Pot Kettle Black

Pot Kettle Black is the pick for coffee obsessives who still want a proper plate. Founded by two former professional rugby players who fell for Australian coffee culture, it built its name on specialty coffee, and the brunch menu is dependable rather than showy, with dishes such as eggs benedict topped with house-cured espresso and maple bacon, and French toast with lemon mascarpone. It ranks just below Another Heart to Feed because the cooking is more conventional, but it claws value back on comfort and range: two attractive city-centre sites, including the Grade II*-listed Barton Arcade near Deansgate plus Angel Gardens on Rochdale Road, a wide spread of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and reservations recommended at weekends rather than a pure walk-in scramble. Indicative spend is around £14 per person, making it slightly better value than the picks above. The trade-off is that you're choosing consistency and coffee over the boldest menu in town.