Harden's says
The team behind El Gato Negro have opened a second 110-cover site in the city. Canto is in the Fairbairn building in Ancoats, and the in-part-cork-walled space serves 'modern Portuguese' cuisine inspired by chef/patron Simon Shaw’s travels to Lisbon, as well as head chef Carlos Gomes’ upbringing in Porto.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“This place has it all” – “good vibe”, “friendly, efficient staff” and “excellent food”, say fans of this Ancoats follow-up to Simon Shaw’s El Gato Negro tapas bar, with Portuguese influences from head chef Carlos Gomes.
Summary
This “really good tapas” spot in Ancoats is “hugely popular”, so “booking is a must” – “the only drawback is that tables are reserved for 1.5-hour slots, so it’s difficult to make a night of it no matter how much you spend on wine!”. Billed as a Portuguese follow-up to Simon Shaw’s El Gato Negro when it opened five years ago under head chef Carlos Gomes, the venue now describes its food puzzlingly as ‘Mediterranean tapas’ – which would exclude the many Portuguese dishes on the menu…
Summary
This “buzzing place with a fine selection of Mediterranean tapas” is Simon Shaw’s follow-up to El Gato Negro, where he pioneered Hispanic cuisine in Manchester. The “laid-back atmosphere”, “authentic food” and “great wine list” all impress, while head chef Carlos Gomes adds a taste of his native Portugal to the mix.
For 33 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 Canto?
Cutting Room Square, Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5DH
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £20.00 |  |
|
|
Tapas / Dim Sum
| Main | Pudding |
|---|---|
| £9.00 | £3.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Cutting Room Square, Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5DH
Opening hours
| Monday | 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
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