Sometimes, cheese and bread is the sticking plaster we all need. When the rain is pouring, or the hangover is pounding, head to Northern Soul to get the comfort food you crave. Born in a corrugated iron shack before finding its home on Tib Street, Northern Soul has been a saviour on the city’s food scene since 2015. The UK’s first grilled cheese restaurant, it even counts Man Vs Food’s Adam Richman among its fans.  

Northern Soul’s creative variations on the classic grilled cheese and its not-so-secret cheddar, mozzarella and gruyere blend are just some of the draws keeping hungry locals queuing. Get exotic with a Hawaii 5.0 (£9.50), inject some Americana with the New Yorker (£10.50), heaped with beef pastrami, rocket and smoky mustard and pickle or feed your inner Italian with Al’s Pesto Fresco (£9.50). 

Despite Northern Soul wearing grilled cheese on its sleeve, it’s not all sandwiches around here. Mac and cheese, jumbo wings and fries of all kinds – from truffle, jalapeno, bacon or sriracha-glazed – shake things up a little. Did I mention that every grilled cheese comes topped with a giant pickle? These colossal, crunchy green beacons alone are worth the visit.  

Whether you’re looking for a lunch hangout with friends, a first date spot or a pit stop while Northern Quarter window-shopping, Northern Soul is always the correct answer.