Now, I'm not one for the club scene, nor am I one for drinking, but the Fab cafe definately caught my full attention when my friends and I wanted a bit of grub near teatime.
My initial reaction on entering was "argh, I can't see anything" but then it soon turned into "argh, there's a weird monster thing stood next to me". Ha, it's alright, twas just a life size model of a scary monster thing. I got told what it was called, but the name has evaded me, but it's from Dr Who. Now, on the subject of Dr Who, any fan has got to have heard of the fab cafe already, or if not really should stand in the corner and think about what they have done - there's a DALEK! A nice big one in the corner on the left hand side as you enter! It's really cool! :D
Anyway, this place is covered from top to toe in all sorts of memorabilia from when I was little. Shows like "Button Moon" and "Rainbow" feature here, but it is definately dominated by a fair amount of sci-fi stuff. Dr Who is a definate all round presense here, featuring almost everywhere. There's Thunderbirds stuff, random spaceships on the ceiling, and every so often you stumble across one of them low quality, but big fun arcade games you used to spend so much time on!
Sitting on the comfy couch in the corner, I got a fair view of the entire place - after getting used to the dark, you can see that the lighting is very fitting to the mood of the place. Colourful yet minimal lighting combined with the good but controlled music is a perfect way for you to enjoy a quiet chat with your friends without getting a sore throat afterwards or getting neckstrain from craning over to listen to your buddy. It kinda reminds you of how you used to sit in your dimly lit but warm living room on a winter night watching really cool movies and programmes on tv.
On subject of tv, there are lots of films shown in little tv screens all around the cafe. They show really good films, like when I was there, it was X-men and one of the old James Bond films. All good stuff really. Special events or film marathons are listed in the Metro.
Right, I now proceed to the food. I have never seen a menu that can be compared to this here place. Fab cafe at teatime offers the best retro food I have ever thought of having, from tinned Macaroni Cheese to SPAM (yes really!), Smash to 'uge Yorkshire puds. You can choose three types of tinned foodstuffs for £2, you can get "things on toast" from £1.10, "things on waffles" from £1.40, and Big yorkshie puds are just that - BIG! For £1.80, it's like the cheapest and happiest meal you'll ever consume! :D They even have Vesta meals to choose from! To satisfy your sweet tooth, you can have a Fab or Zoom Lolly, ice cream with hundred and thousands on, or rice pudding with strawberry jam! Ahh. Drinks are at a reasonable price compared to the food - they have to profit from somewhere - but even so, it is still very cheap in comparison with other places in Manchester.
Now, the best bit of my visit was when the guy at the bar at which we ordered our food asked us for a pen to write down the order, then asked us how much it was. It was quietly but tidily non-professional in a very laid back way. Fantastic! And later on, when it was gone 7:30, we asked them whether we could order a a hot chocolate. The answer: "Erm, alright then". Brilliant! :D
The Fab Cafe is located on Portland street, on the side nearer to Oxford Road. It is about 5 minutes walk from St Peter's Square, which is the nearest Metrolink stop. Students have a good deal since buses going up and down Oxford Road give good access to this cafe/bar, but the rest of the world can take a small walk from Piccadilly Gardens where all the other buses end up. It'll only take about 10 minutes.
Anyway, I took a few photos whilst I was there. It's only my first time ever there, but it has made a lasting impression on me, and I am definately gonna visit again, even if it's just for the smash.....hmmm...smash....! :D
Pictures of Fab Café
Fab Menu
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NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Huge room, own bathroom with bath and shower, very cheap Disadvantages: Simple breakfast, miserable receptionist, bit of a walk to bus station
Aug 26th, 2004
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