Sam’s Chop House has been serving food since 1872. L.S. Lowry ate here almost every day for decades — there’s a bronze statue of him at his regular table. That’s not a gimmick. It’s genuine Manchester history in a room that hasn’t changed much since the Victorian era.
The food is traditional British chophouse cooking. Lamb chops, corned beef hash, steak and kidney pudding, liver and onions. Proper food that your grandparents would recognise. The corned beef hash is the signature dish and it’s earned that status — crispy on top, soft inside, a fried egg on it. Don’t overthink it.
The room is downstairs in a basement with tiled walls, dark wood, and the kind of atmosphere that takes a century to build. It’s busy at lunch with the business crowd and quieter in the evenings. Sunday lunch is worth booking for — roast beef, all the trimmings.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is the sister restaurant around the corner on Cross Street, same era, similar menu. Both are worth visiting. Mr Thomas’s has more of a pub feel.
Prices are reasonable for the city centre. A main course is twelve to twenty quid. The beer selection is decent. Wine list does the job.
Back Pool Fold is a side street off Cross Street, between King Street and St Ann’s Square. Dead central.
Manchester history you can eat.