The soup kitchen in Manchester is a funny old place; as the name suggests it does look like an American soup kitchen, a place where free food is served to the homeless or destitute, something you might see in an episode of Columbo.
Unfortunately the food at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen isn’t free, it isn’t even cheap, it’s mid priced really, with a bowl of soup costing £3.75, I know this doesn’t sound expensive but the bowls aren’t very big. Having said that, the soups are very flavoursome and they are often stuffed with ingredients. I had the Moroccan Lamb soup recently and it had plenty of lamb, vegetables and beans. The taste did indeed remind me of a recent trip to Morocco.
I also had a sweet potato fritter that tasted much like something you might get in an Indian restaurant, at £2.50, I think this was good value for money. I always think of fritters being round and flat but this was more like an onion bhaji, very large and filling and it tasted divine.
I had always given the Soup Kitchen a miss because I thought it was strictly vegetarian, I am not sure why I thought that, perhaps because it attracts the hippy and yoga crowd I just assumed it was vegetarian or vegan. It was actually a vegan yoga instructor who took me here for lunch sometime last year and I was surprised that there was meat on the menu. The jerk chicken looks especially nice, I would have definitely had this for lunch if I wasn’t going to the gym shortly after. The salt fish fritters also looked very nice as well as the curried goat; there is clearly a Jamaican influence going on at the Soup Kitchen.
Not only does the Soup Kitchen serve great food but they also have a bar and host live music events in the basement. The bar is well stocked with a host of beers, wines and cask ales and they are fully licensed for late night openings, 11PM in the week, 1AM on Friday and 4AM on Saturday.
This isn’t really a place you would want to visit for a romantic evening meal but if you are looking for great lunch or dinner with beer and entertainment you can’t go far wrong with the Soup Kitchen.
Review Overview
Food - 8
Service - 5
Premises - 5
Value - 6
6
Summary : Manchester's take on a Los Angeles homeless shelter, serving good food, beer and hosting live music.