The Firehouse Manchester - By Day

The Firehouse Manchester, a cool exterior

I had visited Ramona, set just of Great Ancoats st in Manchester a bit back, on a day out with our Lil, she wanted pizza and I had seen that they offered Detroit style pizza, my interest was piqued, so we headed in after a day out shopping around the Northern Quarter. The thick doughy bases and grilled cheese toppings were just what I needed. So When I saw that the team behind Ramona were opening a new venue, alongside Ramona, again my interest was sparked, even more so, when I checked online and their soft launch week coincided with a day out in Manchester I had planned with a friend. To then check the socials and see that they had 50% off food and drink for the first week. I literally couldn’t book it fast enough.

An even cooler interior

I booked a mid afternoon slot on a Sunny Thursday. We headed in. I knew from my visit to Ramona that these guys did stuff well. The mainly outside space of Ramona is well done, stylish and cool. The Firehouse, I have to say, is even more well done. It’s set in an old MOT station, the garage feels are still there, with the corrugated roofs, bare brick, roller shutters and remnants of the old machinery used to lift cars and shit. In all honesty, I don’t know what the old machinery did, but it looks cool. The venue has high ceilings, the walls have been roughly whitewashed, it’s briggt, light and airy and has a super cool, but relaxed feel. It’s a strange way to describe it, but it doesn’t feel like you are in the middle of Manchester here, or even the UK. I don’t know why, but it has a kind of holiday feel to it. I really don’t know why, but it does and that’s a good thing, very good. I’ve actually never been to New York… It’s on the list, but I imagine it’s what it feels like in a cool New York venue, but not a regular one. A hip one, that only the cool people know about. Where all of the best people go.

Kids, small to large. All happy with their food choices

Now, this post is going to take a bit of a turn, simply because I liked the firehouse so much that I booked it again. My oldest, Joe was back over from Barcelona later that week, so because I enjoyed myself, I booked it again for the full family. So, this post will kind of combine the two. It can be tricky finding somewhere to go and eat that a whole family likes. Mum and Dads like a cool vibey place, so does Lil, but she’s a teenager, so what she likes can change dependant on something, I don’t know what. Anything, the moon, the wind, whatever really. Bertie just wants wifi and his food serving quick. Joe is cool as fuck and so he wants that on a plate. We all settled down, we were seated quickly and efficiently. I had been before, so knew what to expect. Clare was suitably impressed with my recommendation. The kids were happy, Joe was late, as usual, but when he got in, he simply said “it’s cool in here innit”. High praise indeed from the all black, little hat wearing techno boy.

Tender meat and a lush green salad

The food is grill based, with a peri peri chicken cooked over a flame kind of vibe. You choose your chicken, either a leg, breast or half chicken. Then you choose your pittas, which are fresh, super fluffy and baked in house, then you add your sides. It all comes out and you get stuck in and you crack on. It’s a simple concept that works. It works because it’s well done. So often, simple food gets cocked up by restaurants being a bit shit, but not here. Everything is cooked well, served well in a venue that’s done well. We went for a half chicken, a fair few pittas and between our few visits we’ve tried all of the sides. Our personal faves are the house salad. We do love a good salad and the crushed roast fingerling potatoes. I don’t think you’d get a top food critic describing them like this, but I’m not a top food critic, so I’m going to say it. They are fit, well fit in fact. Roast potatoes, nice and crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Just the right balance of the 2 parts. The magic comes in the truffle mayonnaise that they are drizzled with. It’s the shit, it really is. On our first visit, we only got one portion and honestly, it kicked off. Everyone wanted more, so we had to get more.

Big boy Joe is always missed and loved.

The choice of desserts is simple, it’s basically a baked chocolate pudding with ice cream. Or ice cream. Be warned if you’ve still got any room left, the pudding will finish you off (that sounds wrong, I know). It’s super rich. It’s like a giant brownie covered in candied peanuts and salted caramel sauce. The kids were initially moaning when I told them they should share, but they soon shut up, when the food coma kicked in after only a few mouthfuls.

I’ve been a few times for food, we also really love the place for a night out, read our nightime review of The Firehouse here.

Everytime I’ve been, it’s been great. I have since found out, that they’ve added some new items to the menu and I’ve also got a cheeky eye on their Sunday roasts, so it’s going to be hard but I’m going to have to book it again.