FROM a new spam restaurant, to an undercover Tattu and an exciting new home for Manchester’s favourite itinerant chef; here’s the latest raft of Manchester food and booze openings... when will it stop?
188 KITCHEN
Where: Bury New Road, Whitefield
Food: Modern British
When: November/December
David Gale, the Wythenshawe-born chef who forged a local reputation with stints at Abode, Hilton and Lawn Club, and a global one launching hotels in London, New York and Las Vegas - is preparing to launch his first solo restaurant six miles out of the city in Whitefield (after the deal for a Spinningfields unit fizzled out last year). The 80-cover restaurant is to be called 188 Kitchen and will be split over a two-level new-build opposite imposing local cakery, Slattery’s. "Here we're going to cook my food," Gale told us, "using great ingredients cooked technically and to perfection on a plate... no bells, no whistles, no slate."
SHOW ME
Where: Newton Street, Northern Quarter
Food: Asian-influenced with takeaway, probably
When: 2017
Recently we spotted a premises licence application from Adam and Drew Jones, the brothers behind sumptuous Asian-inspired Spinningfields bar-restaurant, Tattu, for a new venue on the ground floor and basement of Cheetwood House on Newton Street. The siblings also hold a stake in city centre pizza and hotdog cave, Dogs'n'Dough, so this new venue has got us intrigued; hot and sour dogs? Sweet and sour pulled pork? Tattu’s team are keeping very tight-lipped about the new venture, so we held them down and tickled them until they revealed “it’ll be a licensed restaurant with a takeaway offering, open until late, that does not have any association to the Tattu brand. It’s a separate business and will be called Show Me.” Which we think sounds a little like a CBeebies show with Mr Maker.
BEASTRO
Where: Leftbank, Spinningfields
Food: Meaty
When: November
The affable folk who make up the Beastro team include a master butcher (James), a sausage queen (Heather) and a chef (Richard) who emerged victorious from The Kitchens on LeftBank. This was a year-long competition for street food vendors where the most popular stall won their own restaurant in Leftbank, Spinningfields.
Many might already be familiar with this team who are also behind popular sausage makers Bobby’s Bangers and Well Hung, British Street Food Awards finalists. They are hoping to open Beastro early in November after a three week fit-out which should convert The Kitchens into an urban farmhouse with a chef's table and regularly changing tasting menus, as well as their take on traditional meaty classic dishes including oxtail, pork belly, brawn and even SPAM. Customers are also welcome to pop in for a grazing platter of British charcuterie along with wines, beers and spirits.
Beastro: Richard, Heather and James
CHILLI BANANA
Where: Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury
Food: Thai
When: November
The popular Thai restaurant franchise with branches in Wilmslow, Bramhall, Liverpool and Macclesfield, are soon to open a fifth branch at 105 Lapwing Lane, opposite West Didsbury tram stop.
The restaurant group celebrated its twentieth year in business this year, having come a long way from two decades ago when an A board announced 'Thai food sold here' outside the Royal Oak in Alderley Edge. Three years ago they moved to a flagship two-storey Wilmslow town centre site on Water Lane (below), which now serves more than 1,000 meals a week and employs around 30 staff. The Didsbury restaurant is currently recruiting for staff both front of house and in the kitchen and are planning to open early November.
LA CASITA
Where: Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton
Food: from the streets of Mexico, where else?
When: Open
It’s very fitting that the popular Mexican street food traders have finally found a permanent home on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton as ‘La Casita’ translates as ‘little house’. Along with his much-loved Mexican tacos, owner Guillermo’s expanded menu will offer more traditional Mexican dishes such as chicken mole – a savoury sauce made using chocolate and chilli sauce. Expect the real tastes, aromas and textures of Mexican street food under one roof along with beer, burritos and live Latino music.
PROOVE PIZZA
Where: Burton Road, West Didsbury
Food: Guess
When: 2017
Sheffield’s pizza-loving duo are currently busy working their stall at Manchester Food and Drink Festival in Albert Square, proving that Manchester has an appetite for excellent pizza. Signs are that their upcoming Manchester venture in West Didsbury will be a success. Along with their authentic Napolitan style pizza, made with twenty-hour slow proved dough, Proove will also be serving a selection of bruscetta, salads and Italian specialties such as arancini.
WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN
Where: ...the light gets in, that's Rostron Brow in Stockport
Food: 'catch, harvest and slaughter'
When: October
We’ve been keeping a close eye on this place since our feature in June which revealed the ambitious plans of Chef Samuel Buckley to build his own restaurant in Stockport town centre. This week has seen a flurry of activity including the installation of kitchen equipment and new windows – always a good thing around those parts. Where The Light Gets In’s Instagram feed has now revealed that they are finally ready to take bookings with a planned date of October 21st.
Their brand new website reveals that there will be no menu as such, but they will be serving ‘a dining experience from the day’s catch, harvest and slaughter.’ Dinner (£65) will be served Wednesday - Saturday from 6.30pm.
Chef Samuel Buckley
Powered by Wakelet
