0161 236 5144

The Lamb Of Tartary Menu Launch

Ever since news broke about the pending launch of a new pub and grill from the same team who brought us the fabulous Edinburgh Castle, expectations and excitement have been high and our entire office has waited with bated breath to find out more. 

The Lamb of Tartary, a name which isn’t likely to be confused with anywhere else in town, opened its doors last week, accompanied by the ubiquitous press and influencer launch evening.  Much to our dismay we couldn’t attend, so were over the moon to be invited down yesterday, almost a week after the doors opened to the public.

The former Cottonopolis unit in which TLoT resides has been fully refurbed, and given a clean, bright new look, in keeping with the also new grill and public house offering.  A smart open kitchen sits at the rear, with a handsome bar to the right as you enter.  A very nice space indeed and we particularly liked the anticipation created by the small flight of steps and curtain which precede the dining space and bar.

We got seated, fortunately in a seat which leant itself well to getting decent real-life photos to show you lovely people exactly what to expect as a paying customer.  Dishes were a range of snacks, small plates, larger plates, and a reassuringly comprehensive grill section.  The menu screamed Shaun Moffat; the man behind the pass whos well known for delivering great things on the plate.

Oysters (£3 each) were splendid.  Super fresh and top quality, with a stunning rhubarb dressing.  And we give kudos to them being fully released from their shells by the kitchen; a touch which is often overlooked.  These went perfectly with our top draw pint of Guinness, and a very well-crafted Tomato Martini.

Now surprisingly, as a person who generally doesn’t have any love for them at all, the Lamb Scotch Egg (£9) bowled me over.  Served warm with an oozy yolk showcasing more fantastic quality meat and wonderful seasoning. I know that it’s only March, but Im pretty sure that this will be on my top 10 best dishes in Manchester come the Christmas.  You know that we don’t throw superlative around willy nilly, but this deserves it.

Cured Trout (£12), with a brilliant caper mayo and toasted sourdough was simple yet quality. Great trout, cured to an ideal firmness/saltiness, with that mayo bringing it all together.

Steak Tartare with potato crisps (£12) was more class.  Super high-quality yolk which when combined with the beef was glossy, rich, unctuous, and simply delicious.  Yet another lesson in simple yet first rate prep using great produce.

Knutsford Texel-cross lamb saddle chop (£32) was our chosen sharing main course.  Great protein, cooked to an exemplary colour, bathed in a rich bone gravy which shone like a diamond under the lights above.  Fantastic.

Triple Cooked Chips (£5) were proper chips.  They admittedly looked a tad home-style upon being served.  You know, uneven with pointed edges; a far cry from the typical Jenga block-like uniform wedges which are usually triple cooked.  But the potatoes used here were great, and were then cooked to a crisp exterior and fluffy centre, then seasoned well. The ideal accompaniment.

Polyspore Mushrooms (£5), from Altrincham, are on menus all over the city now and for good reason.  Huge earthy flavours, with a delicious fat laden gravy made this a dish which punched well above its weight as a side course.

We were pretty full by this stage so didn’t really need puds, but decided that it was professional to do just the opposite.

Chocolate Mousse was rich, intense, and topped with some old school glace cherries, plus shavings of chocolate.  Delicious yes, but possibly a touch dense, plus the huge portion size would satisfy even the hungriest of chocolate lovers.

Buttermilk Pudding was our final plate, and was a nice light was to end.  A textural note could have helped raise the overall delivery somewhat though.

So, the Northern Quarter has a new hotspot which looks set to become one of the city centre’s most desirable places to enjoy a drink with some solid food.  With nods to the winning formula of the Edinburgh Castle over in Ancoats, The Lamb of Tartary is unique enough to not feel like a copy of its cousin, but simply adds to the family’s portfolio, in another part of town.

We look forward to seeing how the guys get on once they truly get into their stride, which is a certain to happen.

** Our experience was gratefully comped **