I NEVER thought it was possible. The stuff
dreams were made of. Not one, not two, but three meals in one day containing
mango. But I did it. I achieved the impossible dream. I mean, I don’t want to boast,
but breakfast – a mango. Lunch - Crayfish
salad with a mango dressing. Dinner – a dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with, wait for
it…mango.
Thus completing the mango trinity. The Trimango. I have been banging on about it ever since.
It’s the dessert that I really want to talk about though. Or at least the meal that said pudding topped off. It all happened at the Northern Quarter’s Tariff and Dale. Named after its location on the corner of Tariff Street and Dale Street, it is the project of Nick De Sousa, the guy behind the stalwart of Chorlton’s Beech Road – The Lead Station.
It’s a cool looking place. Very Northern Quarter. If you close your eyes and think “Norther Quarter bar” then you’ll more or less picture Tariff and Dale. Exposed brick walls. Check. Wooden floors. Check. Pendant lights. Check. Table in a disused lift shaft (below). Check… Hang on a minute. Table in a disused lift shaft? Correct.
Right, down to the food. As a side note, my companion for the meal shall remain anonymous. He was meant to be at work and had called in sick. I shall therefore refer to him as “my guest”.
Starters:
We had the Nocellara Olives (£3). These couldn’t have been any better. They were firm, creamy, nutty and full of flavour. With this we had the Caper and Olive flat bread. (£3.50) No complaints here. My word, the capers. Big, juicy bad boys. I could have just eaten a bowl of them on their own. It also came with a selection of oils – including sun blushed tomato and thyme, lemon and basil and chilli.
Mains:
Flat Iron Steak with Ale Reduction and Confit Potato (£16). Often this cut can be slightly tough but served medium rare this was beautifully pink and juicy. It was packed full of flavour and seasoned nicely. My guest ordered the Poached Chicken Breast with Oxtail, Anya Potatoes and Mushrooms. (£14.50) This was perfect. Everything I would want from a chicken dish – bags of flavour and the poaching allowed it to be juicy and tender. Nothing bland about this chicken option. I wish I had ordered that chicken. But then I always do that.
Dessert
My guest had the Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska (£5.50) - Yes, Yes, Yes. Have this if you go. I repeat. Have this. I wish I had had. It was a fluffy, delicious creature that had clearly been created with an expert hand and a passion for making sure that desserts are not an after thought.
Instead, I ordered the White Chocolate Cheesecake (£5.50), which was pleasant and balanced. But really it wasn’t a show stopper. Just a cheesecake. BUT – it did have the Mango sauce.
Thus allowing me to go Tri-mango, which as you may have gathered, I’m chuffed to bits about.
Tariff and Dale’s sausage rolls are good too – as I think has been noted before on Taste. You must try them. My favourite was the vegetarian option – Mushroom and Lancashire Blue (£4.50). I’ve never preferred a veggie option to anything in my life. So it must be good.
A couple more things to mention.
1. There isn’t much on the whole menu that costs over a tenner.
2. The staff were great. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
3. There is a great selection of beers.
4. My guest was Steven Lindley and he works for TJ Plumbers in Cheadle. Sorry mate. I don’t like lying.
And finally, tucked away from the main bar and restaurant area there’s a pool table. This may or may not be to your liking. But I love it. Over recent years it’s become more and more difficult to find a decent pool table in Manchester city centre. So good on you Tariff and Dale.
Tariff and Dale, 2 Tariff Street, Manchester, M1 2FN. 0161 710 2233. http://tariffanddale.com @TariffDale