A glamorous Italian-style grill room and bar launches next week in Manchester’s Grade II listed former city library and registrar’s office off Deansgate.
GiGi Gusto Griglia has taken over and transformed the former premises of Gusto, with an open kitchen and a central cocktail bar, Bar Elegenza, and aims to capture the ‘glamour, energy and style’ of La Dolce Vita Italy in the 1950s and 60s.
The project has been created by Jamie Barber, the restaurateur behind Hush in Mayfair and Villandry, along with Ed Standring, who bought it through their Cherry Equity Partners Limited investment fund.
Jamie says: “I wanted, quite selfishly, to build a restaurant I want to go to, somewhere I can sip a proper Negroni, share handmade pasta and pizzette, listen to great music and finish with a well-rested piece of rare-breed steak.
“From the kitchen to the piano, bar to the DJs and management, every part of GiGi is designed around the pleasure of eating, drinking and staying out. That’s why we’ve spent the last year working with the best talent in Manchester to create something truly special alongside beautiful interior design from the well renowned Russell Sage, who bring timeless, classic and lavish finishes.“
The kitchen is led by Manchester chef Sam Astley-Dean, formerly of Chez Bruce and Elystan Street in London, with a menu that ranges from antipasti, spuntini, fresh pasta and pizzette to steak Florentine, prawns, lamb chops and rare breed cuts.
Sam says: “The menu is designed for sharing, in the spirit of Italian famiglia dining. The dishes feel familiar, but the quality of the produce and the care taken in the kitchen make them special. It is proper cooking, served generously and without fuss.”
Bar Eleganza is billed as ‘Manchester’s first House of Negroni’, complete with a baby grand piano, live musicians, DJs and a secret speakeasy entrance on Jackson’s Row. Its list of cocktails from leading Manchester’s drinks team Errant includes martinis and sgroppinos (sorbet, Prosecco and vodka). alongside the negronis and a ‘considered’ selection of wines.
GiGi will be unveiled at a series of pr-opening events from next Thursday, 1 October.
