Rusholme Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: “You would not realise you are in Moss Side” at the Whitworth’s “beautiful” and “family-friendly” glass-walled conservatory, overlooking Whitworth Park. Its location (above all) and victuals make it an “excellent place for lunch”, with the “three daily changing salads particularly recommended”.

2023 Review: This vast street-food and entertainment concept accommodating up 1,000 visitors in an old freight depot by Piccadilly station is simply “another world” – “a mind-blowing-sized venue and organisation” where “the food is not really the main attraction” – although there is plenty of sufficient quality to earn high ratings, from 15 different restaurants and bars in an “eclectic mix” that ranges from Voodoo Rays pizza, Brad Carter’s One Stop Döner Bar and asador grills from Baratxuri to tacos from Madre.

2022 Review: A curry house like no other, with the all-vegan dishes named after Smiths' songs; superfan Max Paley founded it as a delivery service from a kitchen inside the Retro music venue (address listed; sit-in dining planned for post-lockdown). Dishes include Girlfriend In A Korma and How Saag Is Now?.

2022 Review: Justin Crawford & Luke Cowdrey (aka the ill-titled ‘Unabombers`‘, who also run Electrik and Volta) are behind this “rather glam space” in an old Victorian office block. Serving small plates – inspired by their “global DJing trips” – fans say it’s “a mighty fine place to dine”; others that it’s “just OK”.

The “very basic setting” shouldn’t put you off a visit to this cheap ’n’ cheerful Ethiopian pitstop, above a kebab shop on Canal Street. As is typical for the cuisine, many dishes are served on an injera (a large circular bread) – “there are excellent veggie options on the short menu with reasonably priced beer”.

“Fantastic food” has been a consistent refrain of guests at Patrick Hannity’s West Didsbury brasserie for more than 35 years – many of whom return again and again – “we only go on my birthday (due to distance) but it’s the meal I most look forward to each year”. The modern British cooking with European touches is always up-to-date on seasonality, and in 2008 Patrick became one of the first restaurateurs to invest in his own smallholding to provide ingredients for the kitchen. “The fixed-price menu (weekday lunch and early evening) is fairly short on options but reliably high on quality” – and at £16 per person for two courses or £20 for three represents tremendous value.

2022 Review: “Delicious, super-spicy” Sichuanese cooking sets the taste buds on fire at this “friendly” Chinatown operation, with offshoots near the university in Oxford Road, in Leeds and York. Top Tip: “the hot poached chicken is fantastic”.

This “excellent Japanese restaurant” – now 10 years old – offers “unpretentious homely Japanese cooking and a great sake menu”. All the favourites are here, from noodles and tempura to kara-age chicken and gyoza, with the exception of sushi – but you can replicate its flavours by ordering assorted sashimi over the bowl of sushi-seasoned rice.

Warren Yeung (cousin to Harry of the big Yang Sing) runs this long-serving staple (on the site of the original Yang Sing) which is still a treasured linchpin of Chinatown for some Mancunians and is still consistently well-rated for its Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. This year’s worst comment? “service is patchy at busy times”.

“This excellent small restaurant is not to be missed” – “a gem hidden in plain sight on Great Ancoats Street”. “The menu changes frequently and is driven by seasonal locally sourced produce and the passions of Kevin and Rachel Choudhary”. “It’s a relaxing space, an oasis full of potted plants and herbs, where conversation is easy, portions are generous, and dishes combine traditional ideas and concepts with innovative contemporary additions”.

“Such a wonderful experience” – this famous Grade II listed chamber has been at the heart of the City’s dining culture for over a century (Charles Rolls first met Henry Royce here in 1904 before going on to found Rolls Royce). Under chef Adam Reid’s ten-year stint, it has yet to recapture the Michelin star (the city’s first) that it lost in 1975, but his twelve-course tasting menu (for £130 per person, £145 per person on Saturday night) is consistently rated as “good” to “outstanding” in our annual diners’ poll. Top Menu Tip – “wonderful afternoon tea with a glass of bubbly; a massive choice of tea and coffee (bottomless) and really good selection of savory and sweet treats” served in the nearby ‘Tea Room’, overlooking St Peter’s Square.

This splendid 1811 pub with upstairs restaurant has been rescued as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Ancoats, winning praise for its “brilliant pub food”, plus “good beer and wines” and an “awesome Sunday lunch!”