Walking into a restaurant and spotting a friend is usually the sign of a good venue.
When that friend suggests you don’t order a dish because the potatoes are bad, that’s a less than optimistic start.
We had just wandered through the lovely cosy seating areas of Annie’s, past the long mahogany coloured bar and into the restaurant itself on a Sunday evening. A birthday party was finishing up and then we spotted friends making their way out.
After hellos and hugs they left and myself, Keeley and Mr GFB sat down to dinner.
I was curious.
I’ve known a few friends who’ve eaten in Annie’s, others who had been and looked at me in something akin to horror when I mentioned visiting. What was it about this place that inspired such opposing reactions? I didn’t think it was the Coronation Street connection, but given the last episode I can recall catching a glimpse of included Sarah Lancashire, this was never really going to be of any interest to me.
In fact, the last soap I ever watched was Neighbours and that was only out of habit and needing something to zone out to when I got home from work.
I digress.
The decor in Annie’s is cosy, comfortable, homey. It reminds me of someone’s living room, with a hint of glamour provided by some prettily draped voiles. And this is where I think the problem for me starts.
Nothing matches.
The decor is lovely, but smacks of something a little more high end than pub grub. The food on the menu is effectively pub grub and the wines… Well, I know I’ve had champagne with fish and chips, but we’re not talking Cristal, but I’d never pair a cheese and onion pie with a bottle of wine at £150 a bottle.
The menu had me confused before I’d even entered the building.
And so, curiosity had the better of us and the three of us sat and pondered our meals.
Mr GFB opted for the Corned Beef Hash Cake, long a Manchester institution thanks to the Chophouses, this should always be a crowd pleaser and relatively easy option. Keeley and I opted for fish, with potted mackerel and scallops with black pudding respectively.
The hash cake was good – not the same level as some we’ve had, but good, the poached egg on top lovely and runny. Mr GFB was a pretty happy chap.
My scallops were a touch overdone, but they were fine, the peas were nicer than they looked, though the black pudding underneath had an odd chewy quality – not as a Bury black pudding with it’s grains would be, more in a cheaper cut of fat was used in it’s production.
Keeley’s potted mackerel was, er, well it wasn’t. Potted mackerel should involve butter and lemon juice and maybe a touch of horseradish. This was mackerel mixed with mayonnaise. Not unpleasant, but not what we’d expected.
Onto mains and despite being intrigued as hell to see this cheese and onion pie, chips and beans that cost £12.95, it was off the menu, and so whilst Mr GFB opted for the slightly more expensive fish and chips and Keeley chose the healthier Sea Bass with spring greens, I opted for the traditional beef Sunday roast.
The fish and chips were OK. Not £13.95 good, but OK. Hand cut chips were great, fish was good, the mushy peas that somewhat neon green that speaks of a tin.
Keeley fared much better, lightly pickled cucumber, crisp mange tout, just done sea bass, peas that had been taken just a little too far, not bad at all.
And then there was the roast.
My friend wasn’t wrong, the potatoes were bad. So was the rest of it. The Yorkshire pudding was stale – unpleasantly so. The beef was ok, but had obviously been sitting waiting a while, the vegetables had long seen their crispness lost to the water they had been cooked in.
The gravy was, to put it bluntly, an abomination.
I could have taken myself to the Sainsbury’s around the corner, bought a tub of their cheapest instant gravy granules and had it made up on site and it would have been much more pleasant.
I’m Northern. I take my gravy very seriously.
Leaving most of mine on my plate, I prayed dessert would provide salvation.
Keeley opted for the cheese board which proved a good choice. Some cracking cheeses, crackers (admittedly Jacob’s), celery and grapes and she was satisfied.
Mr GFB’s mint chocolate indulgence was ok – a sundae by any other name, the only hint at homemade was the mint parfait it was dotted with, fresh mint coarsely chopped and mixed with cream and chocolate at least tried to make an effort.
Still hungry, I’d gone for the jam roly poly and this pile of stodge tried to make up a little for its colleague’s poor quality. Whilst not overwhelming, it did the job, and I was feeling a little less badly done to.
The one shining light is the staff. They are downright lovely. We watched them hand out gift bags from the Annie’s other venture, as the evening wore on and the restaurant emptied. They were kind, patient and attentive.
It’s just such a bloody shame everything else lets them down.
The food and drink consumed at Annie’s was paid for by the restaurant.
As ever, a meal supplied, doesn’t ensure a positive review. In this case, I believe this is apparent.
Feedback has been given back to the venue ahead of publication.
yes that is so tinned mushy peas
What a shame. I quite fancied a visit for afternoon tea one – I suppose that everyone can have a bad day. Loved your review and your honesty.
Thanks honey. It disappointed me too – but would rather report back and be honest, than not. Interestingly, their website has been down, so presuming things are changing. Hopefully for the better.