Food review: Las Iguanas Deansgate

Stringing along in the midst of Deansgate’s wind-back eateries, we opted for Latin American rather than the usual at TGI Fridays or Frankie & Benny’s. We stepped into an interior which boasted cascading, bauble-shaped lighting, with the bar brimming with ice-cold coolers bringing a smirk to our faces.

Appealing to the free-flowing drinkers, or to those lured to non-alcoholic options, there was 2-for-1 on all cocktails and coolers, a much needed treat after surfing the crammed streets of Manchester. We selected the Citrus cooler which was a fusion between crushed lemons, lime, ice and lemonade.

After expecting the sharp flavours to send shock waves through the body, the combination of spring flavours worked well to mellow down the acidity. For those who savour sweet bursts of fruit, the raspberry cooler was concentrated with raspberry puree, swirling with a sprig of bottle-green elderflower. The fragrant elderflower marinated into the sweetness creating a distinctive, invigorating flavour. 

As for the starters, our hungry hands dived into a sharing platter of home cooked tortilla chips. They were generously topped with salsa, guacamole, soured cream and ‘pico de gallo’. The tapas sharing tray felt like a cross between home comfort food you would prepare for an evening under the duvet, and the toppling nacho box you would gobble at the cinema.   

Commencing onto main meals, the atmosphere buzzed with chatter, the smell of chicken on charcoal does tend to bristle the senses. Chunky helpings of succulent chicken pieces were coated with a honey peri-peri sauce. The churrasco skewers were built fuller with red onions, with the peppers soaked in a paprika and cumin marinade. These were then flame grilled and plated up with an accompaniment of cassava fries, or even curly fries.   

Often enough a simple, hearty burger can satisfy the hungriest of stomachs, and driest of mouths. We certainly voted on the authenticity of the Las Iguanas chargrilled plumped, oversized burger, making it the meal showstopper. The toasted bun was smothered with a blend of creamy tomato and gherkin sauce. If you’ve ever wondered what creates the green tinge to American burgers, this is it.

Enveloped around the ever so generous chicken breast, the sauce added an extra punch of sweet and sour. We made sure not to stop there as we crammed in another spoonful of slaw and chips. 

We dined beside the feature wall gazing at the shadows which reflected through shades of blue and red. Boxes were carefully shaped and engineered within the wall, each shape adorned with symbols connected to the day of the dead. This created a whimsical setting as bursts of colour ran through the grill house; the perfect ambience for our food.