Despite the uninspiring name, An Outlet is a nice little place for a spot of lunch, with the added bonus of it doubling up as a mini-deli that offers plenty of tasty treats to take home.

The Venue
This little modern cafe is tucked down Dale Street in the no-mans land between the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly where Love Saves the Day once stood. Inside, you’ll find small wooden tables and chairs with a few high stools lining the side window. It’s very crisp and fresh with a mass of green plants hanging down from the industrial metal grating above your head. The far wall takes the shape of a massive chalk board with various quotes and quirky info written over it, and large black and white photos hang from the walls. Also at the front of the cafe is a small deli area with all sorts of goodies (if a bit on the pricey side) on sale - scrummy chutneys sit along-side cured meats and fancy beers and wines.

The Atmosphere
This is a laid back place - you can relax with a coffee while reading the papers, catch up with mates over lunch, or grab a sarni on the run. Popular with creative types working in the surrounding areas, you can also get your laptop out and make the most of the free wi-fi (the password is on the chalky wall). They also put on film events like Arty, Farty, Film Party (1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month) and Eyebrow (2nd and 4th Wednesday). On these nights they pick the decade and genre, and you get to pick the film. Simple, old school and it won’t cost you a penny. The staff are polite and chatty and are keen to talk about other events that are also in the pipeline, including poetry nights and networking evenings.

The Food
Breakfasts are served till 11am and range from a hearty bowl of porridge (£1.75) to a bacon buttie on ciabatta bread for £2.50. They do a number of salads. The Parma ham, fig and rocket with honey dressing is a particularly good one. Juicy figs and dry cured meat - a great combo for £5.20. Every day they serve a vegetarian (£2.20) and meaty soup for £3.50 with bread on the side. Sandwiches come with all sorts of fillings for around the £4 mark. There’s the veggie-friendly brie, grape and red onion, and the Parma ham, rocket, artichoke and olive. The latter is, however, slightly dry and a bit short on the artichoke front. They also have simpler sandwiches for those that like the plain classics, like cheese and pickle.

Next to the counter you’ll find a salad bar where you can get a member of staff to build a mound of couscous, lentils and other colourful salads for £4.50/£5.25. And for those with a sweet tooth, why not grab a big slice of cake to round off your meal – the chocolate cake isn’t the best in town but it is still a sound choice.

The Drink
To wash this down you can choose from a range of coffees, from £1.35, or sip on a specialty tea. Juices and other soft drinks can be found in the fridge and, if you’re after something stronger, you’re in luck. This little coffee house also has an alcohol licence so you can enjoy a cheeky glass of wine or a cold bottle of beer if you’d prefer.

The Last Word
An Outlet is a cool place to go and hangout, and if you need to pick up some supplies and a bottle of wine for later, you’re in the right place. It has the potential to go far.

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