Editor Pick
A Bar that Has Something to Kro about Part 1
- August 11, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
duskmaiden from London, United Kingdom
Manchester has many fine bars and restaurants and I have yet to review any of them properly. Today I want to address this by writing about a very classy award winning bar called the Krobar.
Be rest assured there are no tacky references to Denmark in this rather classy place. It is Danish inspired as the bar's name comes from the Danish word for a pub or an inn Kro. The owners are also Danish in origin giving it an authentic touch. They do Danish pastries, bacon and Danish specialties though.
It is located in a Georgian terrace opposite the Manchester University Student's Union on Oxford Road. It is pretty easy to get to using public transport as it is on the busiest bus route in Europe.
On approaching the Krobar you will see a beautiful classic building with outdoor seating. In the summer months this outdoor space is chock a block with both students and young professionals sipping a beer or glass of wine and enjoying the sun.
.
The Krobar is on two levels. I must admit I really have not ventured up into the second floor apart to use the toilets. So I can not comment on this however the downstairs seating is pretty spartan but comfortable. There is no fake Victorian furniture here. There is also more outdoor seating outside. It is a very pleasant place to sit. I have been to the Krobar a few times after work and find it a nice atmosphere with a mixed crowd. I have always found the Krobar to be fairly clean and not too noisy or smoky so it is a great place to meet friends and chat.
The menu for the Krobar is fairly large with just about something for everyone. Although I have not tried them they have a wide range of breakfast items combining traditional ingredients and different types of breads and bagels. They do a humongous breakfast for six pounds and bagels and sandwiches are 3.95. This might be more a treat than an everyday breakfast as I feel that it is a wee bit expensive The bar opens at 8.30 for breakfast,.
The main menu is quite expansive and has something for everyone. I was tempted by the roast dinner with a pint of either Carling or London Pride for just under £6 but opted for a vegetable enchilada. My friends stuffed roasted peppers and Farafal pasta which was pasta with chicken in a white wine, cream and red pesto sauce. We also had a side order of sweet onion bread. The prices are reasonable. I do no think any of our meals were over £6 or £7. I noticed the steak at £9 was the most expensive thing on the menu. They also do a wide range of sandwiches and wraps between £2 and £5. They also do home made soup. There is a deal to get a soup and a sandwich for about £4-£. They also do some Danish specialties such as Danish sausages, Frikadelle and Danish breaded plaice. All food according to the website is freshly cooked and the products come form environmentally friendly sources.
We had to wait about fifteen to twenty minutes for our meal to be served. I do not mind this as I know that it is not just going to be heated up in a microwave. The meals arrived all at once and the service was friendly. My dinner was very nice with chunky vegetables, and a nice amount of spiciness. There was a lot of tasty tomato and cheese sauce surrounding the enchilada. I felt the portion was a decent enough size The roast peppers were declared delicious and lovely and sweet and i had a little taste of the pasta and it seemed tasty. The onion bread rounded off a nice meal.
Yes I know we are in a bar and I have not mentioned the drinks. They have a fairly extensive wine list with bottles costing12 or 13 pounds and a house wine. My companion had a glass of the house white and said it was nice and dry. For the beer drinkers amongstt you they seem to have a fail selection of both common and less well known beers specialising in European beers. I am sure it was here I was first introduced to Hoegarten. I had a half of a Bavarian wheat beer which I felt was distinctive and very easy to drink. . I would not say Krobar is the cheapest place for drinks but it's a nice place to drink and they do have a good selection if you are looking for something unusual. They also have a range of coffees for in the morning or for those who are teetotal (the building was once owned by Manchester Temperance Society) Apparently you get a free croissant with every large mug of coffee. Another reason for visiting the Krobae.
Its just a nice bar to sit back and relax on a pleasant summer's afternoon .
From journal A Taste of Manchester