Starting life in a remodelled horsebox, vegan street food favourite Herbivorous has revealed it is now launching its first bricks and mortar site in Withington.
Founders Robyn Marsh and Damian Myles first fell in love with vegan cuisine during an epic, coast to coast road trip across the States, and returned home to England inspired to share what they’d found.
Their first stint at a food festival saw them sell out within two hours after working through the night to prepare dishes, which led to the purchase of an old horsebox which they proceeded to tour up and down the country.
The horsebox that Herbivorous toured up and down the country / Image: Herbivorous
Today, the brand has a well-established site at Hatch on Oxford road – and they’ve also just revealed plans to open a second in Withington.
Due to launch in September, it will serve up all of its popular vegan comfort food classics, such as their Big Kahuna Burger, as well as running a delivery service to those nearby.
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A large kitchen has got the team excited about testing new dishes for their menu and restarting their popular vegan cooking masterclasses – teaching new skills in making staples like seitan, vegan mayos and plant-based ‘bloody’ burgers.
A pot of vegan soft serve from Herbivorous / Image: Herbivorous
And that’s not all. The vegan foodies behind the brand are working with local distilleries, brewers and wine merchants to curate an entirely vegan drinks menu – something that’s actually a lot harder to achieve than it sounds.
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After all, many people don’t realise that a lot of alcohol is filtered using fish guts (yes, really – they call the subtance ‘isinglass’, confusingly).
They’ll also be stocking products from other local vegan producers like Manchester independents Drizzle City Bakes and Drinks of Tradition to showcase the very best plant-based food and drink in the region.
The Philly Cheesesteak sandwich at Herbivorous / Image: Herbivorous
The new Herbivorous restaurant will be open weekday evenings and all day from Friday to Sunday from its new home on Wilmslow Road and plans to launch a new brunch menu at the site, available on Saturdays and Sundays only.
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“We’re so excited to be opening our first bricks and mortar restaurant in this vibrant part of south Manchester,” said Robyn Marsh, founder of Herbivorous.
“The Withington restaurant will be the next evolution of Herbivorous, bringing together everything that has influenced us over the last four years, and the time we’ve spent building the brand.
A solid spread of guilt-free food, pictured at herbivorous / Image: Herbivorous
“Working with other local independents is something we are really looking forward to as there are so many wonderful and talented brands locally who we would love to collaborate with.
“Our team are so passionate about crafting our house-made products, dishes and meat alternatives, we can’t wait to open our doors in this fantastic neighbourhood and share our food with everyone”
For more updates on Herbivorous, follow them on their socials here.
Feature image – Herbivorous
Eats
The beautiful new (now parrot-less) Mediterranean restaurant on the banks of the River Irwell
Daisy Jackson
It might have first made headlines because of Rio the parrot, but now Gardens’ controversial feathered resident has been rehomed, the spotlight is firmly back where it belongs – on the food.
Gardens is a striking new waterside restaurant and lounge overlooking the River Irwell, with enormous windows taking in views of the water and Manchester Cathedral.
Greater Manchester has historically not been very good about making the most of its waterways, with areas like Ancoats Marina and Salford Quays now leading a new charge, so it’s refreshing to see somewhere making the most of the Irwell – even if there’s still more chance of seeing a plastic bag floating past than anything more scenic.
With its towering ceilings and stylish interiors, Gardens has quickly become one of Salford’s most eye-catching new openings, promising hearty Mediterranean grills, shisha, and great mocktails.
And now there’s another reason to visit, as the venue has launched a brand new Lebanese-inspired brunch menu.
Expect authentic dishes including fluffy omelettes, hearty foul (slow-cooked fava beans), prawn fatteh (layers of crisp pitta, tahini yoghurt, chickpeas, and prawns), shakshuka, and fresh halloumi tomato salad, alongside plenty of other Mediterranean favourites.
The brand-new brunch menu joins the substantial menu of grilled mains, with dishes like mixed grills, slow-cooked lamb shank that falls off the bone, and roast chicken.
A spread of brunch dishes at GardensFruit platter, cakes and coffees at GardensFeta, tomato and spinach omelette; chickpeas in tahini yoghurtPrawn fatteh and shakshukahGardens seen across the River IrwellThe beautiful waterside locationMixed grill dishes at GardensSteak in a homemade herb sauce
And you’ll find plenty of other dishes like fattoush salad, hummus, and flatbreads.
Gardens is split into two areas, with the archway overlooking Greengate Square home to the cafe for brunches and matchas, while the main riverside lounge comes alive for socialising, shisha, and mocktails.
While Gardens may have become known for reasons beyond the menu when it first opened, its riverside location, stylish interiors and generous Mediterranean offering make it one of the most impressive new additions to Salford’s dining scene.
If you’re after somewhere new for a weekend brunch or an evening meal by the water, this could be worth adding to your list.
Beloved local restaurant passionately tears apart burglars after ‘hurtful and disappointing’ break-in
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester restaurant has found itself the victim of a break-in, with staff wages and other goods stolen – and they’ve not exactly held back in their statement to the burglars.
The Thirsty Korean, a hugely popular name over in Chorlton, has asked customers to ‘teach them how to swear in English’ so they can adequately express their disappointment and disgust.
Owner Eunji Noh said in a passionate statement that ‘bad karma comes as well as good karma’.
She wrote: “What you did was that you fully disrespected us that we put our love, passion, effort and time to do something meaningful and great.
“We do not deserve that. I wish, you will be deserved of what you did and I hope, that it will hurt you and your life.”
The Thirsty Korean opened last year in a new spot on Wilbraham Road, serving its legendary and authentic Korean dishes like fried chicken, tteokbokki, and Korean pancakes.
Sharing CCTV images of the burglars in the restaurant, Eunji added that she hopes they will ‘one day become someone doing something right’.
She said: “Hating someone is consuming so much negative energy, therefore I really do not like to say such and it hurts me too.
“However words have a power. So I leave the message that, in any case you would ever read. You will have many bad things happening to you and you will have many bad days and I wish this bad karma will chase to you soon.”
The Thirsty Korean’s brunch spreadCheesy Ttekbokki noodles
She also wrote: “What you stole from the thirsty korean last night was paying our hard working staff wages, paying goods and supplies and our maintenance for the restaurant which assures us living tomorrow.
“It is truly hurtful and disappointing to know that there were people looking for the opportunity to steal someone’s belonging that I personally have never imagined to do by myself stealing someone’s possession and hovering and looking for a spot during the night with this bad intention.”
Addressing customers, she assured people that The Thirsty Korean will be back open for service from Wednesday.
Eunji signed off: “Eventually we all know that everything will be fine again. Spring has been always coming after winter ends.”
Georgina Pellant -
16th July 2021 
