Cane and Grain Bar
Cane and Grain- think Coyote Ugly meets skater chic- rum, ribs, bourbon and beer is what they promise and on this they do deliver. This restaurant is nothing like anywhere else I have dined before. Deliberately distressed floors and bar, with walls adorned with crates or pieces of old skateboard, in a nod to the previous occupant- the legendary Northern Quarter skate shop and movie posters adorning the walls- it is a sight to behold.
A little off the beaten track- just off Manchester’s main shopping square of shops this is a place populated by customers who are looking for a little respite after a hard day of retail therapy.
We were greeted and served in The Rib Joint and Tap Room by Ashleigh who seated us by the window where we could watch passers by making their way down the narrow street.
Many people were enjoying the last rays of the sunshine with a cheeky alcoholic drink in the outside seating area of the restaurant.
I thought the menu would not be suitable for vegetarians as it celebrates everything meaty. However, there are some options on there if you are dining with a meat eater, but don't have the same passion for food on the bone. For those on the Atkins or Dukan diet or just a hearty appetite for sauced ribs then this is the place for you.
Everything was casually presented in enamel camping crockery- so the environment was very laid back and relaxed.
We enjoyed the Half Baby Back Pork Ribs in a Porter Beer BBQ sauce, which unlike in some rib joints was juicy with thick meat on the bone. Complete with an accompaniment of Grilled Corn and Smoked BBQ Butter, Tater Tots and House Fries and Tiki Salt- you get the real taste of Southern America from this food.
The Crispy Beef Salad with chillies, bean sprouts, radishes, coriander was given that extra zing with an orange and sesame BBQ sauce and the Caroline Slaw was a welcome change to the regular mayonnaise laced coleslaws, with only a light drizzle of oil dressing- it was fresh and light. Perfect for a summer's eve.
Unbeknown to use- the restaurant boosted three floors, through secret doorways. The First Floor Bar is a more intimate place for couples to sit down and enjoy a meal and cocktail together over candlelight, with antique glassware and copper bar tops, homemade bitters and syrups this is a little hideaway from the bustle of the big city.
The Liar’s Lounge on the second floor was again bejewelled in pieces of skateboard about the bar and is notorious for its huge range of cocktails paying homage to the award winning Tiki Dive Bar and Caribbean Rum Shop.
This is an example of Manchester’s first bar laboratory, led by Lyndon Higginson who is always evolving the drinks menu to keep up with the newest trends in the world of drinks.
This is definitely a place to start you night out or spend your entire evening in, with a little time on each floor to mix things up. Great for parties for those who get bored of the same drinks/ music or venue on a night out on the town- you don’t have to leave to find a change of pace.
The restaurant aims to keep abreast of the latest cocktails so you can be sure that there will always be a good selection and regular changes to the drinks menu. A great excuse to keep going back. 
If you are ever passing and fancy a bite to eat with a cocktail, or a new place to spend your weekends, I would urge you to try Cane and Grain for the experience and the good quality food and drinks packed with imagination and flair. It is deceptively small from the outside but has many surprises inside- all you need to do is just go in and discover them and you won't look back.
Tagged in Manchester