REVIEW: KIKI Manchester – Delicious, Divine, Then You Can Disco!

KIKI in the Gay Village delivers some surprisingly great dishes, says James Cunningham…

The Gay Village has seen some revitalisation this year. Earlier this year I wrote about the possible renaissance coming in the village and several months later I am pleased to see so much happening. More and more food outlets opening in one area can bring a new wave of interest-just look at the Corn Exchange and the new openings on King Street. Canal Street appears also to be upping its game. New openings mean existing outlets must look at their own offering.

“KIKI should
not be under
estimated!”

In its time, number 4 Canal Street has been a Slug & Lettuce and Take That’s former manager Nigel Martin Smith’s Queer.

In 2013 it became KIKI, bringing a new energy and vibe to Canal Street. 2015 has seen them bring a new food offering courtesy of their friends at Northern Duck (whose head chef has worked in Michelin starred kitchens! Yes! In KIKI!)

I popped in early last Friday for a bite and I was impressed. Let me say here and now, it’s a bar not a restaurant, but the guys and girls of Northern Duck are helping KIKI to deliver restaurant quality food!

There aren’t any starters as such on the summer menu (a new menu launches next week) but we had a Greek mezze platter to share and this was a treat! My companion said the hummus was stunning, the salad was crisp and perky, and the couscous totally unexpected! The falafel bites were perfectly crispy but fluffy inside and had a nice kick to them.

For mains we decided to put the kitchen to the test and order a steak and there were no regrets.I had an 8oz sirloin that was thick, tasty, and perfectly cooked perfectly. Supplied by local butchers Cheshire Foods, the steak was delicious! The Béarnaise sauce was equally delicious. My companion ordered a rib eye that he found just as tasty, his only criticism being that the Diane sauce was a bit too spicy.

Our other dining companion had spaghetti carbonara which featured perfectly al dente spaghetti, a lovely rich creamy texture and tasty crispy bacon on top!

Unfortunately, we were too stuffed for dessert but there we loved the dishes we had, and all washed down with the best Pinot Grigio I’ve tasted on Canal Street!

We were quite late dining so it was clear KIKI were gearing up for another fun Friday night – a nice bonus if you are looking for a full night of entertainment. Daytimes, however, bar can show off the huge windows that are a hangover from the building’s industrial past. These gorgeous buildings alongside the Rochdale Canal are part of Manchester’s rich heritage and the large outside terrace mean you can look up and enjoy the magnificent architecture whilst tucking in so great food, so enjoy these mild autumnal evenings whilst you can!

KIKI should not be under estimated. Thanks to the girls at Northern Duck, KIKI have upped their game. The food is fantastic and add to this a 50% off food on Wednesdays, I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a midweek treat! And I hear a new Steak Night Offer will offer two of those juicy bad boys and a bottle of wine for just £20 so watch this space! They also have a fantastic array of entertainment 7 days a week.

HOT TIP. KIKI do a tasty traditional Sunday roast so you can enjoy a late afternoon roast and then stick around for Showtime Sundays with the sensational Divina DaCampo from 7.30pm.

Contact & location

4 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3HE

www.kikimanchester.com

@KIKIManchester1