We were told about the Angel by someone who writes restaurant reviews, but it took us a while to get there. I'm so glad we did. Yes, it's a small local pub in a bit of a down at heel Manchester (but with lots of new apartments going up- is someone trying to gentrify Ancoats?) Yes, the decor reflects this. But frankly, I didn't care in the slightest because the food was excellent, the beer (I'm told) was good & the service friendly. The menu was short, but still gave me problems deciding what to have. It was supplemented by some daily specials, which included Spam fritters! (Sorry, didn't get round to them, got stuck at the Morecambe Bay shrimp fishcake). We had our tame vegetarian with us. She's a good barometer as to whether a restaurant's good, based purely on what's available for her - she gets bored with pasta etc, which, as she points out, she can make at home for a fraction of the price. Although there was only one possible starter and one main course on the menu, she couldn't have been happier than with her goats cheese crumpet followed by potato cakes with mushrooms. Oh, the carnivores were kept happy too - black pudding starter for my other half & then fishy main courses - fish stew with spinach for him, and a whole sea bream for me. We had a side order of chips and vegetables. All three of us found that one portion of each was enough to keep all of us happy. We managed (barely) the Eccles cakes for dessert, and staggered out full. And we'll go back.

Lizzies Mum

We went on Saturday 8th August. The angel is a contradiction in terms. Initial feelings were that the ambiance wasn't great, it smelt abit fusty and damp and it looked shabby. We were taken upstairs which again had little atmosphere, even the music playing wasn't great. I think they had the radio on which was weird. The menu was short and concise which I like because you're not overly baffled with choices, I started with the Morecambe Shrimp Fishcake and my husband went for the Duck Liver pate, both were taste sensations, only slight complaint was that the toast was burnt and it could have done with either another slice of toast or less pate as the amount of pate was uneven. For main I had the chicken breast with black pudding and it was absolutely incredible, so fresh and tasty and the gravy was really rich and concentrated. It came with the biggest slab of black pudding and a lovely layered potato (although we were pigs and had chips too!). My husband went for the ribeye and it was cooked to perfection, amazing!! We shared a bottle of Chilean white wine which was lovely but the portions were so substantial that we couldn't fit anything else in us which was disappointing because we wanted to try the famous Eccles cake pud. The staff were lovely, the girl that looked after us had obviously tried the menu because she could tell us about it and she was friendly and attentive. The food came within a decent time and we feel neither rushed or abandoned. The only gripe we can have is that the place is so shabby, you could say that we should just concentrate on the food but as an overall event, the decor really lets it down. The high standard of food deserves a lovely setting. We turned up dressed to the nines on a Saturday night for a rare night out and felt really out of place, it feels like the sort of place you'd go to for Sunday lunch and a relaxed pint but then you would probably balk at the price on a Sunday afternoon as 2 starters, 2 mains and a bottle of wine set us back £60. A lotmore effort on the decor required but food is second to none!

Laddi

Well balanced, excellent food.

Mmmhumous

I could quite easily wax lyrical about the talent and creativity that Robert shows in his menu for far longer than I care to write and certainly for far longer than you’d care to read…... However Robert Owen-Brown may be the Angel of the north, but his front of house staff are beyond redemption! This was our second visit to the Angel, or more accurately, the Angel’s second chance. Like many other customers on our first visit we’d experience a few mix-ups and just like those other customers, we’d put them down to teething trouble. So after a four month gap, we were sure they’d have been resolved. I fortunately, was lucky enough to be notified payment was still by cheque or cash only, so I came prepared. My party arrived 15 minutes early for our table. We were seated at our table after spending a few minutes helping the staff find our booking (which eventually was done by spotting my mobile number in their diary - next to a name that who ever had taken the booking had managed to invent). After two truly wonderful courses, we were presented with the desert menu and after a few minutes, the waitress returned to take our order, or so we thought. We were actually informed that we weren’t allowed to have dessert, as they needed the table back in five minutes for another party. After going back ‘to check’ a second member of staff came to the table to reiterate that they needed the table back and told us that we had been informed that this would be the case when we booked the table. Having booked the table myself, we weren’t. We were then told that it was house policy to only allocate an hour and a half per service. Weather the waiting staff had simply forgot to mention the 90 minute turn around on tables (both on the phone and when we were being seated) and were then too inept to perform their regulation 90 minute service even with the extra fifteen minutes we had given them by arriving early, or they had invented the whole story to cover-up a double booking. They stood there and lied to us. I can forgive mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s how you handle them that matters. When I get something wrong, I hold my hand up, I don’t lie to cover my own arse! Robert, over the years, myself and guests have provided you with well over a hundred covers at all three of your Mancunian pubs. Sadly, courtesy of you staff’s inexcusable behaviour, tonight’s visit will be our last! Needless to say when we were asked by the maitre d' if “everything was OK” I’m sure you can imagine our response.

Claydy

We went to the Angel on Saturday 20th December. The pub hasn't changed much inside since the beer house days, and neither has the quality of the beer, both excellent. There was six in our group and we tried a variety of dishes. The salmon was fantastic, well cooked and fresh, the beef was succulent, chips are moreish, dessert are a triumph - we tried the Lemon tart and this was refreshing and light. We will definitely be returning. You really should try this place, is a true Mancunian establishment with excellent food, good beer and a reasonable wine list. Huzzah

Graeme

Great to see Robert Owen Brown back in town and doing what he does best. The Lancashire hot pot was comfort food with a capital C while the fish and chips were crisp, tasty and generously portioned. For dessert I was drawn to the eccles cake with butterscotch sauce and was not disappointed. The Angel was quiet on our weekday early afternoon visit but I can see it getting very busy most of the time.

Angel Pub File

Fact File

Main dining room capacity	36
Best seat	Next to fire in the winter
Max group booking size	36
Function rooms available	Yes
Function rooms details	80 Standing
Outside dining space	Yes
Outside dining spaces	20

Disabled Facilities

Wheelchair access throughout facility	Yes
Dedicated disabled parking	Yes

Additional Information

Wifi	no wi fi
Payment by credit card	Yes
Payment by debit card	Yes
Drink without food	Yes
Separate bar with seating	Yes
Covered smoking area	covered area without heating

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