Manchester, Italian Restaurant Guide

Limited feedback this year on this glam Italian occupying one of the city-centre’s fine listed Victorian buildings. It’s well-known in these parts thanks to celeb owner, Rio Ferdinand.

A “vibrant atmosphere (especially good for a group)” helps underpin the appeal of these “glitzy and lively” spin-offs from the San Carlo national chain of glam Italians, whose most central branch – just off Piccadilly Circus – is decked out with “marble tables and stylish chandeliers”. “Very tasty small plates” that are inspired by Venetian “cicchetti” are “served speedily”. In late 2021, they are due to open a second Knightsbridge branch, just across the road from Harrods.

The larger, warehouse-y Ancoats spin-off to the popular Altrincham original is “an exceptionally good place for dinner”, based on “the freshest, tastiest pasta you can imagine” and wine “served in delightful ceramic jugs” – “great fun” by all accounts.

Launched in 2019, this “German/Austrian-by-way-of-Japan and under-the-arches spot” near Victoria Station is well “worth the wait” (snagging a table in the pint-sized 12-seater being quite the effort) for its European pasta and dumplings, including in-house speciality spätzle alongside pierogi etc. Expect an eclectic experience that's “paired weirdly well with sake… then schnapps!”.

“A good-value short menu, which makes clever use of seasonal produce, plus an imaginative wine list” have created a strong local reputation for this restaurant, wine bar and bottle shop (named for the Edwardian creamery it occupies), where you eat on benches. Many of the wines are of the hip, low intervention variety.