ARTISAN has opened.
Dylan Thomas is turning out some remarkable things on an encouragingly innovative menu, even though he's a dead Welsh poet.
This extends across the whole first floor of the former Manchester House (now called Tower 12) on Bridge Street and has almost 290 covers across 12,000 sq ft.
It's vast.
And very clever.
The restaurant is open plan in a 1965 building with exposed concrete beams but bare brick too and then heavy wooden fittings, herb gardens, original artworks and crazy bric-a-brac.
The art is for sale, and came from the Manchester-based Buy Art Fair people. It isn't the usual codswallop that adorns restaurant walls.
There's even an artist in residence plus a 'Bitching Room' where ladies can have a chat (of course they won't be bitching, ladies don't do that) before returning to the restaurant. The bar is the lowest in the world consisting of several thigh high tables.
The private room is an antiquarian's dream space. Indeed the whole feel of Artisan is, in keeping with the name, akin to some mad apothecary's workshop.
Of course a mad apothecary's workshop delivered by Living Ventures of Australasia, Oast House, Alchemist, Grill on the Alley. So it's slick, but whatever you think of the company's ubiquity in this area, you'll probably be impressed by the place.
Apothecary madness
The food comes from Dylan Thomas the dead, alcoholic Welsh poet and playwright only this case Mr Thomas is alive and well and he's boss chef here. He's turning out some remarkable things on an encouragingly innovative menu.
Artisan
Mussels in a pie is genius, as are the artichoke, chicken and gammon dishes. We'll be back later to do a proper impartial review because the lunch was hosted by Living Ventures.
In terms of bar and restaurant design Gordo thinks Artisan is a game changer, it's certainly a head-turner.
Artisan is at Tower 12 (Why change the name from the far better Manchester House?), Bridge Street, Spinningfields. @artisan_sf
Baked mussels with curry and spinach
Pork crackling massively seasoned with apple sauce
Some weirdo
Bric-a-brac and Bridge Street
Chunky wood
Individual art for sale
Artichoked Artisanic
Gammon love
Chicken with lots of thyme, mushrooms, lemon, garlic and mushrooms
Banana all salted and caramel with gingerbread ice cream
The Bitching Room
Internal herb garden
Entrance to the chic ladies space
You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield or connect via Google+
