LET’S admit it, we were never great fans of the ill-fated Neighbourhood bar and its Spinningfields replacement BLVD (Boulevard) Manchester does give off the same celeb haunt vibe.
Still, now it’s officially launched, we do find its menu interesting, inspired apparently by New York’s cosmopolitan Meatpacking District. It ticks all the all-day boxes, with a globally-influenced menu served 12pm - 10pm. It features a combination of different cuisines including Japanese-inspired sushi, pan Asian, sashimi, seafood and meat dishes.
To start there are 13 elegant small plate dishes, including the BLVD signature ogura and green tea loaf, oysters (gin and tonic, spicy or ponzu), chicken bang tang dressed with lime and coriander, vegetable tempura with teriyaki and togarashi and sesame glazed pork with bao buns, soy and sesame.
Or try the BLVD black corn tacos with the choice of five fillings including lobster with asian slaw and Sriracha, Baja seabass with pickled green mango, pomegranate and lime, tuna with avocado and pickled cucumber, the black widow with soft shell crab and wakame salad and spicy black bean shiitake with coriander and cherry tomatoes.
The bring on sashimi and sea urchin caviar - sea urchin, beef, black truffle and wasabi, sushi burger with salmon, smashed avocado and Sriracha mayo, raw bar platter with tuna tartar, sushi roll, oysters, scallop, ceviche and crab tian and uramaki - salmon roe, cucumber and sesame.
Larger plates include lobster dan dan with brown butter truffle foam, miso marinated black cod with ginger soubise and crispy quinoa, tofu steamboat with bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and snow peas, teba shio chicken with cauliflower, shiitake mushroom and crispy kale and fillet steak with marrow bone, oyster sabayon, and girolle mushrooms.
For dessert, look for warm chocolate and peanut butter skillet brownie, rain cake two ways with raspberry, matcha and brown sugar syrup, cloudy cheesecake with strawberry and candy floss and the marshmallow campfire with meringue, chocolate and open flames.
It all sounds like culinary overload (and that’s before we consult the extensive cocktail list). Can they pull it off?
BLVD, The Avenue North, Manchester M3 3BZ. To showcase the menu, BLVD Manchester will offer an 50 per cent off all food from Friday, November 22cto Friday December 6. Pre-booking is required via [email protected] and subject to availability.