An Outlet

First of all, FTR FTW! And other such abbreviations. Second of all, I’d just like to let you all in on a fact about how I like my soup. I’m kind of a picky eater when it comes to soup. My mother makes an epic broth, and as a result, so do I. I want to be eating something rustic, charming and chunky. I’m not cool with all this blender-​happy action.
So imagine my joy when I rock up at An Outlet on the Piccadilly side of the Northern Quarter to abuse the free wifi and drink copious amounts of coffee and herbal tea. It’s such a lovely space. It’s all on its own, tucked away, it’s very modern looking and yet it harbours the same kind of charm as The Engine Room at the Castlefield end of Oxford Road. Chalkboards pepper the walls with menus, specials, literature and the wifi deets. The seating is über comfy and yet enough to keep me awake, not that the delicious double-​shot-​as-​standard caffeine wasn’t doing enough of that already. Hot drinks are served with a smile in proper big mugs, and decent-​sized teapots for the tea.
But the joy I speak of was saved mostly for the soup… I opted for tomato, and took a risk. I hate to say it, I know I’m British and I could be committing some kind of cardinal sin here, but cream of tomato soup doesn’t do it for me. It always gave me a sore throat as a child, and only harbours sentimental value because my mother fed it to me when I first got my braces and couldn’t deal with solids right away. In general, I like my tomato soup to double up as decent pasta sauce, and the soup at An Outlet couldn’t have been more fitting. Chunks of tomato and onion, flecks of real basil, served piping hot with some of the tastiest seeded bread I’ve ever had the good fortune to make pobs with. And by now you know I’m rubbish with bread, I leave loads behind. Not this. This was too good to leave behind.
The staff were so lovely about me staying there practically all day, and I couldn’t have been happier. I’ll be back in time for breakfast next time (served until 11am) — I’ve got my eye on that honey granola or the soy porridge. Oh heck. I’ll just order both!