Trinity Square is an absolute goldmine for delicious wares, and a recent contender to join the top rankin’ is Curious Manor. Downstairs is a bar stocked to the brim with the most intriguing solutions, and a smartly dressed ‘tender who’ll knock you up a spiffing concoction. With the recent sunny weather, it’d be just swell out front, but we were far too intrigued as to what was waiting for us upstairs.
Bogs. In the women’s there are three cubicles – Victorian, seventies, and modern day – each themed accordingly. Whatever genius came up with this deserves a brand new top hat. Throughout the rest of the restaurant area, you can’t help but turn your head in the direction of massive disco balls, posh skellybobs, big plastic sheep, and Gawd-knows what else. The quirk blossoms.
Drinks. A Hendrick’s Bramble (£8) for me, and a Marshmallow BBQ (£9) for him. The Hendrick’s Bramble came with an adorably tiny bottle of blackberry liqueur with a label reading ‘Pour me’, plus rosewater gin and an actual blackberry to cut through the tart refresh. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. The sweet Marshmallow BBQ came lit, so you can toast the owd ‘mallow. Well impressed.
Scran. We decided to go for a selection of small plates – mushroomy arancini (£6) served with parmesan and aioli; a whole baked camembert (£8.50) which came perfectly melted and doused with sweet onion chutney; thick and easy salt and pepper squid (£6.50), served in a little frying basket; grilled goat’s cheese (£6) with a moreishly eccentric orange marmalade; sea bass (£6.50) with wilted spinach and romesco sauce – fresh, salty and reminiscent of European holidays on a breezy beach. The Curious albondigas (£6) stopped the show – beautifully juicy, fall-apart meatballs in a thick, rich ragu that had us elongating Ms for a long time.
We’d definitely had our fill, but the dessert menu stirred something inside our big, greedy bellies. Maybe if we hadn’t overindulged, we would’ve chosen something from the cabinet of dreams – the most beautifully calorific cakes looked fresh and enticing – but it was vanilla pannacotta (£6) with Hendrick’s-poached blackberries for me, tying a knot with my beverage. The Curious mess (£5.50) came in a tall sundae glass scattered with popping candy. We polished them off rapidly.
Everything at Curious Manor has had much attention paid to its detail, with cocktails, food and decor that’ll both baffle and impress all in one go. It may look neatly tucked into the building from the outside, polite and quiet, but don’t be fooled. There’s a lid to be lifted, a rabbit hole to tumble down, and lashings of eccentricity to lap up. Bridie Squires Trinity Square, NG1 4AF. 0115 777 3760
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