A city centre lunch can quite often set you back the best part of a tenner. Federal’s French Toast comes in at £10, while The Green Lab’s colourful veggie hash is £12.50. But what if I told you one of my favourite midday meals costs less than a fiver and is just minutes from Piccadilly station?
The Piccadilly Approach may not at first appear to be the most appealing place to make a dinnertime pitstop, but there’s no denying that the likes of Greggs and Subway are cheap and cheerful. But, Mancunains, we can do better.
Look closer at the station approach and you’ll spot little gems like Piccadilly Tap and, the subject of this lunch-themed love letter, Black Sheep coffee shop, where you can get a cheap and tasty meal that’s far superior to a sausage roll or a meatball sub.
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The brand was founded in London in 2013 by university friends Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth, and has quickly built up an empire of dozens of popular sites around the UK.
There are actually four Black Sheep coffee shops in Manchester, including Piccadilly, Spring Gardens, St Peter’s Square and Deansgate. As such, it doesn’t matter where you are within the Mancunian Way, you’ll always be within walking distance of some good grub.
It’s fast becoming one of my favourite places to stop for a hot drink and a bite to eat, often attracting queues at busy times, particularly on weekends. I always order the exact same thing: a salt beef bagel and a cup of tea - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The bagel cost £4.69 and features stacks of salt cured beef, emmental cheese, pickles, mustard mayonnaise and sauerkraut on a toasted onion bagel. I had one very similar from a stall called Nana Fanny’s in London’s Borough Market, and was blown away at the time.
But you don’t need to get an extortionate train to enjoy such delights, because in Manchester, Black Sheep is giving the Big Smoke a run for its money. Beautiful blush-pink beef falls apart in your mouth, the cheese oozing out of the edges. The crunch of the pickles and onions adds texture to the chewy baked bagel, the mustard mayo offering an extra kick of flavour. What’s more is that Manchester’s is more than a quid cheaper, too.
The Black Sheep salt beef bagel is so delicious, each time I tuck into one, I wish I’d ordered two. It’s definitely a lunch you never want to end, but I know in my heart of hearts that I’d never actually finish two in one sitting. I am often tempted to order the second to take home for later though - they reheat pretty well on a toastie maker.
If you’re looking for something sweeter though, the shops also serve a selection of indulgent Norwegian Waffles which are made fresh on site, with toppings like Nutella and strawberry. The coffee shop even serves cocktails, including, of course, their own take on the Espresso martini, if you’re looking for a pick-me-up.
So the next time you’re running for the train and need something on-the-go to devour on your commute, or you’re looking for an affordable but substantial bite to fuel your day, this is where I’ll send you if you stop me in the street to ask where’s good for grub.
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