Room Restaurant

Lunch and evening meals are very different. As the lunch time period was fairly quite the service was fantastic and the menu reasonably priced for the time of day. Admittedly we had the hi-life card but it was good anyway. The evening was the opposite. Food wasn't great. I had a fillet steak priced about £22 which was tiny. Gaucho Grill was miles better. Service was good once you are seated although we did have to wait in the expensive bar for while, even though we had booked. So for lunch fine but have a sandwich and plenty of money if you're after an evening meal.
Comment on this reader review

Adam
Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I went here for an impromptu meal for my birthday on a week night in February. Overall was disappointed. The food was overpriced for the tiny portions we got. I didn't like having to ask for a translation of everything on the menu - 'what's the macaroni cheese?' 'well actually it's an olive based dish' - oh how witty and ironic. Not.

Luckily the food was delicious - the one good thing this place has got going for it and it's being sabotaged by the stupid and frustrating menu.

The service was poor - there were items on our bill which we didn't have and the waiter was rude to my friend. Lovely venue but would not go back. Ever.
Comment on this reader review

Kimberley
Thursday, August 07, 2008

I was unfortunate enough visit this restaurant on a saturday night - which had been booked two months previously for my birthday. All I can say was I wish i hadn't. I had been recommened by someone else who I have since told of my experience and has also decided he wont be returning to this restaurant based on my experience there.

After a very long wait for the table and drinks ordered from the bar - which I would have thought would have been ready after having booked so far in advance and they were aware that it was a special occaision - they had run out of most of the starters (it was 10pm by this time). The vegetarian selection was very poor and they had barely anything left of that. My friends had to cobble together a meal from the remaining starters and a selection of side dishes.

The cocktail menu although it had a wide range was not descriptive enough about the ingredients of the drinks and some came with added cream - which meant that two of the party couldn't drink them. What was most dissapointing was the attitude of the management to the complaints, we were first told that they would contact us 'next tuesday' rather than deal with it on the night. This is ridiculous. We were told it was a busy bar and that the waiting time for drinks was about average - which is fine if you want to die of thirst. We were told that it was late so they had run out of things - i.e. dont book a table after 9pm because they wont have anything left.

These were all excuses instead of what I would expect would be an apology and perhaps some discount from the bill. Previous reviews mention arrogance of the staff, I would say this was certainly the case of the manager, however the serving staff were lovely and helpful, quite a feat when you have been faced with dissapointing so many people.

The menu for the meat eaters of the group was adequate - although the steak was perfectly cooked - I didnt feel it was value for money, £19 for a sirloin steak and about 15 chips and tiny pot of what was clearly pre-packaged sauce is daylight robbery. I have recently paid less for the same thing in Paris cafe on the Champs Elysee and had a far better dining experience! The food in Room was overpriced and pretentious, a fine dining experience it is not. There are far better places to eat in Manchester, I would give this one a miss.
Comment on this reader review

Samantha Kay, Leek
Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Having booked for a friend’s 30th Birthday for a group of 10 of us I had high expectations taking into account the location - in the old Reform Club and the prices. To begin with we were kept waiting 40 minutes for our drinks from the bar while we waited for our table which wasn’t ready, not a good start but forgivable as we had time to appreciate the grandeur of the building and the sophisticated decor. It soon became apparent that the decor was the only thing sophisticated about the place. By the time we ordered many choices of starter had run out with some people left with their 3rd choice. The menu itself was rather uninspired and naive with very little vegetarian choice. We weren't told what accompanied the main courses and ended up ordering unnecessary side dishes at extra cost (The Kiev comes with a small but adequate portion of mashed potato with broccoli). The food itself was fine but I've had much better within the same price bracket elsewhere. Unbeknown to us the Cocktail Bar which is housed within the same room, plays host to Saturday night revellers, playing loud music typical of an average city pub - that coupled with having to sit adjacent to a Hen Party wearing flashing phalluses on their heads made for a particularly unsophisticated evening. When we complained the management were more patronising than apologetic. They did provide a bottle of champagne and a dessert for the birthday girl - though this was small recompense for a once in a lifetime event that was made mediocre. If you're looking for a pretentious over priced Brannigans then try Room. If however you want sophistication with dinner discourse, then I would recommend you try any of the many other fine restaurants Manchester has to offer.
Comment on this reader review

Dominic Barber
Sunday, May 04, 2008

Went to Room last night. Awful. It is phenominally overpriced for what it is. There is almost a 650% mark up on the price of the food and drinks which is just taking the p*ss out of people. The greed of the management means that they let too many people to service the ones already inside. There are long waiting times and the 'atmosphere' just means the bar is cramped and you wait ages for drinks. They've bitten off more than they can chew, which is more than I can say for us, the £18.50 steak came with a bowl of about ten chips and nothing else. The so called 'twist' to the menu meant that you didn't get what you asked for.......instead of a buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad..it was half a tomato and a pile of gorgonzola?????

The menu descriptions don't actually tell you what things are. The manager seems to think we're mind readers!

Only 3 toilets for such a massive venue meant that you could be away from your table queuing for 15 minutes. They were dirty and stank.

It's a lovely building, I suggest you go in and have a look around and then go and find somewhere else to eat. There's plenty more out there who aren't aren't trying to part fools and their money.
Comment on this reader review

Annette MacCarthy
Sunday, May 04, 2008

Ate there on a Friday evening after finding it by chance. The building itself is outstanding and the ambience was excellent.

Other older reviews mention arrogant staff. This is complete nonsense and those people should go again. There is no service charge for small groups and the price of the food is average to good but ALL their main courses are £7 prior to 7pm ( Mon to Sat ! ).The Quality of the food is fantastic although the portions were only just adequate.Highly recommended.
Comment on this reader review

J. English
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Room is thoroughly recommended. Often delivered with an unusual 'twist', the food is imaginately excellent, with service to match.
Comment on this reader review

Brian Clamp
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I went here for a meal with my partner and it was absolutly fantastic, every part from entering to leaving. Service was fast and the food was outstanding. My partner had fillet of beef, which was cooked to perfection and i had fish which also tasted fantastic. Dessert was also great which was creme brulee and cheesecake.A thouroughly enjoyable experience. We will most definatley be returning.
Comment on this reader review

Sunday, November 25, 2007

I have been going to Room since it first opened and have always had a fantastic time , the food is fun and very tasty , the atmosphere and ambience of the venue are fantastic , and the staff are all very friendly and make you feel welcome every time.

I have also used the restaurant for company dinners and to entertain clients , I have always found this very rewarding with every new "roomie" impressed with the experience.

The half price menu before 7 at £7 is outstanding , and unlike many other establishmenst, they do not cut the portions to reflect the special offer (Mentioning no names la Tasca / La Vina)

all in all you will have a fantastic time at the place and get good value for money.

If your feeling a bit naughty have a London Calling Room cocktail, this is probably the best cocktail I have ever had EVER.
Comment on this reader review

Alex Taylor
Friday, August 31, 2007

The food is ok, overpriced though for what you get. The restaurant itself is lovely. The staff are obnoxious, arrogant and try to get you out before you've even sat down then rip you off by charging you a service charge (which they don't deserve) and not returning your change when you haven't told them to keep it. Also, after complaining to the company who own Room you get fobbed off with ridiculous excuses. Definitely not recommened if you want a good night out. And they charge you a service charge at the bar. Ridiculous!
Comment on this reader review

Nicola Robinson
Thursday, August 02, 2007