By Chris Hemmings
In the past few years, Manchester has been awash with meat. Be it pulled or sticky, there is a meaty establishment to suit everyones taste - or so we thought. But the citys newest carnivorous venture is Turtle Bay, with the strap line; Rum & Jerk. Touché, Manchester.
Jerk chicken is by no means enjoying the renaissance of barbecue, but a gourmet Jamaican joint has clearly been missing from our fair city. Prior to Turtle Bay, jerk was mainly served in a take-away tub, with a can of Ting. Happily, the Ting is still on offer, but now its served with Wray and Nephew and lime, over ice. Just as it should be.
Carnival vibes
On opening night, with a packed house and a live band, the atmosphere was like a Saturday at Notting Hill Carnival. Street food, crafted with care for a knowing audience, served with lashings of cocktails - enjoyed responsibly, of course.
The menu, while predictable for a jerk spot, is diverse enough to suit any palate. For those without asbestos-mouth, there are subtle flavours available alongside the more fiery dishes. While the wings, curried goat and salt-fish tick all the authenticity boxes, theres a phenomenal steak option to ease you into the experience. Water melon and plantain puds leave you light enough to get on your feet. As you rightly should, because whats the point in going Jamaican without vibing out a little?
Turtle Bay, 33-35 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 4WB. Tel: 0161 236 4101. www.turtlebay.co.uk