Red's 'ten commandments', mantra, and general information on the cooking techniques, meat, and food welfare. It's a pretty tongue-in-cheek affair, and reminds me of The Bird in Berlin, both in terms of menu style, and décor. On your table, there is a caddy containing four of Red's home-made sauces, three of which are barbecue variants, one is a ketchup variant, and one is a hotsauce, as well as salt, pepper, and toothpicks. All of the sauces were good, but for me it was the North Carolina BBQ Sauce which came out as the winner.

For appetisers we ordered the rib sampler and some cracklings. Until this point, I always thought that I dislike crackling, but it just seems I hadn't had it done properly, as Red's cracklings were great, and came in a paper bag, like a sweetshop. The rib sampler was good too, all the ribs covered in 'unholy BBQ sauce', and stacked up in a tin pie dish. The first rib we tried was excellent, full of flavour, and so tender that we were able to leave shiny bones. The other ribs were good too, but with some chewy parts leaving us uncertain at times if we were eating some chewy meat, or bits of bone. This dish was served alongside some napkins and large wet-wipes, and god knows we would need them by the end of that starter! Before long, you realise that this is a 'cutlery optional' place, and nobody has any qualms if you just pick up your food and gnaw at it, getting delicious sauce all over your face, like a toddler with an ice cream! One nice 'American' style touch is that a great quality root beer is available on the soft drinks menu, and was a delicious frosty accompaniment for that authentic taste of American barbecue, although at £3.50 for a bottle, it was one of the pricier drinks on the soft drinks menu.

For our mains, my dining partner ordered the pulled meat nachos, (pulled pork, chicken, and brisket) which he said were delicious, whilst I chose to go for the half-chicken, and when given the choice of two "humble sides" or one "divine side", chose to go for a divine side of sweet potato fries, but the options for humble sides were very tempting too! My half-chicken was seasoned and sauced deliciously, but it was so well cooked that the chicken pretty much slid straight out of the skin when I attempted to eat it, giving you the choice of either eating the skin separately, or smothering the fresh chicken with various sauces and devouring it that way. I did both. SHUT UP, DON'T JUDGE ME!! ... and very tasty it was too! Although the half-chicken was monumentally filling, and so I'd probably go for something else next time (I have my eye on the burgers!), the sweet potato fries were perfectly done, and it was great fun to try all the different sauces with them!

The service itself was friendly and casual, We were never given anyone's name when we sat down, but we ended up having at least four different servers throughout our meal, which was good and attentive, but a little less personal as we didn't feel like we were being taken of by someone in particular, even though the rest of the staff were superb. That said, there were a lot of staff, who when not attending tables, seemed quite often to be stood around without very much to do, even occasionally getting in the way of customers trying to get past, or find the toilets etc. The kitchen is made to look quite rough-and-ready, and although the kitchen staff are in baseball caps and the such, when I walked past, I heard a clear, "yes, chef!" showing that it is still very much a quality kitchen, no matter the décor or stylings.

Speaking of which, I was pleasantly surprised that the religious theme even carried on into the toilets! The hallway to them kept the Crystal Maze "Industrial Zone" style, but the toilets were a cross between industrial and religious, even using mock 'confessional booths' as the cubicals, which made me smile as soon as I went in. And don't worry, the slidy-panels work, but the grating is panelled up!





Back at the table, I was FAR too stuffed for dessert, as delicious as they sounded, but my partner had his eye on Red's Banana Pudding, so while I was pondering which emergency service could roll me out of the restaurant, he was devouring a dish which at first sight looked a bit mediocre, but which upon tasting, he declared the best dessert he's ever had! Go Red's!





I'm pleased to say that for two starters, two mains, a dessert, and three drinks, the bill came to just over £45.00, which I consider good value, especially given the quality of the food, and that you would spend about that if you chose to go to somewhere like TGI Fridays, but which I guarantee would leave you feeling less satisfied! I will be back here again make no mistake!

Praise Be!

Oh one last thing! Be sure to ask your server (after your meal...) what these interesting lampshades actually are.


Red's True Barbecue
22 Lloyd Street
Albert Square
Manchester City Centre
M2 5WA
(0161) 820 9140
http://www.truebarbecue.com




Red's True BBQ on Urbanspoon

Red's True Barbecue

by on 15:01
Red's True BBQ already exists in Leeds, and is well loved. But now it has landed right in the centre of Manchester, just off Albert...
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Curley's Fisheries has always had a café. It started off as a shed, then a slightly bigger shed, then a portakabin type shed, and then now it has reached the peak of its evolution in a newly built but beautifully complementing building which now contains Curley's Dining Rooms. The café always had loyal regulars, and always achieved good customer service, and word was spread far and wide about their great quality food, but with the opening of a very modern and stylish new airy and spacious dining room, offering traditional favourites as well as a great evening menu, and beer and wines from Bank Top Brewery, it's attracting new customers from far and wide, eager to see the changes, or try the new food they've heard so much about.





The dining room itself is a lovely open space with modern dark furniture and reclaimed church pews, with features including a large coal-burning open fireplace (amazing in the winter when accompanied by the under-tile heating!) and a baby grand piano, which is frequently played by a pianist, to accompany your meal. The windows facing water-side all open fully concertina-style allowing a semi al-fresco feel in the warmer summer months, and offering some beautiful views right the way to the Fylde coast. On a clear day, you can even see Blackpool Tower! I love the way the menu is presented as the "Daily Catch" newspaper, telling the story of how the café started and developed, along with photos, and then inside the menu is designed in a similar newspaper style. The menu offers a great variety of fish dishes as well as classic favourites, salads, hot and cold drinks, snacks, and desserts, all of which I'm happy to say are at pretty decent prices considering the quality of the offerings! The fish has a perfectly crisp batter, and lovely fresh hot chips, accompanied by a wonderful home-made tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon. The fish is presented on a gigantic fish-shaped plate, which as well as perfectly containing the very large fish offered, is a fantastically theatrical statement when it arrives.

I ordered the prime cod, which although my photo does it no justice, was colossal! There was a menu option for an 'extra large cod', which considering the size of the standard cod, must require the concertina windows to be opened to get it into the dining room, surely! As you can imagine, after this beast, I couldn't manage a dessert, but the cake cabinet at the front of the dining room only taunted me that I wouldn't be able to try what looked like some very tasty cakes! Bank Top Brewery providing the beer and wine means that if you don't quite fancy traditional chippy fare, you can still have a tasty and well prepared meal, and a pleasant evening, and equally if you wanted to simply pop in during the daytime for a slice of cake and a cup of tea, you'd get just as pleasant experience.



I'm making myself hungry simply remembering this visit. I really must visit again soon!



Curley's Dining Rooms
Wallsuches
Off Chorley New Road
Horwich
Bolton
BL6 6PP
(01204) 691 783
www.curleysdiningrooms.co.uk






Curley's Fishery & Dining Room on Urbanspoon

Curley's Dining Rooms

by on 11:57
Curley's Fisheries has always had a café. It started off as a shed, then a slightly bigger shed, then a portakabin type shed, and t...
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From the people who brought you Teacup on Thomas Street comes Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral, which unlike its hipster and trendy brother, is a quieter, more relaxed, and traditional affair, facing Manchester's grand cathedral, and occupying the space that was partly taken up by the cathedral's visitors centre. As you walk in, you're greeted by a grand airy and open space, shabby chic décor, and a striking black and white tiled floor. Gentle 1940s music plays, and on each table sits a jar of fresh flowers. The counter is made up of reclaimed doors, doorhandles, and doorknockers, which is a lovely unique design feature. Behind the counter stand shelves holding large tea caddies and tea making accoutrements.


Perusing the menu, I decided upon the cream tea, and although the listing mentioned a few teas that came with the cream tea, the friendly waitress had no problem in me having Earl Grey instead. She did inform me that sadly they had no clotted cream at the moment, but would substitute it with butter if that was okay with me (which it was).

Whilst I waited for my order, I asked where the toilets were as I couldn't clearly see any signage. I was told they were "out this door, across the bridge, down the stairs, and along the corridor", which seems a bit of a trek, but due to the nature of the building when it was a museum, it's understandable. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker by any stretch.

When I returned, the waitress smiled and said she was waiting for me before serving up. I was brought a lovely spread for my cream tea. I was pleased to see that the butter offered as replacement for the cream was actually in an individual high quality pack rather than café style butter blocks, and the jam came in a ramekin rather than a little pot, or plastic container.

I loved that the milk came in a little old-school milk bottle, what a cute touch! Also the home-made scone was massive! A timer came with the tea, to give you the ideal brewing time, but by the time the sand ran out, I felt my tea was merely very-warm rather than hot. I could've mentioned this to the staff, but it really didn't make much of a difference, as it was very tasty tea, and still very enjoyable. The scone was a touch dry due to the fact that I had butter rather than cream, but it was very tasty and very filling! As a taste preference, I prefer sweetener in tea rather than sugar, but sadly only sugar was available, in tube packets. With the nature and style of this venue, I was surprised not to be presented with sugar cubes, which would top off the "cream tea" feel. The cream tea came to just £4.90, which for Manchester City Centre is very reasonable indeed!

The selection of teas on the menu was vast, and included several variants of my favourite, Earl Grey. As I paid up, I mentioned how I liked this, and that I'd have to try the different varieties next time, and the friendly staff passed over the various tea caddies of Earl Grey varieties for me to see and smell, which was a lovely touch. The 'rosey' blend smelled wonderful, and as I'll definitely be returning, I will have that next time! :)

The venue also does Afternoon Teas, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, soups, and a lovely array of home-made cakes, which sit on the counter looking seductive. Damn sexy cakes. Next time.... next time!!



I will definitely be returning here, as it gives the other Manchester City Centre tea rooms a run for their money, whilst maintaining good value, and a relaxed, quiet, and friendly atmosphere, which can be lacking in said other venues due to the resurgence in popularity of tea rooms.



Proper Tea
Manchester Cathedral Visitors Centre
10 Cateaton Street
Manchester
(0161) 832 3220
www.properteadeveloper.com







Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral on Urbanspoon

Proper Tea

by on 15:17
From the people who brought you Teacup on Thomas Street comes Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral , which unlike its hipster and trend...
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