Visiting different cities means trying out new vegan restaurants and cafes. My last visit to Manchester was pre-veganism, so imagine my excitement at having a raft of places to try out on a recent trip. I’d heard good things about VRev, a junk food diner located in the Northern Quarter of the area, and had a good hunt on Instagram to get inspiration for what to order.
The double-sided menu gave us too much choice, especially as we’d been greedily snacking on the train journey down. We started off by ordering milkshakes which, in hindsight, wasn’t the wisest move when our intention was to stuff our faces with V Rev’s famous take on classics like Mozzarella Sticks and Poutine. 
In Newcastle we have the excellent Junk It Up and Grumpy Panda serving us meat-free fried chicken and burgers, while the folks of Manchester flock here for its unique vegan take on the ‘Almost Famous’ experience which, oddly enough, is located not too far away. If any meat-eaters happen to be reading this, you absolutely must try the burgers there. 
We started by ordering a combination of sharing plates as starters. The Poutine was something I was desperate to try. What’s not to love about chips, gravy and cheese? I wasn’t overly fussed on the crispy fried onion topping however as it was quite herby, but each to their own. Texture wise it probably adds something to the dish, but not for me. The Mozzarella Sticks were oozy and hit the right spot. My own recipe needs some tweaking as their crispy crumb made such a difference. 
Gavin’s Southwest of Heaven was a beast of a patty, and we both felt it was too thick and heavy to properly emulate a chicken burger. It was quite spicy too, as a forewarning for any wimps like me. 
My choice of the Barbecute was every bit as impressive as I’d hoped it would be. I felt there could have been less sauce as it was difficult to really appreciate the seitan patty or non-dairy cheese they used, plus it was hard to eat without smearing condiments all over my face!
Yes, there was no dainty way to eat this mammoth undertaking. After the milkshake and starters I felt full and couldn’t finish the burger. The staff offered me a doggy bag, but as we were staying in a hotel that evening there was no way we could take the leftovers. For me the portions were generous, but it depends on your appetite. I’d definitely recommend leaving the milkshake as a dessert as I suspect that was my undoing.
I’m pleased to see restaurants like V Rev going from strength to strength, solidifying the notion that vegan food isn’t just a ‘fad’ and you can still indulge in a bit of naughty junk food even if you’re plant based. I’d pop V Rev on your ‘must visit’ list if you find yourself in Manchester soon.
Thanks for reading,
Pip x
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