The Main Pub
Manchester
Jan. 9, 2024
Until a few years ago, I didn’t like to eat. It was a chore on the same level as sleeping: While it could be pleasurable, it felt like a hassle that got in the way. At home, eating entailed cooking and cleaning, which could take hours. Eating out at a restaurant solved those problems, but dramatically increased the cost. So I felt stuck between a rock and a hard place: In order to live, I had to deal with the hassle.
All that changed when a friend introduced me to the happy hour. Now I could have great food at good prices with none of the hassle of preparing the food myself. I wouldn’t say that I’ve become a foodie, but I have become obsessed with finding the best combination of food, price and ambiance.
In other words, the perfect happy hour.
That search brought me to The Main Pub, a well regarded bar and restaurant in the center of Manchester.
It was a cold and drizzly day, so I was looking forward to some hot food to combat the chill.
The interior of the restaurant presented an interesting contrast. The lighting was bright but not blindingly so, and the lights brought out a warm glow from the dark wood and brick that made up the building and furniture. The wreaths behind the bar in particular were a nice touch; they gave the bar a festive feeling without feeling too holiday-like.
But I wasn’t there to look. I was there to eat and drink.
I started with the latter, diving in with a Manhattan. It consists of whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters and a maraschino cherry. The mix favored the whiskey, with the vermouth serving to accent the alcohol without overpowering it.
Next I went for something a little lighter, a margarita. I’ve learned to replace salt around the rim with sugar, to prevent the salt from falling into the drink and ruining the taste. It was refreshing and a good balance to the Manhattan.
The food arrived just as I finished my second drink. I started with the French Onion soup. The mozzarella cheese on top was browned to a nice crispiness around the edges. The soup itself was good, with a saltiness that complimented the onion flavor. There was a hint of sweetness in the soup, though, that didn’t mesh with the rest of the flavors though.
The soup and the alcohol definitely had me warmed up, so it was time to cool it down with a garden salad. The lettuce was crisp and fresh with a lemony highlight. The ranch dressing was thick and creamy.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a happy hour menu without chicken wings, so I ordered the Buffalo wings well done. They weren’t quite as crispy as I hoped they would be, but the Buffalo sauce was tangy and aromatic.
Finally I got to the main dish I’d been waiting for: the reuben sliders.
I’d been craving corned beef for months, but the richness of a reuben sandwich makes it hard for me to finish. The slider was the perfect compromise.
The sauerkraut was the star of the sliders, as it formed a kind of taste bridge between the heartiness of the corned beef and the smoothness of the thousand island dressing. I would go back to The Main Pub just for those sliders.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of The Main Pub. There were enough people around for a pleasing din. The food was good, and the price was definitely right. Each item only cost $6, including the drinks. The Main Pub is pretty darn close to a perfect happy hour spot in my book.
The Main Pub offers Happy Hour from 3 – 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
