Australasia Spinningfields

Australasia has just launched a new lunch menu. I went along with my Brother (and recent veggie convert) Paul to check it out. Here is what we discovered…

Since opening in 2011, Australasia has been in most people’s top food venues in Manchester. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a promotion at work or you just fancy really treating yourself, Australasia is a choice option in anyone’s book. But one thing it isn’t is low-cost.

If you’ve been putting off a visit to Australasia, or simply after another excuse to go, the new lunch menu is just for you. The menu aims at bringing a touch of the Australasia experience to lunchtime, without breaking the bank.

There is no getting away from the fact that Australasia is still one of the most impressive looking restaurants in Manchester. It’s recently been updated too, making it lighter, brighter and way more inviting. I think the new look works a treat.

The New Australasia Lunch Menu

The weekday lunch menu is perfect for a leisurely lunch away from your office desk or shopping spree. It’s a mixture of hot and cold dishes with a very simple price structure: 2 plates for £12, 3 plates for £16 or 4 plates (perfect for sharing) for £21.

Just because this is a lunch menu doesn’t mean you are getting a lesser experience though. The team at Australasia have really brought their A game to this, with a real passion for top food and quality service that really shines through.

One of my favourites dishes we tried was the Salt & Pepper Tofu salad, served with extra crunchy rice crackers and chilli dressing. The tofu was cooked perfectly, with a crispy outer layer giving way to a soft, delicate middle. As someone who has tried to cook tofu and failed on a number of occasions I know it’s much harder than it appears. I will be ordering this dish again.

A trip to Australasia wouldn’t be complete without trying some of the sushi – it’s simply the best sushi outside of China Town that you can get in Manchester.

Also to add to my list of ‘will be ordering again’ was the vegetable tempura. Stacked high, it included broccoli, peppers and carrots, all coated in a tasty crispy batter. Simply delicious!

Throughout our lunch, the service at Australasia was excellent throughout. Our waiter Greg helped us when ordering and really added to the experience. I would like to personally thank him and the rest of the staff for making it such a memorable experience.

Cocktails at Australasia Spinningfields

It’s hard to ignore the cocktail menu at Australasia. Including signature classics along with house specials, there is something for everyone on the menu.

The cocktail menu is shown on an iPad, allowing you to not just read about the cocktail choices but see it too before picking. A great idea indeed and one I’d like to see more of!

I’m always a sucker for an old-fashioned and this one did not disappoint! Perfectly balanced in flavour and with extra oaky smoke, I was more than impressed when it arrived.

Australasia – A Second Opinion

Paul Kelly Says:

This was my first visit to Australasia and I loved it. The place itself looked very impressive, yet still felt very comfortable. The food throughout was excellent. I really liked the way the asparagus skewers was cooked. I’ve never seen it like that before. I was impressed with the way our dessert was presented too! What made it an experience, though, was the service. Our waiter Greg was superb, attentive and really made my day. I would love to go there again!

Overall, our experience at Australasia was fantastic and comes highly recommended. If you’ve always wanted to try the Australasia experience but were a little put off by the price the lunch menu is the ideal opportunity to try it out.

The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3AP

Lunch Menu Served Mon-Friday 12pm-5pm