The Manhattan: chic, funky, cool and fun

Just opened by dynamic drinksologist Johnathan Haggerty, it aims to shake up local nightlife and stir in a new blend of funky fun.

It’s a bar primarily but not just your average bar. Johnny, who has worked in the Europa and Muriels in Belfast, is a top class drinks smith, and can conjure a myriad of cocktails.

The Manhattan also offers an exciting lunch and evening menu. Turkish chef John-Can Gurel is bringing 25 years of mastering culinary delights from around the world and creating mouth-watering European cuisine.

On Friday evening we started our meal with a delicious Bellini, a cocktail of home made peach puree and peach schnapps topped up with prosecco.

For starters I had the beer battered mushrooms served with a crispy salad and garlic aoili while Jim had homemade curry and parsnip soup served with a crusty roll. Both dishes were awarded top marks.

We were seated at a booth of old church pews and the walls which have been wallpapered with front covers of Time Magazine proved to be an interesting talking point.

I chose the pan fried red mullet served with crushed baby boiled potatoes, baby leek and rocket pesto as a main course and I certainly was not disappointed. Jim had the pan fried bacon and parmesan stuff chicken served with creamy mushroom tagliatelle pasta and there wasn’t a morsel left on his plate.

We couldn’t resist treating ourselves to the Cocktail of the Day called Dark and Stormy an intriguing cocktail of dark rum, ginger beer and Angostura bitters.

I rounded off the meal with the mouthwatering homemade raspberry panacotta while Jim had the hot chocolate fudge cake served with vanilla ice cream. Yummy.

And all to the jazzy sound of Tommy McNulty who took part in the Irish version of The Voice.

Dinner is from 5 to 8.30pm and lunch from 12 to 3pm.

The Manhattan has a creative vibe, cool and funky. It has an air of intelligent chic but yet it doesn’t feel as if it is venue which takes itself too seriously.

Johnny sees The Manhattan as an alternative venue to clubbing or the pub and I would highly recommended it.