Greater Manchester Restaurant Guide

“Cool but fun” – this atmospheric Living Ventures operation off Deansgate is “surprisingly airy” for somewhere underground, and all reporters “love the place” thanks to its “impressive fusion food” and “well-informed and helpful staff”.

“The glitterati come out at night” to this “vibrant”, “see-and-be-seen” Italian in the city-centre – by day more of a “bustling” venue for working or shopping lunches. The “quality” cooking “can be very good if you pick the right dish”, and staff – when they’re not looking after the celebs – can “display some excellent old-school skills (eg perfectly filleting a sole at the tableside)”.

“It’s surprising Michelin have withheld a star” from this “fabulous” contemporary restaurant, on the 2nd-floor of a Manchester office block – a “lovely and open” space, whose “high ceilings, open ducting and industrial looks” are juxtaposed with some “very classy” and “innovative” cooking (from the 10-course and 14-course tasting menus, alongside which there’s also an à la carte). But despite consistently “outstanding” cuisine and “superb” service it was not to be, and, in September 2017, just prior to this year’s announcement of the stars, chef Aiden Byrne scaled back his involvement here (did he have a tip off?) promoting chef Nathaniel Tofan in the process.

“Brilliant for lunch or dinner, casual or more formal dining” – this “beautifully located” and recently refurbed hillside inn – overlooking Manchester and the Cheshire Plain – “never disappoints” with its “great rooms” and Mike Shaw’s “fantastic cooking usual local ingredients”. FOH Charles is also a “firm favourite with his clientele”.

“Very decent and interesting dishes” from local and British produce helps establish this Northern Quarter corner-site as one of Manchester’s better culinary destinations. “Always welcoming staff” enliven a space which could otherwise seem “a bit basic”.

“Incredibly succulent meats carved onto your plate are complemented by an amazing array of salads” at this outpost of the Brazilian ‘rodizio’ (’eat-as-much-as-you-want-buffet’) chain; “normally the expectation would be vast quantities of indifferent food; but not here.” Also with branches in Liverpool and Leeds.

Where ‘The Real Housewives of Cheshire’ go to party – all agree this glam Asian has had a “very good fit-out” and even a reviewer who said “it’s not aimed at me, as I much prefer more authentic Chinese places” felt that “while it caters to up-market British customers with a taste for creative crossover dishes, I can understand it’s is popular it does what it sets out to do very well”. It takes predictable flak for the size of the bill though: “in price it targets the likes of Hakkasan/Yauatcha etc and while it’s ok, it’s just nowhere near as good as that”.