A sight to behold, Steaks on a Plane stands out like a Boeing 737 parked on the side of a busy Bolton road. A relic of the hospitality industry’s quirky restaurant revolution, the spot on the A676 has been turning heads for nearly a decade.
Steaks on a Plane is one of the many popular attractions in the old mill town and attracts customers from as far away as Scotland. The restaurant’s concept is based on the bizarre and successful film “Snakes on a Plane” by Samuel L. Jackson. However, since I have lived in neighboring Leigh, I have never been able to visit the restaurant.
Luckily, I was able to head to Bolton for my weekly halal food report to finally satisfy my urge.
READ MORE: The big breakfast at Manchester Airport was the fuel we needed for the four-hour flight, but there was a shock
When Steaks on a Plane opened in 2015, pictures showed a huge, gleaming white airplane that had been gutted and transformed into a brand new takeaway.
The cockpit was still intact and a kitchen was built in. Today the plane could use a new coat of paint and the windows could be cleaned again so that you can better see the Fiat Puntos, Toyota Yaris and BMWs driving past.
When I arrived at the venue I was not exactly thrilled and the walk up the creaky metal stairs didn’t help matters. In fact, I was expecting the worst.
The menu is not particularly extensive and consists of three main courses. There are the steaks they are known for, with prices ranging from £8-11.
Wraps in various styles such as Philly Cheesesteak, Peri Chicken and Chicken and Beef Wrap. These cost between £5.50 and £6.
Then there are the burgers, which range from steak, chicken tikka, Mexican burgers and more. The most expensive burger was the steak and fried egg burger, which would cost you £6.50 if you opted for the beef version.
As the place is known for its steaks, I decided to shell out £10 from the nearest cash machine and buy myself a customer favourite: mixed steak and chips. Essentially, this is a very healthy portion of sliced chicken and beef steaks served on a bed of chips and salad, with your choice of sauce.
While the concept of Steaks on a Plane sounds like a big joke, the food isn’t. Although my overstuffed box was a little overloaded, the food was truly delicious.
The star of the show was the steak strips, addictively well seasoned with a dash of herbs and spices. While it may be too salty and hard to chew for some, I was in heaven.
Unfortunately, the chicken pieces couldn’t keep up and were quite bland, but the staff had stuffed so much steak onto my plate that I was more than satisfied.
As I carefully descended the rickety steps of Steaks on a Plane, the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” flashed through my mind.
I came to Steaks on a Plane looking for a joke, but instead I found a not-so-hidden Bolton gem.
