Our Kelly Gilmour-Grassam heads down to Vivid Lounge, Manchester in search of local beer, Thai food, and sweet treats. And she is not disappointed!
Rating:
In a Word:
Gem
Cuisine:
Experimental Thai food
Appeals to:
Anyone seeking to impress their date with a small, intimate restaurant that they won’t have been to before.
Thai-food lovers looking for an authentic taste of home, in a café/restaurant that doesn’t charge extortionate prices for the privilege.
Atmosphere:
Take a 15-minute stroll away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester city centre, and you’ll find Vivid Lounge nestled on the corner by Islington Mill. Arriving on a Friday night, we found diners toasting the last glimpses of sun in the outdoor terrace, and tucking into food inside.
We were given a warm welcome by manager Fran; it soon become clear that she, like the rest of the team, is part and parcel of Vivid Lounge’s popularity. Fran greeted many of the diners on first name terms, making you feel at home in her cosy café-restaurant. Combined with the ambience created by the upbeat jazz-funk music and urban pendant lights, this small eatery on the outskirts of Manchester had an irresistibly intimate feel – the perfect way to start a weekend.
The Drinks
Vivid Lounge is a café by day, restaurant by night. Bearing this in mind, they have found a happy balance between the two that allows them to make the transition with ease. This much was clear from the drinks selection.
As well as the usual range of soft drinks, they had an interesting array of non-alcoholic drinks for those who begrudge settling for tap water when staying sober. And of course, no café is complete without a strong selection of tea and coffee, with a quaint selection of gifts available to take home too.
But it was a Friday night, so we focused on their fantastic local and international beers, ales and ciders. We opted for a Mancunian brew before moving onto organic wine later in the evening.
The Food
It’s always reassuring to know that the chefs cooking your food are from the country whose cuisine they specialise in. All of Vivid Lounge’s kitchen team are from Thailand originally; head chef Dan explained how he takes these authentic flavours and puts an experimental twist on classic dishes.
You only had to look at the menu to see what he meant: Thai Sour Sausage and Pork Liver were just some of the interesting options available. For those of you who get bored of lunch easily, their daytime menu includes some innovative dishes such as Halloumi Thai Twist and Pork Satay Skewers.
The Starters
Shiitake Spring Rolls – £4.95
Spring rolls can be the best or worst thing on an Asian menu: too small, and they risk being all pastry and no flavour; too big, and they often end up being a soggy mess of ingredients. These shiitake spring rolls were thick but perfectly formed, just the right size to eat with your fingers and bursting full of bean sprouts and mushrooms. The filo pastry was snap-crisp, for a moreish crunch when you bit into the centre. Served with homemade chilli sauce, they were ideal for dipping.
Crispy Aubergines – £4.95
Whilst I’ll admit we envisaged something along the lines of fritters when ordering these, they didn’t disappoint. Encased in a light batter to give them the ‘crisp’, underneath they were succulent and juicy, without the greasy taste that you might expect from deep frying such a soft vegetable. Coated in sesame and Nigella seeds, these baby aubergines were again wonderful with a dunk in the chilli.
Special: Sweetcorn Fritters – £4.95
Dan insisted we try the latest addition to the menu along with the starters, and we weren’t going to refuse! Sure enough, the sweetcorn fritters were a fantastic starter, full of flavour. The magical addition of Kaffir lime leaves gave these chunky golden nuggets an unexpected freshness that made them so memorable.
The Mains
Beef Massaman – £9.95
Served simply in a bowl with a neat pile of Jasmine rice and a generous roti on the side, I wasn’t surprised to learn that the Beef Massaman is one of the most popular dishes on the menu. Slow-cooked with thick hunks of meat and ever-so-soft potato, the soupy sauce made this curry more of a comforting Thai casserole; plenty of pour onto my rice, and even some to mop up with my roti at the end.
An aromatic dish with a hint of cinnamon and some delicious crunchy sprinkles on top, it was a special dish that at under a tenner for the meal and sides, offered great value for money too.
Stuffed Squid – £8.95
I love restaurants that put together ingredients you’d never have dreamed of combining at home. So my partner and I couldn’t wait to try the squid stuffed with pork. Elegantly presented with a colourful yellow curry broth and a hint of greenery from the pak choi, this was a fragrant dish that worked surprisingly well. Pan-fried, the squid was thankfully just the right consistency, whilst the pork mince filling was well-seasoned and added a British twist to the Thai flavours.
Dessert
Nut Job Brownie
Feeling as stuffed as the squid we had just devoured, we couldn’t manage a dessert each, but somehow found room for a few bites of brownie. After all, almost every one of the locals opted for a pudding, a sign that Vivid Lounge has a strong reputation for its baked treats.
With a range of cakes and biscuits to choose from, we shared the nut job brownie. A rich and, as the name suggests, nutty traybake, the peanut butter gave it a gooey consistency that was washed down perfectly with our wine as a way to round off the meal.
The Verdict:
Vivid Lounge is a hidden gem that you’re unlikely to stumble across by chance. But make the effort to walk a little outside of the city centre, and you’ll be rewarded with authentic Thai food, an invigorating atmosphere and top service, all at reasonable prices. As a restaurant, Fran, Dan and the team are on to a winning recipe. However, we have no doubt that their breakfasts and lunches are just as sensational – I guess we’ll have to go back to find out!
The Details
149A Great Ancoats Street
Manchester
M4 6DH
0161 272 8474