Rustik

Open since 2015, this independent café-bar on Burton Road in the heart of West Didsbury has a cheeky Irish slant and offers “a good pint, mouthwatering food, live music and mighty craic” in rustic environs with lots of stripped wood, faux leather banquettes and bookshelf wallpaper.

Cappuccinos and lattes, loose leaf teas, fresh fruit smoothies and even the likes of mimosas and passionfruit bellinis accompany brunch, served from first thing until the early afternoon, offering up everything from vegan breakfast to black pudding hash with a poached egg and hollandaise. Beetroot hummus and lime avocado sits atop a slice of toasted sourdough and can be veggie, with feta, or purely plant based, as you fancy. The quesadilla combines bacon, chipolata sausage, egg and cheese, and comes with a white bean puree, and a selection of ciabatta sandwiches are rolled out from noon, with small plates joining the party at 2pm and providing sustenance well into the evening. On message with the Irish theme are Guinness-and-tamarind-glazed ribs plus rump steak with potatoes. A Middle Eastern flavour also creeps in with the likes of falafels and hummus, babaganoush and flatbreads, and lamb kofta and tzatziki, then there’s a bit of an American diner feel from sliders, mac’n’cheese hashbrown balls, and buttermilk chicken wings accompanied by your choice of sauce.

Talking of which, there’s plenty of that, from Camden Hells on draught to classic cocktails on a deal, “a fridge full of IPA’s” to proper cold Guinness. There are also three Irish whiskeys, lads, and the live music nights and Wednesday quiz aim to get you feeling as if you’ve been magicked off to Temple Bar. Slainte.

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