Chef patron Simon Shaw is opening 'Manchester's only Portuguese restaurant' in Ancoats
Simon Shaw, the creative director and chef patron of El Gato Negro, has confirmed plans to open 'Manchester's only Portuguese restaurant' (er Nando's?) on Ancoats' Cutting Room Square this September.
Work is already underway on Canto (meaning 'corner' in Portuguese - referring to the Henry Street unit), with Shaw drafting in the current head chef of his Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning King Street restaurant, Carlos Gomes, to oversee the kitchen.
“We really are so excited about Canto – the venue, the location, the food, it’s all so different and will be such a unique offering for Manchester," said Shaw.
"Ancoats has such a great atmosphere and our location in Cutting Room Square is right in the thick of it. It’s going to be a challenge - like all new ventures are, but a fun one.”
Gomes (pictured above left), who was born in Porto, is keen for the new venture to do justice to the neighbourhood restaurants and modern Portuguese dishes of his motherland.
“Manchester is very vibrant and a great destination for food, yet Portuguese dining is yet to be explored, so it’s great to be part of the team bringing it to the city," said Gomes.
"I’m currently putting all of my time into the creation of dishes, to ensure we bring something really special to the table.”
Canto is just one of the new wave of award-winning food and drink operations moving into the area, which include new sites by Sugo, Pollen, Trove and the Hip Hop Chip Shop.
