Ply, Manchester

One of the things I adore about blogging is that I get the chance to share my many escapades with some of the people I hold dearest. On Sunday, poor Paddy was hutch-bound doing some work, so our pal Lee kindly stepped in like the total pizza devouring warrior that she is. She adored Ply from the moment we walked in the door, so much in fact that she requested to write this review herself. Take it away Teller... 

So part way through a delightful cheesenfilled Saturday evening Rachel informed me that she had a reservation at Ply the following day. 'Unfortunately' her husband was busy, 'fortunately' I was not; my Sunday ironing marathon could wait!

After a very dramatic car journey which definitely didn't involve turning the wrong way down a one way street, we arrived at Ply. The restaurant is cool and airy and full of little corners to squirrel away in. The bar is huge and offered an impressive array of spirits, wines and beers; we will definitely be back for an evening session!

Our lovely waitress,whose name I sadly forgot to note, found us a perfect people watching spot in a high window. We ordered some drinks, and as Rachel was the designated driver she enquired about soft drinks and requested a 'surprise' mocktail, which turned out to be a delicious raspberry mojito style drink - very fruity and refreshing. As I total gin fiend I went for a Georgetown Tea, made with Beefeater gin, apricot, elderflower, ginger and tea. This was amazing, light enough for a lunch time drink but with enough kick that I could have happily sunk a whole pot of it.

For starters we shared the Heritage tomato salad and Coppa ham and burrata. These were perfect; the tomatoes were so fresh and tasty and the ham with mozzarella was so morish I didn't do a very good job of sharing.

Tomato Salad - heritage tomatoes, sourdough croutons, aged balsamic, basil

Coppa Ham and Burrata - coppa ham, burrata, confit tomato, rocket

Then it was pizza time. I had ordered my favourite, goats' cheese. This was very tasty and peppered with little pockets of basil pesto. Rachel ordered the brunch special which included smoked pancetta and fennel sausage. The pizzas are on sourdough bases which is a lovely change, and seeing them cooked to order in the super snazzy pizza oven at the bar was very cool. Both pizzas were gorgeous, not much left but we did take that home too. We couldn't leave without a take out pizza for Rachel's husband who had missed out, I believe he destroyed this in minutes!

Brunch Special - (available Sundays) tomato, mozzarella, smoked pancetta, fennel sausage, portobello, egg (sans egg)

Goats' Cheese - tomato, goats' cheese, confit tomatoes, basil pesto, rocket

We had a very relaxed and fun lunch at Ply, the service was fantastic; where else would your waitress come over to tell you that Cilla Black had sadly passed away?!? We will certainly be back en masse for more pizza and cocktail fun. Thanks Ply for brightening up what would otherwise have been a very dull Sunday indeed!!