I tried Miller & Carter's £20 3-course menu but there's a catch for diners

If someone suggested you could enjoy a three-course meal featuring a 7oz steak for just £20, you'd likely scoff at the idea. Given the recent surge in food prices and the subsequent rise in restaurant costs, finding affordable dining options has become increasingly challenging.

However, there are still some fantastic deals to be found, especially if you're not particular about eating out in the evening. One such place is Miller and Carter Steakhouse, which offers a reasonably priced lunch menu that costs £17.95 for two courses or £20.95 for three.

Not only is this deal available from 12pm to 5pm from Monday to Friday, but it's also on offer between noon and 3pm on Saturdays, making it a viable option for those who work during the week, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Parent Editor Emma Gill decided to take advantage of the weekend offer, visiting the Lowton location off the East Lancs Road. However, there are other Miller and Carter locations scattered throughout Greater Manchester, including Stockport, Bury, Wigan, and one on King Street in the city centre.

And of course, let's not forget London, Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds and Bournemouth amongst others.

The dress code is smart-casual, which was perfect for Emma's laid-back Saturday afternoon attire. The venue has a relaxed atmosphere, complete with a cosy open fire and a variety of seating areas, ranging from large group tables to leather bench booths.

Starters include a choice of four dishes: baked cheddar mushrooms, salt and pepper calamari, and Thai spiced butternut squash and carrot soup.

But it was the sticky chipotle chicken that really grabbed Emma's attention - sweet chipotle-glazed chicken bites served with a mouth-watering chilli jam dipping sauce. It's a generous portion too, with three large pieces of chicken.

There's a plethora of mains to select from as well, including, naturally, the meat that these 'masters of steak' are renowned for.

The 50-day aged black angus steak is featured on the lunch menu, in the form of a 7oz rump and, as per usual, customers can get to decide how it's cooked. For an additional £6.50, you can upgrade to a 5oz filet mignon.

Emma's steak was flawlessly cooked to medium rare, accompanied by parsley butter, onion loaf, balsamic-glazed tomato and seasoned fries.

While the 30-day aged steak burger also sounded enticing, Emma opted for the signature steak sandwich - sliced fillet steak, again cooked to your preference, served on toasted ciabatta with mayonnaise, onion loaf and fries.

Emma would typically pair steak with a three peppercorn sauce, but the sandwich comes with Miller and Carter's famous beef dripping sauce, which she had heard such rave reviews about, she decided to have the same with the steak too, for an extra £1.95.

It turned out to be the right choice and the savoury gravy - brimming with flavours of garlic, red wine, beef stock and more - was simply divine and just perfect for dunking those crispy, golden chips, as well as the sandwich, which otherwise would have been a bit dry.

Naturally, it's not all about the steaks at this joint. Catering to all tastes, Emma's daughter opted for the classic fish and chips - a beautifully crispy golden battered haddock served with chunky chips, pea puree and tartare sauce.

The restaurant's attention to detail was commendable, especially when dealing with her peanut allergy - her daughter's meal arrived separately, clearly marked with a little green flag.

It's these thoughtful touches, coupled with an open kitchen, that provide diners with an extra layer of confidence.

The menu also boasts other main courses such as grilled salmon fillet, ultimate half rack of barbecue ribs and chargrilled chicken breast.

Although Emma didn't have space for individual desserts, the shared salted caramel profiteroles and white chocolate creme brulee were as delightful as the rest of the offerings.

Of course, guests will need to factor in the cost of drinks when dining out, but the prices here are pretty standard. If you're after a quality meal, particularly a steak, you can't go wrong.

The last day to savour the lunch menu at the Lowton branch is 6 December, before it transitions to the festive selection. To check the dates at your local restaurant, visit the website.