Love Saves the Day

‘Sexy Food’ flashes the neon sign over the door of this right-on cafe at the dodgy end of Deansgate. It’s a place to take the weight off your feet, with Bob Marley playing in the background, Warhol & Haring on the walls & a homely menu. Hearty dishes include pasta with meatballs, a slab of veggie lasagne, or the ‘local cheese plate’ (a bread board piled high with Lancashire cheeses, smoked ham, freshly baked bread & homemade pickle). In the afternoon doorstep-sized moist chocolate brownies washed down with excellent coffee are just the ticket, & it’s a deli & foodstore too – the ceiling-high shelves are stocked with wine, Greek olive oil & Ukrainian bread – so you can pick up dinner & warm it up in front of Coronation Street, the set of which you can almost glimpse from the front window. There’s also a Love Saves the Day coffee shop at 53-55 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, tel: 0161 839 0470.