When Bill’s Restaurant arrived on John Dalton Street nearly a year ago (yes, an entire year, where the hell does the time go?), I had friends telling me how fabulous it was, how lucky we were and urging me to go.
I reviewed it back in September, and loved some bits, wasn’t so sure about others. I loved the freshness, the great ingredients, though bits of the decor left me a little cold – the grocery shop element, whilst working with the history, felt over-branded.
We did, however, enjoy the food and now, with a new menu to tempt us, we were back, ready to sample all over again.
Seated in a different part of the restaurant, almost in the front window, this time around it felt a lot less branded. The decor is still shabby chic, with lots of weather worn wood, plush velour, right colours and chandelier lighting, but the booths make it feel a little more intimate. Perfect for date night.
Drinks wise, the Bank Holiday mood had kicked in and though it was barely 3pm, I fancied a good weighty glass of red, whilst Keeley was on the cocktails. Whilst their cocktail menu is small, those on there suit the mood of the venue, which always seems sunny.
We decided to forego starters, under the recommendation of our host, and opted for favourites from the nibbles menu. Breaded Halloumi, deep fried with a rich garlic mayonnaise, tortilla chips with a selection of dips and mini sausages, in their own tiny casserole dish, coated in honey and grain mustard.
These are perfect for a group of friends – share, nibble, chat, before you know it, you’re fighting over the last bit of fresh chunky guacamole, you’re slicing up the last piece of salty, stringy Halloumi so no-one misses out, or the last little sausage in it’s sweet, sticky sauce.
Onto mains and we simply couldn’t decide. Burgers are great, but we’re a little burgered out in the city – so we leant on our host for recommendations again.
Keeley’s green chicken curry was that great blend of gently spicy, but creamy, lots of fresh vegetables, tender chicken and served with fluffy rice and flatbread. Spicy enough to keep the tastebuds interested, but mild enough to keep fussy eaters happy.
My lamb was perfectly pink and tender, sitting ontop of a lentil moussaka – which was soft, rich and I’m not sure what made it a moussaka, but it tasted great, especially with the caper salsa that cut through the rich fatty flavour. That it happened to go beautifully with my glass of Malbec, didn’t go amiss either.
The bonus for us though were the side dishes. And yes, I know not everyone is going to agree, but I love greens. Brittle kale, lightly salted is always a winner for me, and their sesame and chilli broccoli is great. The broccoli is just done, and for those that dislike the bitterness that comes with something so green, the chilli and sesame dull that right down.
Desserts wise, I took a big step away from the cheese. The cheeseboard is good, but we’ve been there done that. 
I coveted the doughnuts, but as yeast has decided to unfriend me, I had to look on enviously while Keeley enjoyed the cinnamon dusted, light rounds, and thick chocolate sauce.
I didn’t feel jealous for too long. I had the lemon meringue cheesecake in a glass. A long title, for layers of buttered biscuit crumbs, lemon cheesecake and lemon sorbet, topped with a poppyseed meringue.
This was light, sweet and citrussy and dense and creamy all at the same time. The sorbet and sharp lemon kept it from being overly sweet, whilst the heavy cheesecake cream added good weight to it. I know I’m a sucker for a citrus dessert, but this still better than I expected. One I need to revisit soon.
I’ll admit, I’m still not sure about the decor in it’s entirety, though it fits with the venue. Maybe, it’s just a personal thing. But the menu has matured a little, and it’s still a great family friendly place to hit for a lazy lunch, or for a relaxed date. The set menu especially seems a bit of a bargain.
Now, about that dessert again….
The food and drink enjoyed during this review was provided free of charge by Bill’s Restaurant Manchester. We were impressed again, by the service and the food – particularly as it seems to have settled a little more on this visit. Thank you.