Welcome to Menagerie – where living walls, a giant birdcage, neon backdrops and a gigantic bath tub are all part of the furniture!
Menagerie’s continued success is all down to the vision of owner, founder and entrepreneur Karina Jadhav who wanted to create a space which combined food, art and performance. So while Menagerie is any Instagrammer’s idea of heaven, you can also expect innovative dishes, an awesome vibe and performances on the central runway from 7.30pm each evening.
With the Menagerie Road Map in place to ensure all guests are kept safe, Covid secure measures like giving your address and having your temperature taken on arrival are all part of the standard procedures.
Luxe Bible visited at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon when the vibe was pretty relaxed, with lots of tables enjoying bottomless brunch (two breakfast plates and unlimited drinks at just £45 for a two hour slot.) Late to the party, we decided to go with the all day menu which offers a massive selection of dishes from small to large plates, sushis, steaks and sides.
Menagerie Manchester – The Drinks
We started with some tasty cocktails to get the party started – the Love Potion No. 3 complete with sparklers was a super fruity combo of Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum, grenadine, Maraschino, pineapple and lime (£11.00.) And after seeing the girls on the next table with the most adorable Candy Man cocktails (which have hundreds and thousands sprinkled around the rim), we just had to try a couple of those too.
Menagerie Manchester – The Food
We nibbled on overflowing bowls of chili salted edamame (£5.50) and padron peppers (£3.50) while we perused the menu and decided finally, to share four or five plates for the full Menagerie experience.
What a feast it turned out to be. Chicken and waffles with maple syrup (£8) were packed full of scrumptious sugary goodness, while the duck croquettes with honey and truffle were insanely addictive and gone in a second (definitely my favourite). Tuna tacos were light and fresh, presented beautifully and stuffed with sashimi grade tuna tartare (£8.50 for 3), while the cauliflower mille foie (£14.00), despite being a veggie dish, was hearty and perfectly spiced.
As the restaurant started to fill up, we drained what was left of our cocktails and grabbed some photo opportunities at the bath tub on our way out – an area set up specifically for ‘the gram’.
Our afternoon at Menagerie was definitely a memorable one. It’s still one of Manchester’s must-visits even four years since its opening and the décor, opulent finishes and uber modern vibe ensure it’s still a hotspot for celebrities, bloggers and influencers alike. But let’s not lose sight of the fact their food is pretty amazing too. Click here to book.
