We may not have had the brightest of bank holidays, but with temperatures expected to soar for summer, rest assured Manchester will be out donning sunglasses, sipping cocktails and making the most of the weather.
So, if you’ve got time to spare in the working day and fancy lunch out, we can’t recommend The Alchemist, Spinningfields, highly enough. We stopped by recently to check out their new menu, and it did not disappoint!
We started by perusing the extensive cocktail menu! Favourites on there include Strawberry Bellini and Garden Martini. However, this was a working lunch, so we opted for a refreshing Red Grape Cooler from the non-alcoholic list, which comprised of red grapes shaken up with white grape juice, lemon juice and topped with soda water, the perfect refreshment for a hot summers afternoon.
RED GRAPE COOLER £3.50
We started with the tasty edamame beans with soy and sea salt, and the baked halloumi which was marinated in mint and wrapped in filo pastry, before we tucked into our mouth-watering salads. I chose the feta and watermelon salad – a combination I’d not experienced before. The feta was tasty and the watermelon offset its zingy flavour perfectly. The portion was more than adequate and felt substantial for a summer lunch. Priced at £4.75 for small or £8.95 for large its great value too.
EDAMAME BEANS £2.95, BAKED HALLOUMI £4.25
FETA AND WATERMELON SALAD £4.75
BANG BANG CHICKEN SALAD £4.95
As we sat and sipped on our coolers, outside in the basking sun, the atmosphere was upbeat and the restaurant was busy. The Alchemist offers good food, fabulous cocktails and excellent service in a great environment. We’ll be returning for another lunch at The Alchemist and to watch Spinningfields go by, as soon as summer arrives!
Check out the menu and opening times at http://thealchemist.uk.com
By Anna-Louise Gilhooley
