Black Dog Ballroom (NWS), Manchester – Review

The Black Dog Ballroom (New Wakefield Street) is one of the best night spots in Manchester. This brand new bar is styled in the fashion of New York`s Downtown speakeasies and is a really smart affair. Set across a couple of floors, there is an upper eating and drinking area which is light and airy (complete with roof terrace), there is a eating area below and also a row of bookable pool tables. The décor for these floors is slick and sharp, yet unpretentious and inviting. Traditional wooden flooring and low-lighting pave the way booths and American style seating. Although simple, the effect is pretty impressive and we appreciated the attention to detail.

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We arrived early to sample some of the menu and we were really impressed by both quality and value. The food follows the atmosphere set by the décor and staff; unpretentious but of high quality. To kick off with and to get our protein fix, we tried the `Meat Platter` (£8.95) – a selection of Chilli Nachos, onion rings, chicken strips, shredded steaks, BBQ sauce, salsa, guacamole and sour cream. This hulk of a platter was more than enough for two people and the shredded steaks and Chicken strips really hit the spot. This was a great sharer for a group of friends and made for fantastic social eating.

All of the mains we tried were also top notch; not to mention the juicy and tender Gourmet Burgers (£6.95). Complete with all the typical American burger trimmings, the burgers ranged from local Chesire beef to Spicy Bean. For those looking after their waste-line we also would recommend the Mojito Jerk Chicken (£5.95), which featured Chicken marinated in jerk seasoning, rum and lime juice. The flavour combination really worked and the rum sang through. To change things up I went for the lamb kebab Skewers, which were glazed in a classic Jack Daniels glaze, served with salad & fries. You can really see the hearty American roots coming through the menu and it was a treat to try.

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The Black Dog Ballroom also does a fine selection of cocktails and we tried two in the bar downstairs which really caught our imagination. The `Bloody Black Dog`, a twist on the Bloody Mary, blended Finlandia Vodka, tomato juice, lemon, spice. This drink is perfect for a winter`s night, as the spice adds a fantastic warmth to the drink. For those looking for something a little fresh, the `Candy Apple` unites Barcadi`s new spiced rum Oakheart with caramel, apple juice, lime juice. I love citrus based cocktails and this was brilliant.

Later on in the evening the bar burst into life and there was a really warm buzz around the place. Not only is the bar itself a great setting, but even in its infancy it seems to attract a positive and relaxed crowd. To top all this off, the staff are friendly, efficient and good fun to be around – so thank you to them!

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When we are next in Manchester we will be making an appearance at the Black Dog Ballroom. Please also be aware that there is also a Black Dog Ball Room in the Northern quarter of the city and we hear just as good things about this one! Please click here for more information: http://www.blackdogballroom.co.uk/

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