Being a student or a vegetarian (or a vegetarian student) when the Sunday roast siren sets off can sometimes be quite difficult, however, The Blue Pig, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, are providing the perfect alternative to a meaty Sunday dinner as well as saving you from lying in bed with an under cooked bowl of Beef SuperNoodles. Plan your weekend eating now before it’s too late!
Serving their Sunday roast menu all day every Sunday means The Blue Pig is busy. When I say busy I mean almost every seat was taken by somebody tucking into a delicious roast, sipping on a cocktail or simply smiling. An infectious setting can make all the difference when choosing where to dine and The Blue Pig – despite its short waiting time for a table – had exactly that. Busy for a reason. We’re already off to a good start.
Upon snagging a three-seater high table in the middle of the cosy eatery, we poured over the extensive drinks menu as well the Sunday roast pamphlet. Only one of us could stomach a cocktail at such an early hour, opting for a Madame No 2 (Absolute Vanilla, Cartron Frambois, Passionfruit, Pineapple and Bubbles), while me and my friend, Tia, played our stomachs safe and opted for Diet Pepsi. I’m definitely going to get to The Blue Pig Monday-Thursday Happy Hour (5pm-7pm) and try a cocktail for myself next week!
You can see the full Blue Pig Drinks Menu by clicking here.
(I(Image taken via The Blue Pig Official Website)
Although The Blue Pig is predominantly praised for its selection of alcoholic beverages it is Sunday and Sunday’s main attraction is of course the lunch (or the dinner, or the roast – however it tickles your fancy to say!) The menu itself has six offerings, one of which being the ‘Vegetarian Dish of the Week’ which I opted for straight away.
The Vegetarian Dish of the Week always varies. Sometimes it’s Puy Lentil and Spring Greens Sheepless Pie and other times it’s a Maple Roast Sweet Potato, Spinach and Quinoa (Kin-wah) Loaf (which is also vegan friendly.) However, The Vegetarian Dish of the Week I was gifted with was the Oyster Mushroom, Rocket and Garstang Blue Wellington. This was mouth-watering, full of texture and tasted absolutely divine!
The Veggie dish, just like the meat dishes on the Sunday Roast menu, come accompanied with: a gigantic Yorkshire pudding; roast potatoes; maple and thyme glazed carrot & kale (superfood alert); mange tout; courgette and a jus (the meat dishes come with ‘real gravy’) and…Breath. Phew.
Where meat is concerned, The Blue Pig offers a stunning four options in five different ways.
Number 1 – Slow Roast Rosemary and Lemon Thyme Studded Grass-Fed Lamb Shoulder. This – alongside the accompaniments listed above – comes in at £14.95, the most expensive item on the Sunday Roast menu however; I imagine it is totally worth every last penny.
Number 2 – Eight Hour Stout Braised 28 Day Aged Beef Brisket. You can never go wrong with Brisket, heck Reds True Barbeque on Manchester’s Lloyd Street is pretty much making a living due to the Brisket brigade trumping through its doors. This item is available to much on for £15.95.
Number 3 – Cider Braised Rare Breed Pork Belly with Crackling. If I was eating meat right now, the temptation of succulent crackling would be my utter calling. Ringing in with only a £12.95 wallet assassination, you’d be mad not to choose the pork!
Number 4 – Roast Corn-Fed Chicken with Spring Onion and Roast Garlic Stuffing. Yes, you did read that right spring onion and roast garlic stuffing indeed! This is what my friends both opted for, for their Sunday Lunch. The chicken was said to be moist and delectable – the skin was crispy and yummy and left two thirds of us very, very satisfied. The chicken is priced the same as the pork, at £12.95.
Number 5 – French Dip. Now the name for this is quite misleading unless you read the small print. Basically, you can have any one of the cuts of meat listed above (Pork, chicken, lamb or brisket) placed onto a locally baked brioche (butter) bun served alongside thyme roasted potatoes and a jug of The Blue Pigs real gravy. You’re getting a meat sandwich with sides for a steal of £7. Yes, £7! So if you fancied an alternative to the boring roast, The Blue Pig has your answer.
All in all, my Sunday Roast experience at The Blue Pig was faultless. The staffs attitude to work was above exceptional; funny, friendly, quirky and delivered amazing service. The drink (I’m told) was outstanding and I can speak for all three of us when I say the Sunday Roast was exactly what we needed, expected and could’ve only dreamt of.
Nice one Blue Pig, you’ve snagged yourself some new regulars!
Ella Scott
@ellalascott
ELLA LOUISE SCOTT 
Good!