All Star Lanes

Saturday night came around and we didn't fancy the night in this week, but also wanted something to do in Manchester besides the usual meals. 

One of the group had been suggesting All Star Lanes for a while, and as much as I'd wanted to go and try their menu, I'd just always had better offers. This week though, the option of food followed by bowling seemed like a great idea so off we went. 

Set in the ever popular Great Northern Warehouse, just off Deansgate, All Star Lanes has tough competition from the likes of Almost Famous and Lucha Libre either side of it. To sit between these 2 restaurants you've got to have the food game on check, so we thought we'd see if it had. 

All Star Lanes

All Star Lanes is noticeable for its full glass front and bright orange signs above the doors. Inside the place is huge! It's sort of split into 3 areas, the bar area as you walk in, then the restaurant area with a bowling alley in the back. 

Bowling is reasonably priced for late night bowling, and priority is given to people who have dined in the restaurant, but you can just turn up for a game if you wish.

We arrived for a late evening meal, around 8:30 and was told there'd be a 15 minute wait for a table. This gave us time to grab some drinks at the bar and check the place out a bit. 

All Star Lanes has a sports bar vibe about it, I suppose as you'd expect from a bowling alley, but the dining area is well segregated and so you aren't overpowered by TVs and loud music while you're eating, so you can still enjoy a sociable meal out. 

Celebrity Signed Bowling Pins

Bowling pins signed by Paddy McGuiness and the cast of the Inbetweeners

Around the bar area there's a cabinet with a vast array of bowling pins with various celebrity autographs on. Then on the wall I noticed a half cask with plaques on entitled "whiskey hall of fame". On closer inspection this was a £100 whiskey serving but if you bought it you had your name on the wall. As well as being a meat fan I've also grown to love my whiskies over the last couple of years, so I had to ask what it was. Apparently it was some 125 year old Rye that they found in a basement somewhere but there isn't any left now so unfortunately the meat memoirs weren't able to get their names on the wall. 

Whiskey Hall of Fame

After having a good luck around and enjoying our drinks we were ushered to our table in the dining area. 

The dining area isn't huge but I suppose not everyone comes for the food here, there's drinking and bowling to be had as well. The waiter (sorry I forgot his name) was soon over to introduce himself and offer recommendations off the menu. I took his advice for the starter but opted for my own choice on the main course. 

The menu was a reasonable size with enough choice to satisfy everyone. 

Starters

Mains and Sides

I'd opted for the recommended fried "popcorn" squid with garlic mayo. These were served in a delightful little chinese takeaway box with a dipping sauce on the side and chopsticks for those that have the finger coordination. 

Popcorn Fried Squid with Garlic Mayo dip (£6.50)

The popcorn squid was very good, the outer fried coating wasn't too greasy and was seasoned with some chilli flakes, but alas, little more than traditional squid. The garlic mayo complimented the squid well and didn't have an overwhelming hit of garlic. 10/10 for presentation though. 

My partner opted for the BBQ chicken wings. Small chicken wings on a hot plate covered in a sticky BBQ sauce with a side of blue cheese dip. Tasty, but nothing new I'm afraid. 

BBQ Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese dip (£6.50)

For the main course I'd opted to try one of the All Star Lanes burgers. I'd heard that the burgers here are very good, but with Almost Famous just next door could I be lured back to All Star Lanes given the choice? 

Burger Options

I decided to go for their top of the range, King Pin burger. A treacle cured bacon cheeseburger topped with a fried macaroni cheese croquette and finished with the usual salad. Sides are optional, originally I was going to choose the seasoned sweet potato fries but I asked what the "monterey jack corn grit chips" were. Apparently a soft corn bread with cheese, fried into stick shapes. I was intrigued and so ordered these. My other half opted for her favourite sweet potato fries.

We were all asked how we'd like out burgers cooked and we were told they come pink as standard. I was happy with this so would take them how they come.

The mains arrived not long after the starters were finished. 

I tried the Corn Grit Chips first. At first I found these a different delight. A soft fried coating surrounded a soft textured cornbread and cheese center. The portion of these at first seems quite small with just 4 chips in the bowl but after finishing just 1 I could feel these were quite heavy to eat. The initial intriguing taste soon becomes a carbohydrate overload. 

Monterey Jack Corn Grit Chips (£3.00)

Time to try the burger I think. 

King Pin Burger (£11.00)

Cutting into the burger revealed the pink center of the thick meat patty. The last burger I had in Manchester, at the newly opened "Filthy Cow" (see the memoir here; Meat Memoirs Filthy Cow) also had the perfectly pink patties. It's been a good couple of burgers recently for this. Not too pink as I've had in the past in London  though, just spot on!

Wonderful pink patty of the King Pin burger

On top of the beef patty was the thick cured bacon. This was great quality bacon which could easily have been sourced from a local butcher or somewhere similar. It's coated in a thick sweet treacle glaze. This is then topped with thick melted cheddar cheese. Finally to top it all off, under the bread was the fried mac and cheese. This fried patty oozed cheesy sauce and soft cheese coated macaroni pasta. Perfectly cooked and not as heavy as you'd imagine (light as a feather compared to the Corn Grit Chips). 

My partner opted for the nacho burger and sweet potato fries. This was the first nacho burger I'd tried. The nachos give a great crunch to the burger and with a similar pink filled patty her burger was just as good. Although I would still have opted for the mac & cheese topped creation. 

Nacho Burger (£9.50) with side order of Sweet Potato Fries with cracked sea salt (£3.00)

Conclusion

All Star Lanes has a great night out in one building, with a well stocked bar, great selection of food and bowling to try afterwards. 

The food here isn't much different to many other places in Manchester, with the usual burgers, sides etc. However, the food they serve is presented better than many of the others around the same price mark. 

The starters were nothing I can shout to the memoirs about, and the sides that are different were just too heavy to accompany the burger meals. They may have gone better with a lighter main such as the fish or lobster though.

I should note though that the sweet potato fries that my partner had were some of the best seasoned sweet potato fries I've had. The cracked salt took just enough of the sweet edge off to stop the becoming over sweet by the bottom of the bowl. 

The burgers though were outstanding. The pink minced beef patties were juicy, thick and declicious. It's getting difficult to pick a favourite patty in Manchester now. The macaroni cheese patty on top was also incredible! 

All Star Lanes has tough competition next door, particularly when it comes to burgers, but they're managing to make burgers which compete. 

What lets them down though is the sides and the starters. There was nothing outstanding that would make me choose All Star Lanes over Almost Famous if I was stood outside the Great Northern Warehouse looking for a burger to eat. 

The bowling alley and bar area could definitely lure me back though, and if I was feeling peckish before a game in the red and white shoes, I'd be more than happy to have another of the All Star Lanes burgers. I'd probably skip the starters though.

I'll have to come back for a game on the bowling alley though, as after all this food we were all too full and drunk to consider playing in the end. My first ever turkey will have to wait yet again.

All Star Lanes bowling Alley (£8.95pp/per game at peak times)

http://www.allstarlanes.co.uk/venues/manchester-deansgate/

@AllStarLanesMCR

https://www.facebook.com/AllStarLanesManchester

Meat Rating: 6/10

Money for Meat: Paid in Full

Filthy Cow

Before I get into this latest review an apology for the lack of posts recently. Unfortunately the Meat camera went missing and so left me out of action for a while. It has been replaced and so we're back!! 

And where better to start than with Manchester's latest burger restaurant? 

http://www.filthyfood.co.uk/

A Filthy Cow (note heels)

Filthy Cow opened just less than a month ago and I've been keen to check it out since then. 
The restaurant idea was thought up and put together by 23 year old Jordan Gallimore, with the idea to make great burgers, not burgers that are piled high with everything imagineable. From the preview photos she released on the website prior to opening the interior looked very intriguing, but now it's open I had to go down and see how it looked for myself and more importantly how the burgers were. 

The restaurant is located just a couple of streets away from the busy Albert Square and so is in a prime location, and not too far to walk if you're craving a Filthy Cow burger after shopping. 

Walking up Tib Lane the bright yellow cow sign hanging above the door lets you know where to aim for. As you get closer the yellow intensity increases as the sign is accompanied by a yellow neon cow in the window. The shop front isn't huge but the attention is drawn with the bright colours. 

Filthy Cow shop front

Inside it's a little darker with a more industrial feel about it. Exposed ducting systems, dim lighting, rustic woodwork and lots of steel. There's seating at the ground floor and first floor, with the ground floor seating mostly in little booths (each named after a cow). There are some booths at first floor but there are a lot more traditional tables and chairs up here. I have to admit I didn't use the restroom facilities but I imagine these were located on the third floor as I didn't see them at ground floor or first floor. 

There are more neon cows, with the odd flash of udder. Naughty! And graffiti slogans on the walls. 

Filthy Secret

Show me your udders

An invitation you can't turn down

Entering the shop we were warmly approached and the process of how they take orders and serve food was explained. We then opted for the booth at the first floor with the bright pink cow with various kinky toys strapped to it. Fun and quirky. 

Probably the most Filthy Cow in the restaurant

Filthy Cow Menu

Browsing the menu on the table there was a choice of 5 different burgers, all of which contain a single patty and 1 of these is the vegetarian option. There is a special burger which can been seen from the special board above the serving station. There are sides of fries, onion rings or slaw. There are a couple of dessert options, then drinks including IPA, beers, ciders, soft drinks or milkshakes. 

The menu's are designed to be filled in and handed in at the service point at the back of the ground floor. With no pens available I thought it just as easy to read my order to the staff at the counter. Once you have placed your order you are given a buzzer and return to your table. You then have to go back to the service point to collect your food. For what seems like a proper restaurant I had expected a little more service, however without requesting the staff said they would bring our food over as it was quiet. This is a very fast food-esque for what I had imagined as more of a traditional restaurant type of meal. 
Condiments can be picked up at the side of the service point from an aptly shaped shelving system.

Condiments stand

I had opted for the Filthy Beat burger (£7.50), a beef patty, bacon, cheese, filthy sauce, and the usual salads (lettuce, gherkins, tomato). To accompany it I ordered fries, onion rings and a chocolate milkshake (as I'm a big kid at heart!). 

It wasn't long after returning to our booth that our drinks arrived. The chocolate milkshake I think topped the chocolate scales for any milkshake I've ever had. If anything it was too chocolaty. The sweet taste was good with the savory burgers but the chocolate overwhelmed me. My partner had opted for the vanilla milkshake which she assured me was much better. 

Filthy Cow Milkshakes (£4.50)

The food followed not much later. Tightly wrapped paper parcels of food that looked a lot larger than we were expecting for single patty burgers. 

Wrapped Filthy Burger

Unwrapping the burger was exposed what seemed like an encased explosion of cheese, lettuce and sauce all stuck to the wrapper. In the centre was an excellent looking burger though with a decent thick patty, melted cheeses, crispy bacon and lots of filthy sauce. 

Filthy Burger (£7.50)

Biting into the burger was a delight. The meat was soft, pink and juicy. Probably one of the best lightly done patties that I've had. Not too rare but not overdone either. The filthy sauce had a generic burger sauce taste about it, but with a hint of extra mustard and additional peppery tang. The salad was as fresh as you could get and added a cool hit. The bacon was possibly my favourite bit. Really crunchy without being over done and a great smoky taste to it. So far I was highly impressed. 

Manchester's Pinkest Patty? The Filthy Burger topped with crispy bacon, cheese, filthy sauce and salad (£7.50)

Tucking into the fries (£2.50), they had a nice light crunch to them, and were heavily salted but flavoured with just the right amount of Rosemary. 

Despite how great the fries were the onion rings were my favourite side order (£2.50). They had a darker colour to onion rings you find in most restaurants, and were heavily seasoned with salt and Rosemary herbs. The fried coating was extremely crisp and the seasoning created an incredible taste! Finishing them off I wish my stomach had room for another batch but alas, I was full. 

Onion Rings £2.50

Conculsion

Unfortunately there are some fairly extensive roadworks going on very close by which is hindering the view up Tib Lane and probably not helping draw a crowd to Filthy Cow. This and because Filthy Cow is new it's still trying to make it's presence known meant it was fairly quiet the afternoon we visited. With food this good though it shouldn't take long until the place is full. Jordan has obviously put a lot of hard work not only into the restaurant but into taking the time to perfect her menu. 

The patties may be the best cooked that I've had Manchester. The burgers are simple yet effective and make for an excellent meal. The sides orders are generous in portion size and compliment the main burgers well. The meal is reasonably priced at around £15 for a side, a drink, and one of the larger burgers. They're priced well with other burger restaurants in Manchester. However, the lack of service I think is a bit of a let down. Granted on this visit our food was brought to our table, I think this is worth noting that it's definitely priced at the premium end if fast food is their aim. But then if Filthy Cow is branding itself as a "fast food" restaurant then it's making premium fast food that can warrant the price.

The only other criticism I have is of the chocolate milkshake. To me it was just too rich with chocolate. This may be how some people like their milkshakes but everyone I dined with tried it and agreed it was too much. So next time I return I'd personally opt for a different drink. 

I will be returning though as this simple burger has jumped up into my list of go-to places in Manchester. I'm salivating at the thought of another of Filthy Cow's juicy patties. Fingers crossed the word gets spread about Filthy Cow and the roadworks are finished soon so that the restaurant becomes more obvious. 

@filthycowuk

Filthy Cow Facebook

Meat Rating: 8/10

Money for Meat: Voucher exchanged for burger, sides and drink paid in full