Sunday 20 November 2016

Squid Ink - November 2016

Squid Ink
Unit 4 – Nuovo, 67 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AB
Telephone: 0161 236 7258 Email: Info@SquidInkMcr.com
www.squidinkmcr.com
Social Media: Twitter • Facebook • Instagram


Opening Times:
Wednesday: 6pm – 11pm
Thursday: 6pm – 11pm
Friday: 6pm – 11:30pm
Saturday: 6pm – 11:30pm


Food: 7/10 Service 7/10 Ambience 8/10 ££££



i found resonance in the ethos of Squid Ink. Non pretentious surroundings where you can relax with really tasty food, locally sourced and some good wines, carefully selected, slightly off beat, at a price that won't break the bank. The space is well designed with lots of natural light in a minimalist style, nonetheless comfortable, with an open kitchen so diners can observe the full theatre of the cooking. The approach to the restaurant design has been meticulous and consistent and the approach is carried through to the food

The menu, which is a set tasting menu, changes on a regular basis, providing new challenges for chef/owner Anthony Barnes and this evening had a Scandinavian theme, It represents good value at £25 for 4 courses. It is complimented by an interesting and slightly unusual wines and beers list again changing regularly to compliment the menu, also reasonably priced.

Pollen Bakery’s 100% rye & Cultured butter. Danish Blue. Walnuts. Apple a very tasty combination, dressed with honey from the family's own bees from near Preston

Salmon. Beetroot, Dill the addition of the golden beet flavour here provided a great contrast, although the subtlety was somewhat lost due to the lingering intense flavour of the blue cheese from the first course.

Pork belly. slowly braised in red wine over three days and pressed was probably the best pork belly I have tasted, melt in the mouth texture and full of flavour. Caramelised apple sauce. Fennel. Crackling. Hasselback potatoes were a little disappointing adding nothing to the dish.

The final course was a Kladkaka. a a dense sticky and luxuriantly gooey sort of chocolate brownie Elderberry crème fraîche

A 3 course option is available Wednesdays & Thursdays

After much debate and discussion I tried Vics Secret £4.50 6.5% abv an IPA from Cloudwater Brew Co literally a stone's throw away on Piccadilly Trading Estate Followed by Juan Gil a Petit Verdot from Spain at £25 btl

Expect to spend all evening here, there is no pressure to vacate your table and dishes are served at a leisurely pace as determined by the kitchen.

Squid Ink is a leap of faith on the part of Anthony Barnes. He is quite clearly wanting to share his love of gastronomy with his customers and his passion and personality shine through. Ideally located to service the residents of the existing and planned developments of New Islington I look forward with interest to the future of Squid Ink and returning when the menu changes.