Food to pray for – Black Friar Pub re-opens with heavenly dishes
| 19th August 2021
Food to pray for – Black Friar Pub re-opens with heavenly dishes: Once a traditional pub, Black Friar Pub has re-opened after 15-years and VIVA loved every second of our lunch there.
It’s been given a sympathetic and charming refurbishment that marries its heritage with a cool new vibe that includes a huge and fabulous sun terrace (for when there is sun) all cosy crooks and crannies with comfy vibrant squishy seating and a stunning interior that maxes out the space.
There’s greenery aplenty bringing the outside inside and vice versa, a huge open kitchen where you can see the team led by Head Chef Ben Chaplin, who was previously at 20 Stories, doing their work, fabulously attentive staff and a great cocktail list as well as other more traditional booze.
Legend has it the pub was built by the Blessed Benedict Farcire, a Benedictine monk who passionately promoted the magical healing powers that breaking bread and sharing a drink could deliver in bringing communities and people together.
Food to pray for – Black Friar Pub re-opens with heavenly dishes
He searched for the perfect site and had an epiphany in 1886 in Manchester where he opened The Black Friar pub (actually in Salford before you shout), drawing inspiration from all the pubs, brews and food he’d encountered on his travels.
That spirit still thrives and you can go for pub snacks, just for drinks or the whole restaurant experience which we did and loved the dishes, where many are unique. Bread came in a sack which was a little odd, but scrummy and starters kick off at £9.
I won the food ordering, inviting envy from the table with my goats curd flan, this was historic, huge and creamy, a triumph of a dish that’s worth a return on its own.
That’s not say that the other starters weren’t good, they were, crab was tangy and tasty, whilst a slither of duck, a juicy dream.
Onto mains, and again I won, choosing a monkfish and longuestine bouillibase, a perfect taste of somethere other than Salford blending perfectly the saltiness of the catch with the smooth and spicy sauce. Halibut with lobster ravioli was a very close second whilst lamb, for the Welsh one, was a meaty treat.
Food to pray for – Black Friar Pub re-opens with heavenly dishes
Pudding (from £8) was also superb and I adored the mini donuts with marzipan ice cream while the others tucked into cheese board they cooed over.
We washed this down with cocktails to start (from £9 and we recommend the Resurrection, based on tequila) while wine flowed (from £24 a bottle) and you can get draught of course with a pint of Boddies just £4.
Managing Director Neil Burke told VIVA: “The Black Friar has a lot of historical significance in Salford, everyone who used to frequent it has a story to tell! We want it to have that impact again, becoming everyone’s local but also a real destination, where you’re guaranteed really good food, a welcoming atmosphere and a place where you feel just at home nipping in for a pint as you do sitting down for a fantastic three course dinner.”
Black Friar also offers private dining on its second floor and the pub menu looks great too, with hero dishes including fish and chips (beer battered, obviously).
Food to pray for – Black Friar Pub re-opens with heavenly dishes
You can just pop in for a pint without a reservation but bookings are advised.
VIVA Verrdict: Divine!
The Blackfriar, 41-43 Blackfriairs Road, Salford, M3 2DD.