Miller & Carter Steakhouse, Manchester

Kate Feld

Miller & Carter Steakhouse brings its traditional steak and sides to Manchester’s King Street – but does it measure up?

There is about the steakhouse that air of the boys’ club. You expect to walk in and see jowly titans of industry doing deals and knocking back Manhattans. Or rich older men and their young “friends” canoodling over T-bones. What, just me? The steakhouse is an institution as American as mutually-assured destruction. With origins in early 1900’s New York political fundraisers known as “beefsteaks”, where women and utensils were barred, by the 1950s it came to define the dining out experience. And, after decades in the catering industry hinterland, steakhouses suddenly look attractive to UK restaurateurs frantically casting about for another US comfort food shtick to milk for profit.

I love steak almost as much as I love uncool, prehistorically outdated restaurant concepts – so I was interested when I heard Miller & Carter was opening on King Street. The steakhouse runs 30 locations around the country. Having just had a great experience at Côte, I was ready to completely rescind my long-held distaste for big catering chains. But while my experience at Miller & Carter wasn’t bad, it’s not going to send me rushing back to eat there.

Steakhouses suddenly look attractive to restaurateurs casting about for another US comfort food shtick

The décor sets you up for disappointment. Instead of playing up the Mad Men-style retro romance of the steakhouse, they went for identikit hotel restaurant with feature lighting and Jamiroquai on tinny speakers. The menu’s got a big selection of starters and sides, all leaning slightly to the naff side of traditional in their constitution. Starter-wise, the calamari was fine. Scallops were accurately cooked, but the unimaginative mango salsa and pancetta alongside didn’t bring much to the party.

There’s little choice on the liquor front; a surprise as I associate steakhouses with cocktails and whiskeys. I couldn’t fault my Dark and Stormy, however, and my friend liked her Pinot Grigio all right. The steaks themselves, all 28 day-aged British beef, were perfectly good – a porterhouse and a fillet cooked the way we’d requested. They do things the old fashioned way here, as each steak comes with baked potato or chips, that steakhouse mainstay of a wedge of iceberg lettuce topped with your choice of dressing (blue cheese is the classic choice) and their “special onion loaf.” The latter’s not that special – claggy and wet, like a sad gang of failed onion rings banded together for safety.

We tried a couple of sides. The lobster tail was dry and chewy, like it had been reheated. My friend’s mac and cheese was a bodged-up thing, in which the mac and the cheese never really got to know each other. We didn’t try dessert – those two big steaks defeated us – but they look to have a decent selection of sweets. For this meal the bill topped £80, which seemed a bit steep given that we’d had one drink each and no pudding. All in all, it’s one to try if you’re passionately fond of steak, want to take your dad out for dinner, or have a vegetarian friend you’re angry at. But if atmosphere and value are what matter the most to you, steer clear. See what I did there? Steer… oh, never mind.

This is an independent review, but our writer didn’t pay for her meal. For more info on our editorial policy, read our About page.

King StreetManchesterM2 4LQ View map
Telephone: 0161 839 2846 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday12:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Tuesday12:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Wednesday12:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Thursday12:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Friday12:00pm - 12:00am
  • Saturday12:00pm - 12:00am
  • Sunday12:00pm - 11:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Miller & Carter Steakhouse, Manchester

Until
ComedyManchester
Comedy Balloon

Every Wednesday at Ape & Apple, Manchester’s official underground comedy club, Comedy Balloon’s friendly and warm comedy night takes place.

free entry
A white, middle aged man with short brown hair and wearing a light blue shirt, sits at a round table by a window and against a white wall. He has his arms crossed on the table.
LiteratureManchester
David Nicholls at Central Library

Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing, Creative Manchester and Waterstones Deansgate, best-selling author David Nicholls is one of the trailblazers of this year’s Manchester Literature Festival.

from £10.00
MusicManchester
Manchester Psych Fest 2024

Manchester Psych Fest, the UK’s trailblazing psychedelic music and arts festival has announced a massive bill for its 2024 edition.

from £45.20

Where to go near Miller & Carter Steakhouse, Manchester

Manchester
Restaurant
Suri

This beautiful King Street restaurant specialises in high quality Middle East-meets-Mediterranean small plates.

Mr Thomas’s Chop House
City Centre
Restaurant
Mr Thomas’s Chop House

Mr Thomas’s Chop House first opened as a public house in 1870. It has beautiful arches and Victorian tiling, does classic British cooking and has an excellent wine list.

The Rice Bowl Chinese Restaurant.
City Centre
Restaurant
The Rice Bowl

This family-run business is widely-recognised one of the city’s finest Chinese restaurants. Whether you’re looking for authentic, unusual or just plain tasty, Rice Bowl has it all.

City Centre
King Street Manchester

King Street is one of the most picturesque parts of Manchester with buildings designed by Alfred Waterhouse and C.R. Cockerell. Once Manchester’s financial epicenter, it’s now home to high-end retail and fine dining.

Manchester
Restaurant
10 Tib Lane

At a time when many city-centre restaurants are fighting to be the loudest and most ostentatious, 10 Tib Lane is all about elegant, sophisticated dining.

Manchester
Restaurant
New Wave Ramen

New Wave Ramen is a stylish, friendly Japanese ramen bar and restaurant on Tib Lane in the heart of Manchester.

City Centre
Cross Street Chapel

Located in the midst of Deansgate, this community chapel regularly hosts cultural events, socials and activities. Check out their website for info and upcoming performances.

Manchester
Restaurant
Grafene

Grafene is a bar and restaurant with a relaxed take on fine dining.

Rapha Clubhouse Manchester
City Centre
Shop
Rapha Clubhouse Manchester

AKA cyclist heaven, Rapha is more than just a cycle-wear shop. It’s a place for anyone who loves cycling to congregate and celebrate the sport together.

Kala Bistro
Manchester
Restaurant
Kala Bistro

Kala is the latest restaurant from acclaimed chef-restaurateur Gary Usher, who also owns Sticky Walnut and Hispi. It’s a welcome addition to the ever-growing and improving King Street food scene.

Manchester
Mash Tun

Mash Tun is a craft beer and live music venue at the former Grafene site on Manchester’s King Street.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Affecting contemporary performances and fresh, relevant takes on enduring classics, we pick out shows that help us scrutinise the world we live in.

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.