Gorilla

Watched British Lion here, nice small venue, holds around 500 I believe, was a great night.

Went to the music venue to see Xana (who was amazing). The sound and lighting were really good quality. But the venue felt oversold/beyond capacity, it was almost impossible to move around or get a drink, and forget it if you needed the toilet! At points it felt actively dangerous that so many people were crammed in - reduce the capacity by about 50 and it would be fine.

RUBY, ALICE and all the team at Gorilla are fantastic. What a really welcoming, friendly and electric experience. We came to the City for a Gareth Emery set in the club and we had an amazing time which was partly made possibly by the experience with staff here. We came for a nosey before the gig and a quick drink in the bar area and were greeted with smiles in what was a really friendly and comfortable atmosphere. The doorstaff were all friendly enough and had some humour about them which is always a positive, and the night was an absolute belter. Visited again for breakfast the next day which was lovely and again with more cheerful and helpful staff. A venue that does it all and very well indeed. We didnt get any other names but all the staff we encountered were excellent. Thanks for a great experience and we wish your venue the best of success for the future. ❤️ ❤️🕺💃🎉🎉🎊🔉🔉

Stopped in for some food before a gig in the academy. Was excited for a cocktail and a roast dinner (it was a Sunday). The menu was limited, but roast dinners were available so we were happy. We asked what meats where available and were informed chicken and beef. I don't eat beef, so I chose Chicken. My partner ordered a roast beef sandwich which came with chips. He requested parmesan on the fries as an extra. We also ordered two cocktails, but a few moments later were informed they didn't have the right ingredients for one. We selected a replacement and to be honest they were lovely. They did bring over a second of my partner's cocktail too, as they'd accidentally made two (although again this shows they're not really paying proper attention to what is going on). Finally the food arrived and we were both starving. My partner's looked great however the chips came with no cheese. He wasn't fussed though, as he was just ready to eat. Mine also arrived, however it was a beef roast not a chicken one. I informed them I ordered chicken and they took it back. A couple of moments later they appeared with the same beef roast and a sheepish look, informing me that they didn't actually have any chicken. I shared that I don't eat beef and they just looked at me confused. In the end I was so hungry I just accepted it and ate around the meat. At no point had they offered to take back my partner's food as well so his was going cold. It's lucky that I'm not opposed to beef touching my food so I could eat at least some (and likely the gravy was beef based too, but I didn't want to think of that). We were told the meal would be discounted heavily. They made mine half price. At £20 it was already very expensive and £10 for a few veg and a yorkshire pudding was shocking. It should have been fully comped (I worked in hospitality years ago and would never dreamed of charging someone in that situation). If I had had a choice, I would have sent it back completely but they kept trying to get me to eat it/hovering with the plate that I felt I had no choice. In addition, not only did they charge us for the cheese on the chips but they also charged us for a full portion of chips as an extra. The sandwich came with chips included but when we queried the bill they seem confused and again it took ages for it to be sorted. While we were waiting for this to be sorted we heard them tell the table next to us that they had beef and pork roast! I eat pork!!!! If they'd told me that, I'd have asked for that! Honestly the staff just didn't have a clue what was going on. With such a small menu, they should at least know what is out of stock and what meat is on offer for a roast. Oh and to top it off, they included automatic gratuity on the bill, so we tipped them for this mess (by the point we realised we were so fed up of querying things we just gave up and paid). I'd avoid this place like the plague.

Service was very distant throughout. It took a lot of effort to get a staff member's attention. We spent 15 minutes trying to get someone over so that we could pay and no one came. We then went downstairs and tried to pay at the bar, weren't given a receipt until we'd paid, then when we paid and asked for a receipt we were given someone else's receipt, so I'm not even sure that we paid for the correct table. Really disappointing experience!

It makes me sad to write a negative review, but unfortunately we had a bad experience here. I would like to start by saying that the serving staff were very welcoming and we had no issues with them at all. Firstly, it was FREEZING inside. I had to keep my scarf wrapped around me like a blanket the entire time and the table next to us kept their coats and scarves on, too. We ordered the Mushrooms starter - which was supposed to come in a vegan cream sauce on potato rosti. When it arrived, it wasn't in a sauce at all, just dry mushrooms on two rostis - which we would not have ordered for ~£8.50 if we knew it would be served like this - very bland. My Husband ordered the steak pie and mash, which he said was fine, but nothing memorable or particularly tasty. The main issue I had is that I ordered the Lentil & Chickpea curry pie and what I received was a pie with no curry flavour, no lentils or chickpeas, just swede and carrot cubes with a Nutmeg taste. It tasted okay, but wasn't what I ordered or expected. I mentioned this to the server (who, again, was very nice) and he mentioned something about it maybe being the Festive Pie - which is a pie containing meat. I immediately felt sick and he went to check with the kitchen. Though I am not saying he was being dishonest, there didn't seem to be any 100% certain answer about whether or not this pie contained meat. Eventually, he did say that this was the curry pie, but when I questioned why it didn't taste of curry at all, nor contained any lentils or chickpeas as advertised, there was no explanation, only an apology. I left the rest of the meal and this was taken off the bill without me asking, which I did appreciate. It's just such a shame that the food fell so short here and we would never return.

Drink prices are surprisingly reasonable for a music venue, a major positive that doesn't put a major dent in your wallet. Overall, "Gorilla" holds a special place in my heart after last month's incredible gig. It is hands down one of the best places in the city to catch live music and an absolute must-visit for any music fan.

Absolutely disgusting. My son and girlfriend came for the pixelate cosplay event. Prior to going they spoke to venue about their costumes and that it entailed large fluffy head covering, venue said that would be fine. Got to venue and were told by doormen that they had to keep their fluffy animal heads off and carry them round all night or no entry. This was part of their costume and they had already checked with venue. Night was massive let down. Communication between venue and doormen would be beneficial.

They had a 50%off food offer in January, and I have passed by so many times and always was curious so couldn't resist. We ordered food at the bar, for some reason we couldn't offer jenga chips with steak - I'm really not sure why, the bartender kept saying something that it only goes with fish and chips, despite the menu saying otherwise. Oh well, ordered French fries instead. The food was nice, albeit our steak was cold, which probably means they didn't bring it straight away.

We went to see a live music performance where my friend and I were racially violated by an audience member who said 'your kind don't belong here' amongst many other racial slurs I dare not mention. When we alerted security they simply placed a member of staff between us with no other consequences. We've never been made to feel so uncomfortable and we were saddened to see this weak response from the venue and staff. Later in the night when we were enjoying ourselves, a member of staff grabbed my friend's jacket out of her hand and took us into a back room accusing her of stealing the jacket she very clearly walked in with. Discriminatory language was thrown around when referring to her and she was patronisingly quizzed on the make of the jacket in order to get it back after 20 minutes of interrogation. When we mentioned all of this to security at the end of the night while in tears and clearly distressed, we were laughed at, it was clear nothing we said would be taken into account or have any kind of repercussions whatsoever. I have never been treated this way before in my entire life. Some of the staff are clearly racist and knew they could get away with it which is unbelievably disappointing and just vile. Would not recommend to any person of colour for anything. - also tried to call to complain about this but they won't answer the phone lol

Me and my partner went for our first Valentine's Day dinner and we had the absolute best experience, not crowed, great atmosphere with music which was a lovely selection, waitress Ciara/ Kira ** was fantastic iv never been treated so politely and made to feel so relaxed by someone in a restaurant before, she remembered our whole order without...

Great venue and atmosphere! Lovely staff. Would recommend as great place to go for a works night out or with friends.

Me and my partner went for our first Valentine's Day dinner and we had the absolute besian sauce it was surprisingly awesome! The chicken was fried but my teeth winked into the breast like a head does to a pillow. Nothing like a place that gets butter milk fried chickrtner went for our first Valentine's Day dinner and we had the absolute best experience, not crowed, great atmosphere with music which was a lovely selection, waitress Ciara/ Kira ** was fantastic iv never been treatep. The first thing that strikes you upon entry is what a good conversion this is of the old archway. We took a booth in the window and ordered our food - Sparky went for a spicy bean burger; I went for a traditional cheeseburger, bothonly recently I got to experience the live music aspect - seeing New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Ladyhawke... Gorilla is an ultra-cool place to hang out at the bar, drink some superb bevvie

Me and my partner went for our first Valentine's Day dinner and we had the absolute best experience, not crowed, great atmosphere with music which was a lovely selection, waitress Ciara/ Kira ** was fantastic iv never been treated so politely and made to feel so relaxed by someone in a restaurant before, she remembered our whole order without writing a single thing down, impressive just remarkable! The food was delicious and well priced I had the tacos which are 3 for £11 bargain ! The cod was my least fave but I'm not a battered fish person but the sauce and the flavour made up for my mistake, my partner had the Gorilla Royale burger which I took a bite of and needless to say amazing so well cooked ! The cocktails were strong you will honestly only need one but delicious! If you like a bitter cocktail like me the cherry bomb is brilliant. Thank you to all the staff you made it a lovely and relaxed Valentine's Date for me and my partner we will be back soon !

Gorillas earned the name because they go in on all their options. The chicken burger was amazing even though I am. It a fan of Russian sauce it was surprisingly awesome! The chicken was fried but my teeth winked into the breast like a head does to a pillow. Nothing like a place that gets butter milk fried chicken right! NIW let's talk about these truffle fries "thank you, Jesus"! I am such a fan of anything truffle, just does the body right. The cheese is shaved on top of the fries and served in an old style grandma classic bowl. Presentation was fantastic and there was no crumbs left behind! Also a nice touch is that utensils are comforted by a clothe rather then a cheap napkin. Let's not for get the wash down. Neck Oil IPA paired really well with mean so much why not have 2x. On another visit, I desired to have brunch and I again was not disappointed. The chicken and waffles with house gravy. I was left speechless with the presentation again and it is served stack style and topped with sunny side up egg. The true maple syrup (not corn syrup) is glazed over the stack before the egg is added which is a nice touch and the gravy is oil based on the side for dipping pleasure yum yum yum! If you are blessed to be able to treat yourself to this place, the smoothies, food, beer, good people you will not be disappointed!

I had been to Gorilla only 2-3 times previously but had never eaten anything - apart from some chip (which were good). Nice place, always busy. Other weekend on Sunday, popped in to Gorilla with a friend for some food. We both went for the Sunday Roast. It was either chicken, beef and pork. I was tempted to get the pork but went for the beef. Tasted good. Beef was nicely cooked - still pink etc. Ideally would have been more gravy though. I should have asked about gravy while there but didn't bother. I mentioned about it on Twitter later on and Gorilla told me I should have just asked - would have got some gravy. Good for future reference!

We dived in here on a bitterly cold day in Manchester looking for a bite to eat which would warm us up. The first thing that strikes you upon entry is what a good conversion this is of the old archway. We took a booth in the window and ordered our food - Sparky went for a spicy bean burger; I went for a traditional cheeseburger, both with fries and, northern as we are, we ordered mugs of tea to accompany. I was pleasantly surprised to be asked how I wanted my burger cooking, medium or well done. I went with medium, knowing that a British "medium" is "well done" by many standards. I've had rare burgers in France and enjoyed them, and I was pleasantly surprised when this came still showing a hint of pink in the middle which was more than I expected. Sparky's burger was nice and spicy, and the tea was strong and hot - just what we needed. This being lunchtime there was a nice mix of clientele in, from uni students through to those close to retirement but all getting along and enjoying themselves. My one gripe was that I thought the prices were a little on the high side for what we got, particularly the drinks - £2 for a teabag in a mug, not even a pot, is taking the mickey. TL;DR - Nicely converted unit serving good food with a laid back vibe.

I have walked past Gorilla many times I've always wanted to go & give Gorilla a try, but have always forgotten about it... What a mistake on my part! Gorilla is an ultra-cool place to hang out at the bar, drink some superb bevvies & do a bit of hipster-watching! The music is boss, the staff were top & the food I saw looked absolutely fantastic!

Gorilla is a serious quadruple-winner for Manchester (cool bar, solid eatery, great gig venue plus a nightclub). Though I've eaten and drank here a couple of times before it was only recently I got to experience the live music aspect - seeing New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Ladyhawke. Under the railway arches on Whitworth Street West, the space is split with the bar & restaurant (including a mezzanine area with its own gin parlour) in one and the gig space & club in another. With a capacity of 600, it's one of the smaller venues in the city but that means it feels incredibly intimate and you'll be really close to the artist. It's uniquely decked out too, with what look like metal hatches from some retro power station covering the entire back wall. Tip: be sure to position yourself under one of the two ceiling fans as it can get insanely hot inside! There are two dedicated bars, so the queues are short. Whilst the drinks are expensive there are better options for beer than at most gig venues I've been to. Food is served all day in the restaurant and it's good quality with some interesting options - I'd really recommend grabbing something to eat and drink here before heading next door, or just enjoy a cocktail or small-batch gin in the bar after work.

This is simply a daytime review! I'll be heading back for a night out eventually! I've been to Gorilla now the most out of any other restaurant in Manchester, I always seem to be drawn in whenever I walk by. Honestly, it has to be the cinema-inspired exterior and enticing atmosphere that gets me. Sometimes, you just need a pint. The menu is a sound gastropub menu, with a range of sandwiches, salads, and meaty options. I've always gotten the cheeseburger or the gorilla dog. The burger may look somewhat simplistic, but flavour it does not lack! This is the place I clearly come to have my guilty pleasure lunches. For brunch, their breakfast options are absolutely solid. My friend got the Royal Breakfast (a double-portioned English breakfast) and it was a mouthwatering monstrosity. Definitely not for the faint of heart - you have been warned! The staff is always super friendly and helpful, everyone seems laid back and relaxed which give to the very chill vibe of the restaurant (during the day). Why not 5 stars? In my opinion, its a tad pricy for the amount of food that you get. 10 quid for a cheeseburger with only lettuce and pickle on it seems a bit steep, though it does come with chips!

We were in need of a quick lunch near to Oxford Road station and this place fit the bill perfectly. We grabbed seats at the bar and I was excited to see they do all-day breakfast - hell yeh! I ordered eggs royale and was even more impressed that the food arrived quickly as I was worried about missing my train. The eggs were spot on - perfectly cooked on two nicely toasted muffins and a good amount of sauce. I've eaten a lot of eggs benedict variations in my life and these were really good, I can't fault them and I'd definitely get back here for food again. The place was pretty busy for a Thursday lunch and had a good vibe. Staff were friendly and the only time they were a little slow is when we needed to pay the bill and go. No big deal though.

Gorilla, on Whitworth St., is fab. I've been here a number of times now. Each time, when popping in for drinks, there's been a spot at the bar where you can grab a stool. The staff have been knowledgeable about their beer selection, which changes frequently and they tend to have a cocktail of the day or a specific spirit of the day, which always goes down well. I ate here a while back whilst waiting for a gig at The Ritz opposite. I had a burger and my friend had a hot dog - both were good and served with enough fries to sink a battleship.

As a last minute booking, a huge group of us (~18) realised we needed somewhere to destress following a morning exam, it had to be big, it had to have brunch, it had to cater for dietary requirements (celiac, vegan) and it had to have plenty of drinks available. Gorilla was such a nice change from our usual uni haunts of kro and the union. They fit us all in nicely and were attentive to our large group needs. I only tried the eggs royale which was polished off super quick bit tasted perfect. I need to return to properly sample the gin emporium they boast of an evening!

Went here for brunch disco on the Sunday and was really pleased I had steak and eggs with hash browns which was really tasty, not a negative but the portion size it was quite small but did not distract the taste, would definitely get that dish again. Bottomless Prosecco is worth the money I got 7-8 glasses in just under 2 hours. Would definitely go again, staffs great!

Being very early for a business meeting, I decided to take heart in the menu at the famous city diner. After spending an age perusing the standard menu, I got a glimpse of the daily specials and well, there was a further head-scratching choice to make. Given my indecisiveness, I asked the waiter for his recommendation and went with his quick-to-advise steak salad, with fresh beetroot and feta and peppers. Oh. My. God. If you like steak (even remotely) and salad then you would be hard pressed to find another outlet that would beat it in the city. Every single mouthful was delightful and I never wanted it to end. Coupled with copious amounts of chilled water, it was a perfectly presented and amazing salad that would be welcomed any day of the week. It wasn't overly filling (but this was lunchtime) but I didn't want a dessert, the taste was too good to spoil and it left me comfortably satisfied. So. Overall. Go get it. Amazing.

A great place for a gin or a beer or a bite to eat. The gin parlour was a little disappointing as there is a good but not amazing selection. Nothing to compare with Atlas or other gin bars. That said they know what they are doing and have some nice choices and some fun cocktails. This is also a good spot for pre or pay show drinks if you're going to the Palace Theatre. Enjoy!

Yet another delicious lunchtime treat today! I went for the special - chipotle pork quesadillas with refried beans, avocado and cheddar cheese and a chilli and lime salsa on the side. Flavours packed a punch and went together perfectly, ensuring I continued to eat the last few mouthfuls even though my stomach was most definitely full!! It would be great if there were a few cheaper options for lunch - soup comes in at £5.00 which is great and I wish there were a few other dishes in this price bracket (other than the breakfast baps). With my quesadillas coming in at £9.00 it's quite an expensive lunch option.

I've gotta say that I enjoy myself at Gorilla more and more each time I hit it. With facing extreme NQ fatigue over the past few years I've tried to spend more time in 2014 down Oxford Road and over by Castlefield/Deansgate - and Gorilla is the perfect place for any occasion down by Oxford Road Station. Mostly I pop in for drinks and although their on tap beers are nothing to write home about, they do stock some great cans and bottles - Thornbridge's Jaipur or Beavertown's Gamma Ray being regular faves! My wife really enjoys the Negroni's and this obviously makes us both happy as there's no need to compromise... The fodder we had on the recent Sat night we popped in was lovely if snacky - the brisket roll being something we really enjoyed. You can reserve tables too and I'd highly recommend this if you're heading down at the weekend - it can get rammed! There's top quality gigs out back and overall this is a hipster haven, while not being too nobby - I really enjoy it here so check it out!

This is where the rock stars of yesterday, rock stars of tomorrow and rock stars of today (Louis R), convene in order to delve into a deelish Traditional English Breakfast and talk music. Decor and architecture are rock star quality. Tatted-up waitresses are rock start quality. Try this spot if you're in town. Wait...you ain't a rock star, son. Nope.

Looking to try and 'get out more' during the colder months, we booked a bunch of tickets for activities around the city, including some to the matinee of Josie Long at Gorilla. Having been before music and drinks, I was looking forward to returning - it's got a good atmosphere, and service is always friendly (in my experience!) There was a small delay in them opening the doors, but a 10 minute wait isn't the worst thing in the world. The gig space was a good temperature, unlike the sweat box it can become when music is on, and chairs fairly comfortable for a few hours of sitting. Although the bar staff actually got a small telling off for talking too loudly during Josie's set, they did a good job at getting people served and back to their seats from the interval. We couldn't decided whether to stay for dinner after the show, but put our names down with front of house to try our luck and have a few drinks. It took a good 45-50 minutes for them to remember us and apologise; there weren't any tables in this time, but they definitely need a better system than just hoping they remember faces. Eventually a large table didn't turn up, so we were given their space - just as we were about to leave! In the the meantime, I tried a clover club cocktail - too much egg white texture for me, but still drinkable - and the prickly bramble, which basically tasted like alcoholic vimto and found its way back into my hand during the meal. We were quick to decide on sharing some salt and pepper wings, which were good if a bit on the sweet side for my taste, and some halloumi, which came with onion and pepper and an unusual but tasty curry flavouring. I had a lamb burger for main, which held together on the bun, with a good helping of minty aoili - great to try something other than a beef burger and for it to be done this well. I was left full but not feeling heavy, the perfect amount of stomach lining before an unexpected night out!

The fact that the staff are the most welcoming staff I have ever come across since moving to Manchester tipped this place to a 5*. What a credit the staff are to the place, there so welcoming and polite. My first visit to Gorilla will be remembered purely because of a Chocolate and Beetroot cupcake, my initial reaction was BEETROOT in cake, no way! The staff behind the bar told me "Don't knock it until you tried it!" .. So I bought it and my god am I pleased I did. It was the best cupcake EVER. There was a lovely barman who took time to tell us about the different guest ales and really go into detail about where there from etc. A lot of bars could learn a lot from this place where manners are concerned. My best friend recently visited from home and I had already been tweeting her Special Menu's from Gorilla which she totally fell in love for. We headed to Gorilla for lunch and opted for the Rasel Hanout Spicy Cauliflower Soup with Seasame Falafel plus a bottle of Prosecco to share. WOW, like the cupcake, I think it was the best Soup I have ever tried. It was beautiful and very well priced. Fantastic place for meeting friends and family. Great brunch, lunch, dinner and drinking venue. My sister would like me to give a special mention about the Oero Milkshake which she said was the most amazing thing she had ever had!

I've never gotten into so much trouble at a venue as I did in Gorilla - managed to go in totally wrong entrance for the gig (it's at the side not the main bar door, not very obvious though) and then did not realise you could not go buy drinks at the bar and go back into the music hall. They were very stern about it, but also nice (got me a plastic glass for my delicious Bundaberg root beer). They need to sort out the soft drinks provision in the music hall though - totally understand why they don't want glass back there but subjecting me to soda fountain fizzy drinks is unacceptable. Also apparently it was £4 for a can of BrewDog Punk IPA. What. Cocktail-making in the bar looked quite serious and fancy, also it's a much nicer space than it appears from the outside, cosy and elegant not a Black Dog style cavern as I had been expecting. Actually, despite its proximity to my workplace, I had been avoiding Gorilla because I thought was part of a so-so chain of burger restaurants which I know realise is called giraffe. Gorilla is actually part of Trof/Deaf Institute/Albert Hall, all great venues. D'oh. I shall avoid no more, in fact I'm keen to go back. Too bad work has just moved the other side of town from here. Music was good too - Glass Tides were great as usual and the headliners MDNGHT, who I hadn't listened to before were excellent! Great sound and it did not go unnoticed that the lead singer is well fit.

Oh my. My first meal in Manchester and it was sooo tasty. Quick walk from the hotel and seated promptly. The atmosphere was a bit loud and trendy. It was Sunday so most people were getting the full roast which looked soooo good. I had the chips (fries) which were the perfect snack. Highly recommend

Based on the number of times I've been in here over the last year or so I can't believe I've only just got round to reviewing it! One of my favourite places to go in Manchester if I'm looking for a darn good cocktail and a relaxed bite to eat. It's a cool bar with decent tunes and uber cool staff who are actually really good at their jobs, always really friendly and accommodating. Like I said, cocktails are really well made, with a nice list of classics and their own house specials. What I like about this place too is that if there's a particular drink that you fancy that's not on the list they'll happily make it for you. Oh and they have a happy hour every day 5pm-8pm when all cocktails are a fiver - winner. The food is a casual menu of things such as brunch items, well thought out sandwiches and burgers plus a few specials and has always been really good. Last time I had the bbq beef bun and deluxe fries (with parmesan and truffle oil) which were both delicious.

I really like this place. It ticks all the boxes for me. Cool, laid back vibe, friendly staff with big smiles on their faces come rain or shine (often rain...we are in Manchester after all), decent drinks and yummy food. The eggs benny is delicious if you're going for breakfast or brunch. I'm a fan of the cocktails (cosmopolitan!) although the house rose wine isn't great IMO. The place turns in to a really cool bar in the evening, with live music on some nights and plenty of space to throw shapes and shake what your mama gave ya. They hold an event called Morning Gloryville which I really want to go to soon.. even though I'm totally NOT a morning person. Each one has a different theme and you basically dress up accordingly and go raving completely sober, first thing in the morning... radical concept. They have a coffee bar and yoga as well as breakfast bites and lots of dancing. WOOP!

A great beer selection and a good food menu. I have not made it to the Gin Parlour yet, but I feel like that's just a matter of time. A bit loud a bit cozy and a bit open with a wall of windows.

We was lucky enough to get tickets to see the incredible talented Emeli Sande at Gorilla on Whitworth Street, Its an incredible intimate venue located next door to the Gorilla Bar, its located in a railway arch and the sound it creates is amazing! I will be keeping my eye out for other music events at Gorilla! One of the best gigs ever!!!!! Thanks Gorilla for an amazing night!!!!

I can only comment on the drinks here, and boy are they positive comments. Great interior, great staff, great drinks - I don't think I need to say much more. I went off-menu (sometimes you just want a bit of whisky in your life) and had a very nice old fashioned followed by a dry Manhattan. Very strong, but well balanced. My friend's drinks were also reported to be excellent, but I forget now what he had exactly. I'd like to return and check out the gin bar-above-a-bar. Here's hoping I'm back in Manchester soon...

Loved it! Why haven't I been sooner?? I went to Gorilla for a friends bday meal on a Friday night. I was early and had no idea who else would be there so wandered about a bit lost. The lovely staff were so helpful, checking if anyone else had arrived for the booking and walking me about to check. Spot on for service! I had a great bottle of porter (ok I had quite a few bottles) and really enjoyed it. They also have a fantastic cocktail menu with a much better selection of unusual drinks than most places. Our table was through to the left as you enter, in a separate area to the bar so you get a nice lively atmosphere but its not too loud. The waiter was attentive and helpful. We shared a range of snacks and starters - if you like chicken wings please please treat yourself to a meal at Gorilla immediately. They were the best tasting and most perfectly cooked chicken wings I've ever had. The fries were excellent and the artichokes were also spot on. Yum, typing this is making me want to go there right now! The mains were all great too. I had the aubergine and halloumi burger with fries, perfectly cooked and flavoured and a great amount of food for the price. I also liked the look of the halloumi kebabs two friends had next to me. I'll be trying that next time. Overall great value for money, delicious food, good interior and great service. Get yourselves down there asap.

Delicious roast beef, great venue and good attentive service. However when my food was brought out it was a tad cold so they brought out a new roast for me and gave me a complimentary glass of wine for the slight wait. Would definitely go there again.

I've always been a fan of Gorilla and it was great to head back here for an enjoyable cocktail with the family. We sat down and started deliberating over the menu as is standard for a group of 5, especially when you're our family - questioning every cocktail and pulling faces of enjoyment and disgust at the options. The waiter came over and informed us that it was 241 cocktails on those with stars next to them - so once again we deliberated. The decor in Gorilla is laid back and well lit with an area upstairs for further seating. I love the bar area as you can grab a seat and have a natter with the batman while they work - very New York. I finally decided against the cocktails on the menu and asked if they did a cosmo (not on the menu) - I'm true to tastes. They did - yey! The drinks came with haste to say we'd ordered 3 cocktails and my Cosmo was made to perfection - that tang of orange zest mixed with the sharpness of cranberry, and the kick of vodka - just delightful. The prices are decent for city centre drinks and the environment is perfect whatever time you visit: mid afternoon - laid back and easy to grab a table and some lunch. Later in the evening - more upbeat and a fun vibe. Late at night - dance the night away :) Big fan.

the food in the restaurant area was amazing the first night we went here for food, but what brought us back for breakfast and the following evening for drink was the staff. i cannot possibly praise them enough. As a manager in the hospitality industry in Ireland, i can honestly say, Hope, Jess & Harriet in the bar are worth their absolute weight in gold and they definitely bring in the customers. Myself and my cousin were staying in the holiday inn express up the road so we were just looking for somewhere quick to eat. we made the right choice. we got two of the Gorilla dogs which were perfect and a couple of their weirdly named beers i couldn't pronounce, and the gin of the day. we were served by Hope and Jess who couldn't have been nicer, amazing service and also took the time to help us out with where to go in Manchester. the food is very well priced for the size of the portions which are massive. the following morning there was really only one place we could go for our Full English (Irish) breakfast and were lucky enough to be served by the same two amazing staff as the night before. who even though they were under pressure as the place seemed to be packed out the door seemed to effortlessly be able to find the time to talk to everyone they were serving. we passed that evening on our way into town to go for a few drinks and were served by Harriet behind the bar, and again, she was just so friendly and had great banter with us that we ended up not leaving for the end of the night. i will hopefully be going back to Manchester in the new year and i don't think i will be going anywhere for food or drinks.

The food and drinks are delicious, but the speed of service is too slow, as a veteran gorilla visitor, I have mastered to quickly order both food and drink as soon as the waiter comes over.

Really nice atmosphere and the staff are super helpful. Brilliant food, we got the buttermilk pancakes (excellent) and avo on sourdough with poached eggs chili and fetta, absolutely delicious. Also got a full English, would recommend.

We had a team day in Manchester (12 of us) and I suggested here for lunch as I wanted to go and had heard good things. I wasn't disappointed I had the brunch option of Steak and Eggs, it was delicious. All the meals looked lovely and there were no complaints from anyone in terms of the food; unfortunately they had missed one of the orders so that had to be made whilst we had all started ours. This would not put me off going here again and the staff were lively and very apologetic. Well wort a trip for brunch or a burger!

My mates love Gorilla. It's true. And I love my mates, therefore I've ended up there a fair few times when they've wanted a few sociable drinks. But I'm afraid I have to break its winning four star streak, because despite enjoying some excellent breakfast waffles, an adrenaline-to-the-heart cup o' joe, some great fries, an exceptional chilli-dog and a zingy smoothie during Dry January, there is something Gorilla does that is simply UNACCEPTABLE. *Puts on hat of tradition and snobbery* THEY SERVE WINE IN TUMBLERS. Now, I'm not a wine expert by any means. Been to a few tastings, sure, and I know that if an eleven squid bottle is half price it'll probably taste better than a three bob one simply called French Red Wine, but generally if it tastes nice I like it. The problem is, even ignoring the science of wine and being able to view its legs and let it breathe and whatnot, it just looks a bit naff. It smacks of hipsterdom, it's obvs meant to be too-cool-for-school but it just reminds me of crappy teenage parties when we didn't know what we were doing. Wine glasses just look nice, simple as. For white wine you want to be holding the stem so your hand's not warming it, for red you want a nice big giant goblet. Or at least I do. Not like Dry January's caught up with me or anything. Not like I have three bottles of wine next to my desk, nope. Anyways, the other thing that gets me a bit 'mehhhhhh' about Gorilla is the sheer EXPENSE of its menu. We end up spending a bloody fortune only to be elbowed by hipsters in bobblehats and drink mediocre plonk. Or great plonk that tastes mediocre out of a tumbler. I wouldn't mind, but this is an outlet under the umbrella of Trof, and I still can't help but reminisce about Fallowfield and studentdom whenever I enter one of their establishments. A lot like Teacup, Trof was a cheap and cheerful wholesome simple kind of place with raggedy furniture until it went all gourmet and Williamsburgy on us. I'm pretty sure a pint of San Miguel set us back over £4. Showing my age now, indeed, but I always get snippy when I could be at home with a multipack of brewskis for the same price, not jostling for seats. God I'm gretting old, frugal and unsociable. The food is great though. I'm not sure it's worth the pricetag but I've really liked everything I've had. It's a bar that feels very Northern Quarterly in a part of town that's really opening itself up, and I am glad it's so popular. It'll do nicely, but remember - it IS a Trof!

Gorilla looks like a northern quarter bar has been build on Oxford road by mistake! It has the whole woody feel with a quirky looking staff and a gin parlor upstairs. I have been here several times and I must say I became a fan after trying the food here! I was hungover and hungry on a Saturday afternoon when I walked into Gorilla. The waiter convinced me to go for a cocktail (seems like that would cure my hangover) and I obviously got convinced (yes no will power.. damn!). I looked at the menu and decided to order the special soup (peas and bacon) with some special herb bread freshly baked in their kitchen. I have to be honest I was not very sure of my order but I was completely bowled by it because not only it tasted super delicious but even the portions were pretty good for just 4.15 pounds! The cocktail was very strong and citrusy but did its job (8.50 is a bit expensive though). The music was just about right for a Saturday afternoon and the place was pretty busy as we had to wait for 40 minutes before we got served! I have been to the gin parlor upstairs too and the bartender makes some pretty awesome cocktails. I have also heard that this place is a host to some incredible gigs (still need to witness one myself) Verdict: Love the food, like the drinks and happy with the price! Definitely going back more than once! :)

Accidentally attended the launch last night. This latest entrant in the ever-expanding Empire of Trof has taken over the space previously occupied by the Green Room, and after a full re-whack, it's very nice indeed. Lots of wood and tiles and a much-expanded bar, it's got a really nice feel about the place, even when it's as busy as last night. There's a larger emphasis on cocktails than other Trofs, as well as a decent enough range of beers. Though, the only bottled ale wasn't on (shame as Thornbridge Jaipur is a good one). They have a "gin saloon" bar upstairs and will apparently have a separate cocktail menu. There's also a perch for a DJ hanging over the front area. Later, there's plans for a club/theatre place around the back. Definitely a positive addition to this somewhat neglected area.

Surprisingly, I haven't yet eaten here - and I have only recently ventured to a gig at Gorilla - so this review is based on the bar and gig venue. Food TBC (to be consumed) at a later date. The bar is pretty pricey. A round of 4 drinks won't get you much change from a 20 - but it seems this is the way things are going these days. The more I go out, the more I get used to it. I don't know that I'll ever be OK with it though. There's a good atmosphere. Plenty of space for perching at the bar or lounging in a booth. The venue is through a door to the back of the room. There's usually a ticket desk set up and a mean looking bouncer looking pretty unimpressed that his only responsibility is to make sure no glass gets through to the gig room. Make sure to decant into plastic before you venture in. Once inside, the room is a nice size - it's not much wider than the stage and there's nothing to obstruct your view apart from the 7ft guy who always seems to stand in front. The sound is usually decent and there's a bar at the back serving cans (Somersby, San miguel, etc - all around £4). They sometimes do deals on tickets with meal purchases, so look out for those!

Pro: Excellent hash browns! We stepped in in the morning when they opened at 11:30am and tried to order lunch. The staff were very nice and, as other yelpers have found, they don't serve lunch until noon, so we ordered the breakfast. The mushrooms eggs benedict with poached eggs was quite good. The eggs were a little overcooked and not as runny as I'd like, but a solid meal overall. I especially liked the side of juicy succulent mushrooms, not too oil and well sautéed. Since we don't have them usually in California, I also ordered a side of the blood pudding and vegetarian pudding. Black pudding was a surprisingly dry. As this was the first time I had had black pudding, I wasnt sure if that was traditional or expected. Even soaking them in the mushroom sauce did little to help the situation. The veggie black pudding was more of my favorite. A mix o beans and other veggies with a light herbed aftertaste. We also got the royal breakfast, which was absolutely massive. Favorite standouts included the hash browns. Delicious little crunchy moist potato pucks that have an excellent texture and flavor. The service was also very good.

I love Gorilla! The atmosphere is always buzzing. The food is always tasty and delicious with enough choice - the truffle fries in particular are fab! The cocktails are reasonably priced and go down well. I enjoy visiting on an evening for cheap cocktails as well as lunch time snacks. Sunday lunch I would arguably say is the best in Manchester.

I've been to two really excellent gigs here in the last month - keep it coming Gorilla, I like your style! There's a large room at the back for gigs which makes for a pretty intimate show. There's also a seated balcony area facing the stage which was reserved for more important people! But chances are you'll want to be dancing anyway. There's two bars in there and a can of Somersby cider costs £3.50. There's toilets at the back. Quick note - these can be accessed from either side of the stage which I didn't realise at first and is good to know if you don't want to fight through the crowd for nothing! Only thing I'd change is to request more air conditioning please as it gets warm and not all the fans were being used. The main part of the bar is also a pleasant space with a 3 sided bar and plenty of tables, plus an extra room for dining. I've eaten here twice and it's pretty good. Think burgers, hotdogs and fancy salads. The music playing was classic soul when I was in the bar, although that may have been to complement the soul gig that was on? Keep it up!

In a fortuitous and greedy turn of events I found myself in Gorilla on a Friday night and then again on Saturday afternoon. For Friday drinks I thought it was quite expensive (though I am eternally a student and I had come straight from Spoons) but the atmosphere and music were great. I'll certainly consider heading back one evening when I have a bit of cash to splash on cocktails. (Despite not having one I loved that the cocktail menu tells you what glass your drink will come in!) For Saturday brunch/lunch it was hangover heaven, lovely and laid-back with breakfast and brunch menus served until 4pm and coffee served in a great big mug rather than a tiny teacup. Myself and my companion chose one dish from the brunch menu and one from the main meals and shared - Eggs Benedict and a hot dog - meaning we got the best of both worlds. The Eggs Benedict were fantastic in flavour, execution and price. The hot dog was a proper sausage as opposed to a tinned frankfurter affair which is always nice. Staff were friendly and quite unreasonably good-looking across the board. Two meals with a coffee and a pint came to less than £25 and we left full, happy, and having perused the menu and made plans for a future visit.

The service made me lost my appetite, the lady at the reception is not welcoming at all, three customers came after us was encouraged to leave. Ruined my mood for any food

Now believe me when I say this but for me to be disappointed in an overall experience, it has to be really, really bad. My friends and I booked a table at Gorilla the other week. At first I was a bit disappointed at the lack of meal choices but to be fair, that was my own fault, I could've checked the menu before. The girls at the bar downstairs were really lovely and showed us to our table upstairs. Our waiter however .... He came around to our table, asked around but didn't even wait to take everyone's drink order. Food came out before drinks. The coke which my friend ordered was more water than coke. Not a single smile on the waiter's face. Some of the burgers came without chips... My friend and I went for a ciggi and her drink was gone once we came back. After letting the bartender know that his colleague had taken my friend's full glass, he happily served her another drink (at least he made up for the lack of service) To top it all off, a service charge of 11.25£ was added to our bill. Well, given the poor customer service upstairs, I rate our visit to Gorilla with 2 stars.

This place was recommended as a meeting place instead of rain bar and it couldn't be any more different. It stands out immediately as you walk down Whitworth Street and the inside has a wooden finish that's pleasing on the eye. I was extremely hungover and the barman recommended a cocktail that was quite expensive but would sort me out, I went for it and although expensive it was very tasty and helped me a great deal. We had to wait around 40 minutes for food but I had a burger that had been freshly made from the butchers, it came slightly pink but as it's such good quality meat that's my preference. I tried some of the wings with some chips and they were also delicious, I'd definitely go back again but we were unsure who the waiter fancied until the end and it wasn't me, how rude! :) It cost me £10.50 for the burger but I had a fried egg, bacon and cheese on it and the fries came with it, I think the chicken wings were £3.50 for 8. Pretty reasonable for the quality so definitely somewhere I'd go again!

The staff here are so lovely and helpful, food is lovely - you won't have to wait long either which is always a bonus! Drinks can be a little on the small side (especially coffees) but the cocktails are amazing!