Bottomless brunch is really taking off. Firmly established as a Sunday staple for groups of mates down in London, Manchester has now caught up, and establishments offering bottomless brunch are blossoming everywhere. Latest to join the party is the NQ gem, Cottonopolis. So I took a pal of mine to try it out and see what all the fuss was about.
The Rules
Our table was booked at 12pm midday on a Saturday, but bottomless brunch is actually available any time between 10am-2pm on both Saturdays and Sundays. To get the bottomless drinks (Bloody Marys, Bellinis or Prosecco at £12.50) with your brunch, you need to order from either the Waffles section of the menu or one of the Specials. You can have bottomless drinks for a total of 1.25 hours meaning you can have unlimited prosecco during that time if you please! The only rule they have is that you have to have finished your previous drink before ordering another round. Simple enough.
On Arrival
We head over to a corner table at the back of the restaurant where we slouched on the comfy brown leather bench seating. The waiter then brought us some ice-cold water for the table along with the brunch menu, which has an awful lot to brag about. There are snacks that hark back to Cottonopolis’ Asian-inspired menu, with dishes such as Beef and Quail Egg Nigiri and Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Maki Rolls at £5 each.
What makes the concept of bottomless brunch so brilliant is that it is exactly what you want from life the morning after the night before. Yep, bottomless brunch is dynamite on a hangover. So, to give Cottonopolis a fair trial, I turned up with a teeny hangover and a hearty appetite. Let the boozy brunch commence…
The interiors at Cottonopolis add a sexy and luxe side to your Saturday brunch.
The Food and Drink
Now we’re talkin’. We ordered the Wagyu Brisket and Poached Egg (£14.50) that had silky orange yolk, spongy crumpets and flavoursome, pulled brisket meat. The Asian flavours really came through and added a layer of distinct quality to what can sometimes be the greasiest meal of the day when ordered at your average go-to for brunch. My companion ordered the Crispy Duck Leg with Fried Duck Egg (£14). The egg was cooked exactly how she likes it: extra crispy. We loved how the menu had classic brunch items with a definite Asian influence; it’s what Cottonopolis does best. We somehow had room for a side of Sweet Potato and Sesame Hash Browns (£5), which were a marvellous twist on everyone’s essential brunch item. It even came with a dipping sauce of tomato sauce with a spicy kick.
When it came to drinks, I started my Saturday the right way: with a Bloody Mary. Although it wasn’t in an elaborate glass, and there was no stick of celery in sight, my little Bloody Mary was just the right level of spicy and went down a treat. It was a good way to prepare my stomach for an afternoon of drinking. Hangover subsided, I moved onto Bellinis. This classic cocktail was lovely – not too strong, smooth, sweet and added a more tart twist to the brunch. My companion ordered Prosecco from the get-go and had no regrets.
Beef and eggs? We think Cottonopolis have come up with the perfect brunch strategy.
Summary
Bottomless brunches should come with a warning: you will want to carry on drinking all day. Suffice to say, my friend and spent the rest of the day hopping from bar to bar… a fantastic way to start the weekend.
