In addition to our time spent living in Manchester, England we have had innumerable Sunday Roasts. Ducie Street Warehouse has been voted England’s best, and here is our review from a recent visit.
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Location
Located centrally and near Piccadilly station in Manchester’s City Centre, Ducie Street Warehouse offers a blended space. Part co-working, bar, and coffee shop, the restaurant at Ducie Street Warehouse is at the back of the building on the main floor.
Address: Ducie St, Manchester M1 2TP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 161 503 9460
What Is A Sunday Roast
If you’ve ever been to England, you know that one of the best things about the country is its traditional Sunday roast. A British Sunday roast is a classic comfort food that’s been around for centuries, and it’s one of the most beloved meals in the country.
A traditional Sunday roast usually consists of roast beef, roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. The beef is usually served with a variety of condiments, such as horseradish sauce, English mustard, and gravy. The roasted vegetables are typically boiled or roasted in the oven. The Yorkshire pudding is a savory, spongy croissant–like dish made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, which is then baked in the oven.
On a personal note, my family loves a good Yorkshire pudding and they are incredibly difficult to make. It seems like it should be easy but it’s not. It’s either over or under cooked and never matches the quality we would hope to achieve. Even restaurants often get it wrong, but in the case of Ducie Street Warehouse, it was a perfect blend of a chewy and soft bottom with crispy edges.
While the look and ingredients of a Sunday roast has changed, the meal is usually served with a variety of side dishes such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and gravy. Many include variants with alternative cuts of meat including the roast lamb, prime rib (served medium rare or rare) or roast chicken. It’s a hearty and Sunday lunch that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon.
It compares in part to a Thanksgiving dinner (though not like the one we had in Manchester.)
What Did We Order?
At Ducie Street Warehouse one innovation on the classic Sunday dinner is their approach with sides. The intention is to order many of them and share a little bit (tapas-style) so everyone can have a bit. We tried all of the macaroni and cheese options, roast chicken, and prime rib. It’s worth noting that while our roast orders were fast, it’s advised to allow at least 30 minutes for preparation.
Pardon the low lighting and rough resolution of these photos. We tried a couple of roast recipes and with sides, the table was so full there was barely room for salt and pepper.
There’s little question as to whether the Sunday Roast is filling, that much is a certainty, but quality and quantity are rarely aligned. At Ducie Street, we got both.
England’s Best
Our good friends in England have been spending their Sundays shopping for the best Sunday Roast and for the only Sunday we were in town, they took us to what they thought was the best.
They weren’t alone.
Ducie Street Warehouse topped the list of restaurants for the best Sunday roast in all of the United Kingdom. The food was exemplary, costs were in line with other restaurants of a similar stature, and the design of the restaurant – an updated take on mid-century modern – was superb.
Not only that, dogs are also welcome giving our daughter time with our friends’ pup.
Conclusion
After trying too many spots for Sunday roast to count, we tried Ducie Street Warehouse and it did not disappoint. Our experience was affirmed by British voters and secured the top spot for 2023. It’s going to be hard to top Ducie Street, but in a year we will make the pilgrimage back and give it a shot anyway. If you’re thinking of trying it out, I’d recommend you book in advance.
What do you think? Have you had a Sunday roast? Do you have a favorite spot in Britain for one?
Was everything cooked on wood-fired ovens and charcoal pits?
I will make sure to try this out next time I am in town.
By the way, anyone visiting Manchester and/or having time to kill at MAN should consider visiting The Romper, a slightly upmarket pub which sits within the airport grounds (although not directly connected to any terminal building). It’s a superb place to spend some time.