Harden's says
The Whalley Range area of Manchester is home to this exclusive supper club-style restaurant with only one employee - chef-patron Eddie Shepherd.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Vegan (or vegetarian) and brilliant” – well-travelled chef Eddie Shepherd “works alone, cooking and serving with real passion and exciting techniques”, creating twelve-course meals for £125 per person that are “a must for exemplary plant-based cuisine”. No more than eight guests gather in the dining room of his South Manchester home for each meal – and many are prepared to wait three months for the privilege. In late 2024 it was listed as one of the best 100 vegetarian restaurants in the world by the We’re Smart Green Guide. Top Tip – it’s BYOB, and there’s a fridge if you need to chill your drink.
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Walled Gardens Underground Restaurant?
17 Alness Road, Manchester, M16 8SP
Restaurant details
The Walled Gardens Underground Restaurant Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Having tried a few times to get a reservation, we got lucky and we flew in from Holland for the weekend especially to try this place along with a couple of local friends.This was an amazing mix of chilled, friendly service in a totally relaxed unfussy atmosphere with amazing vegetarian/vegan food. If you can imagine Michelin Starred food, served on exquisite crockery, by your own personal chef in a contemporary kitchen diner then this is it! I have eaten in Starred restaurants and the food here surpassed many of my previous experiences. Eddie was a great host explaining each dish and chatting to all the customers, making it feel as though we were members of a dining club. I won't spoil the surprise of the changing tasting menu but be prepared to eat things that you never imagined you would! Think Chrysanthemums, Pine cones, Spruce etc Apart from the really experimental you also have staples such as Treacle Bread with Butter and a different take on nettle soup. All the courses were superlative and the 4 hours we were there passed so quickly. An added advantage is that it is BYO and so you don't have to pay restaurant prices for wine or soft drinks and the tasting menu is half the price of a starred place. It was a truly unique dining experience which exceeded our (already high) expectations and one we definitely intend to repeat, if we are lucky enough to get a reservation. Even if you are not veggie or vegan the sights, smells, textures and tastes of the food will enthral you. I cannot recommend it too highly."
"We’ve been lucky to dine with Eddie at The Walled Gardens many times now — sometimes for cosy date nights, other times with meat-eating friends and family — and every single visit has been a real treat. Everyone we’ve brought along agrees that Eddie’s food and his hospitality are truly second to none. Eddie serves a tasting menu and each dish he creates is a remarkable combination of artistry, science, and pure culinary genius. Every course is beautifully presented, full of surprises, and has incredible depth of flavour. But beyond being an incredibly talented chef, Eddie is just a genuinely lovely soul — warm, welcoming, and phenomenally passionate about what he does. His hospitality and creativity make every visit unforgettable."
17 Alness Road, Manchester, M16 8SP
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 2pm‑6 pm |
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