‘Everything you see I owe to pasta’, said Sophia Lauren – and you could say the same about Manchester. From authentic cafes and aperitivo bars to temples of fine food and wine, Italian food is at the heart of our dining culture. So much so, that Manchester offers the kind of diverse culinary experiences you could enjoy in Florence or Rome (well, nearly).
Nearly 10,000 votes were tweeted in and Individual Restaurants’ flagship restaurant, café and bar came out on top by a clear margin
The weather may be half as sunny, yet nothing can quell our passion for authentic Italian cooking. It’s almost impossible to choose a favourite but that was the aim of Confidential’s recent Twitter award poll. In the end there were just three local establishments in the running – and the winner of the first ever Confidential’s Readers Italian Restaurant of the Year award was Caffé Grande Piccolino. Nearly 10,000 votes were tweeted in and Individual Restaurants’ flagship restaurant, café and bar came out on top by a clear margin.
Steven Walker has owned Piccolino since the early 2000s. Over the years the restaurant and its sister venues in places like Knutsford, Leeds, London and Alderley Edge have become a byword for quality. Walker is currently the managing director of the Individual Restaurants group which has expanded to include other brands such as The Restaurant Bar & Grill and Bank Restaurant & Bar.
The Individual Restaurants group is founded on the outstanding Italian food and service you’ll find at Caffé Grande Piccolino. If you’ve not eaten at Piccolino in a while, prepare to be surprised. An extensive interior transformation has seen the addition of new deli bars, an in-house gelateria, wine boutique and al fresco terrace. It really is remarkably good.
The award was presented to Caffé Grande Piccolino’s General Manager Etorre Cicchetti earlier this month. The presentation was held at the restaurant and hosted by Confidential publisher, Mark Garner (Gordo). In total, 9614 votes were cast and Piccolino won the final with 55% of the vote. Confidential’s next award is going to be Best Terraces. Keep an eye on twitter for more details - and don’t forget to cast your vote.
Caffé Grande Piccolino 8 Clarence Street, Manchester M2 4DW Tel: 0161 835 9860, Website
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