The Social

You guys all know already how much I love the Urbis, right? (
) I love it so much that they even thanked me on their Twitter page for my Unilocal review. Well, I could only return this favour by eating at their fabulous café. And do you know what? It’s great as a standalone venue, and makes the Urbis even better. How is this possible?
The Social is a great place to relax. If you’re just after a snack the cakes are baked fresh every day, with the likes of scones with clotted cream and jam (my dad would be there like a shot), danishes, toasted teacakes with jam and butter and brownies. You can get all your usual coffee fixes alongside hot chocolate with marshmallows and a range of organic teas, which is great for me as 2010 seems to be the year I’m addicted to all things, green, jasmine, camomile and vanilla. Sandwiches are definitely the draw though, with daily specials, Moroccan chicken on flatbread, and the famous fish finger sandwich which is my favourite and has to be tried to be believed.
As well as this there are more substantial hot meals like burgers, pastas, fish and chips and sausages and mash as well as soup of the day with fresh bread, and there’s a range of wine and beer to go with them. And what a light, clean, pretty and airy space in which to enjoy all that, in one of Manchester’s finest museums. Spend the day at the Urbis and have lunch at the Social… I promise you shall not regret it.

The Social is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat, especially in the summer when you can grab a seat outside, and is not as expensive as you’d think. In the morning they serve organic porridge, cured bacon buttys, smoothies, great coffee and pastries, all for under £2.
Alternatively you can really indulge with an Eggs Benedict (my benchmark of a good café) at £4.50 or the full English (Dry cured bacon, Cumberland sausage, handmade potato rosti, house baked beans — borlotti, butter & haricot blanc — with vine tomatoes & herbed field mushrooms) for £6.50.
As you can probably gather, I’ve yet to dine here at lunch, but if the breakfasts are anything to go by, you’re onto a winner.

Fantastic relaxed café-​restaurant with a real chef behind the walls!
Food is at very good prices as it is subsidised! And delicious too. good service too.