Decent studenty food in Manchester

[dontlookdown]

I am (CV permitting) taking my 17 yr old daughter up to Manc to check out the Uni and student bits of town in a few weeks, she is a born and bred Londoner but she wants to get away from the SE and return to her (read my) northern roots so she is looking at Mcr, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. At least the accommodation will be cheaper than down here!

I'd like to take her for a decent studenty meal on Sat night, somewhere with a bit of atmosphere but where we won't get food poisoning or be fed curried Alsatian. Any suggestions? Is the curry mile still the place to go or are there other options now?

I was a student there myself but it was about 100 yrs ago, so although I know the layout of the town and where the main Uni bits are my knowledge of the places to go these days is zero. I used to love the Yang Sing, Chinese would be an option as she and I both like it but her Mum doesn't so we don't eat it much, but really what I am after first and foremost is a studenty vibe plus reasonable food rather than great food per se.

Tks

[Scrump]

Also interested to hear the replies.
Scrumplet the elder is hopefully off to Manchester uni in September.

[KnackeredOldBanger]

This & That on Soap Street, plus all the other three and rice spots dotted around Manchester.

Habesha on Sackville Street is an experience. Ethiopian restaurant up a spiral staircase in a kebab shop.

EDIT: Can probably assist with Leeds and Sheffield too, I'm positioned between all three!

[dontlookdown]

KnackeredOldBanger said:

This & That on Soap Street, plus all the other three and rice spots dotted around Manchester.

Habesha on Sackville Street is an experience. Ethiopian restaurant up a spiral staircase in a kebab shop.

EDIT: Can probably assist with Leeds and Sheffield too, I'm positioned between all three!

Tks, Ethiopian above a kebab shop sounds like the Manchester I remember! Will check that out.

[KnackeredOldBanger]

dontlookdown said:

Tks, Ethiopian above a kebab shop sounds like the Manchester I remember! Will check that out.

Hopefully this link works, you can see the staircase through the left hand door. If you go through the right hand door you can't get to the stairs.

37 Richmond St
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8e5QncaY3niWfQU26

[anonymous-user]

Soup Kitchen or SOUP (not sure what the actual name is) in the northern quarter of Manchester.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1...

Edit: However, it’s been 4-5 years since I’ve been.

Edited by F20CN16 on Friday 11th June 10:58

[Pothole]

There's some great food stalls in the Arndale Centre

[otherman]

Whereabouts is she thinking of living? Town centre doesn't have the best food options. All depends on your budget and what sort of food you want.

[SpeckledJim]

A stroll around Rusholme on a Saturday night is interesting and fun.

[Radec]

Rusholme for Manchester, Harehills for Leeds and Wicker/London Road for Sheffield.

Bare in mind these will be most like Indian restaurants for curries and normal kebab/burger type places.

[dontlookdown]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Cheers, I might well check out the NQ as it didn't really exist when I was living there;)

[JeffreyD]

dontlookdown said:

Cheers, I might well check out the NQ as it didn't really exist when I was living there;)

Rusholme has some great kebab restaurants these days.

My studenty daughter goes to the NQ, although there is some new stuff going on around Oxford Road

Escape to Freight Island near Piccadilly doesn't need to be expensive either.

[Rollin]

Bundobust
Rudys
Ramona
Yard and Coop
Mackie Mayor

[dontlookdown]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Early 90s. I am an old git. There was nothing there but derelict warehouses back then;)

[JeffreyD]

dontlookdown said:

Early 90s. I am an old git. There was nothing there but derelict warehouses back then;)

Dry opened in the late 80s but it was pretty slim pickings round there back then.

[037]

Hatch, Freight Island, Crazy Pedro’s, Yes, Mamie Mayor, The Refuge, most go to the Courtyard atm
Northern 1/4 good for bars. Castlefeild Dukes 92 well with a walk to if it’s sunny.

[dontlookdown]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Early 90s. I am an old git. There was nothing there but derelict warehouses back then;)

I remember back then we drove over from Huddersfield in a XR3i (that broke down regularly) to go to alot of places. I remember hacienda pre knife/gun detector arch on the door. Gawd, I'm also old

Remember picadilly 21s?

Yes I do! And the Hacienda of course. Tony Wilson was my hero back then. There was a tiny club underneath a bar we used to go to- the Cypress Tavern? - that was really quite an experience. All human life was there, as they used to say.

Kebabs from the Babylon on Oxford Rd nr the Poly, or an Abduls chicken kebab from down by Whitworth Park if it was a special occasion. And beer only 50p a pint.

Kids today etc etc...

I need to get this out of my system because daughter won't put up with my reminiscences for more than 30 secs;)

[SpeckledJim]

dontlookdown said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Early 90s. I am an old git. There was nothing there but derelict warehouses back then;)

I remember back then we drove over from Huddersfield in a XR3i (that broke down regularly) to go to alot of places. I remember hacienda pre knife/gun detector arch on the door. Gawd, I'm also old

Remember picadilly 21s?

Yes I do! And the Hacienda of course. Tony Wilson was my hero back then. There was a tiny club underneath a bar we used to go to- the Cypress Tavern? - that was really quite an experience. All human life was there, as they used to say.

Kebabs from the Babylon on Oxford Rd nr the Poly, or an Abduls chicken kebab from down by Whitworth Park if it was a special occasion. And beer only 50p a pint.

Kids today etc etc...

I need to get this out of my system because daughter won't put up with my reminiscences for more than 30 secs;)

Yes, Babylon. They could have taught McDonalds a few things about process design and efficiency. Maybe not much about customer care.

A real jolt of clarity at 2am. “Right, I need my wits about me here, because if I don’t know the answers to the kebab inquisition straight away I’m going to get a bking”.

[thebraketester]

The wife and I use to go to a place on Oxford Road called Umami, near the aquatic centre. Fairly decent Japanese restaurant, and not hugely expensive.


Rusholme chippy for a Kobida kebab.... taste sensation.


Pizza row on Oxford Street... I used to be on first name terms with the guys in Babylon. Must have spent god knows how much over the years I was there.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 12th June 08:35

[numtumfutunch]

Did similar with son visiting uni before the badness happened and curry mile was the easy choice
As you prob know walkable from the campus and its all good

If you have a bit more time the prev mentioned Mackie Mayor is excellent
Really great in fact, but on the edge of the NQ and a slight hike

And in between the 2 the Federal Cafe people have one near the Arndale and another 10-15 mins from Oxford St on Deansgate - both fantastic for brunch/lunch

And theres a billion other places too

I love Manchester - shame the lad didnt end up there.................