Partly-inspired by authentic US diners, Fire & Ice is a real gem in the Levenshulme food scene, originally conceived to offer food that wasn’t readily available in this corner of the city, located in an old Co-Op building dating to the 1920s with tons of character and original features. That means creating gourmet takes on iconic classics like steaks and burgers, milkshakes and gelato ice cream, with the emphasis on sourcing quality ingredients from exceptional suppliers, and the star of the show, Bertha, a coal oven which is kept on a high heat so dishes retain maximum flavour.
If it’s good enough for food critic Jay Rayner to fall in love with, it’s probably good enough for us. He felt passionately about the chargrilled food, and to be honest so do we. Prime cuts of Scottish beef are used to make the legendary burger, and there are many standout styles. Like the Ghost, with melted cheese, caramelised onions, crispy lettuce and a homemade ghost pepper sauce, and Slow Mo — 8-hour slow cooked shredded beef topped with gherkins, cheese, caramelised onion and special sauce. The fungi (with sautéed mushroom and mushroom brioche), peri peri chicken, and fryday (tender buttermilk chicken fillet, homemade chilli jam, house mayo, cheese and lettuce) are also top notch.
Beyond those, starters like garlic and chilli prawns, lamb chops, and grilled sticky wings are available, as are a range of subs & wraps (Italian grilled cheese, crispy chicken, halloumi chicken), sizzlers (loaded cheese nachos, chicken, steak, and mix). This is also the place to grab yourself an iconic Philly cheese steak. Alternatively, punt for a steak-proper, whether that’s 8oz Ribeye, peri chicken, or sea bass. Unless you fancy a salad (chicken tikka, chicken & rice, grilled steak, to name just three). A more limited, vegetarian range is available — think Portobello mushroom burgers, grilled halloumi wraps — alongside a selection of sides such as skin on fries, exclusive in-house sauces, and combo boxes if you just can’t decide. Finally, Fire & Ice is also the place for milkshakes and ice cream (for example, chocolate, Ferrero Rocher, knight rider — with Skittles and mini marshmallows — and the billionaire, with bueno, strawberry, and Nutella).