WE'VE eaten so much in 2016, you can tell our writers by the fact that they’re the ones hooked up to a Gaviscon drip. As well as covering a teetering pile of restaurants in the city centre, both old and new, we’ve sent them to the far reaches of Greater Manchester and beyond including Rochdale, Todmorden, Saddleworth, Whaley Bridge and Blackburn.
They’ve eaten more in Heaton Moor, been wobbly in Mobberley and got stuffed in Salford. Some restaurants have had them in raptures and some have had them wishing they could write about traffic instead. We’ve done clean eating, dirty burgers, pescatarian, vegetarian, carnivorous and vegan. Culinary inspiration has spanned the world with dishes hailing from India, Japan, Argentina, Italy, Spain, France, Thailand, America, China, Korea, Turkey, Nepal and Vietnam – proving how diverse dining in Manchester has become.
So, to round up the year, we’ve compiled the full list of all 83 restaurants, cafes, pop-ups, pubs, bistros and bars we've reviewed in order from highest scoring to lowest. At the top you’ll find mind-expanding culinary experiences, at the bottom, hospital meals mixed with school dinners. Enjoy.
Where The Light Gets In, Stockport: 17.5/20
“The most mind-expanding culinary experience I’ve had in these parts since our last Michelin maestro, Paul Kitching, quit Juniper in Altrincham. There is a link – Sam Buckley, creator of Where The Light Gets In, worked there as a callow sous chef.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dishes: Testicle, Scorched onion soup, Sourdough, Chestnuts, Plaice, Chocolate tart all 9/10
Read the full review here
The White Rabbit, Todmorden: 17.5/20
“Open just over a year, it has made it into the 2017 Good Food Guide with a score of three. Wonderland indeed. In ManCon’s recent round-up of Greater Manchester entries only four places out of 29 scored more than three – the likes of The French and Manchester House. And those establishments are a far remove from a twenty cover postage stamp of a place run by a young husband and wife team with scant assistance.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dishes: Rabbit Risotto, Scallop, Pork Fillet, Peach Delice, Dark Chocolate all 9/10
Read the full review here
Indian Tiffin Room, First Street, Manchester: 17/20
“ITR has a strapline of 'Indian street-food'. I usually run a mile from such descriptions, especially when attached to sit-down restaurants, but here it seemed a good fit.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dishes: Paani Puri, Goat Keema Pav, Lamb Nihari all 9/10
Read the full review here
Umezushi, Manchester: 17/20
“It doesn’t follow that Japanese template of preparing and serving just the one thing well. Still quite focused, though. Last year it ditched tempura in favour of Kushiyaki (grills, skewers, yakitori chicken and beyond) at evening and weekends alongside its sashimi and sushi, all governed by the day’s market haul.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dish: Hamachi collar 10/10
Read the full review here
Fuzion Noodle Bar, Fallowfield: 16.5/20
“The place is a small rectangular space, with simple blond-wood long benches where you sit shoulder to shoulder with strangers. The menu is Chinese led, with some similarities to Tampopo and Wagamama. Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart was playing in the background.” Gordo
Best Dishes: Prawn Toast, Peking Ribs - Both 9/10
Read the full review here
Feast, Manchester: 16/20
“It’s the unlikeliest of flings, the festive bromance between Robert Owen Brown and the San Carlo Group. The chef for hire with his roots in the north west and the global Italian chain are cosying up in a woodland-themed pop-up until early January.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dishes: Fig, Mutton, Dauphinoise - Both 9/10
Read the full review here
White Hart, Saddleworth: 16/20
“White Hart owner Charles Brierley’s determination to up their own game is evident in the reinvention of its restaurant as ‘The Dining Room’, elevating its cocktail offering, sprucing up dramatically what was a dowdy space and providing a more upfront showcase for Shaw’s talents.” Gordo
Best Dishes: Marinated Tuna, Roast Partridge – Both 9/10
Read the full review here
The Church Inn, Mobberley: 16/20
“So what finally convinced me that The Church Inn were indeed worthy winners of awards and accolades? (Best Pub in the UK isn’t just the only title they hold.) Obviously it was a combination of location, decor, atmosphere, range of booze, accommodating attitude towards children and dogs, seasonal menu, local beer and excellent service etc.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Seafood Platter 8/10
Read the full review here
Gaucho, Manchester: 16/20
“This was as near a flawless meal as you could wish for. But it comes at a price. Save up before you go, maybe sell off spare children or that old master you have hidden away.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Seafood Platter 9/10
Read the full review here
Ancoats Coffee Company, Ancoats: 16/20
“But it's the coffee that's the thing... and the lovely venue. Take a bag of Warehouse City home and again feel the power of the bean in a toffeeish rush of smooth flavour. Above all at Ancoats Coffee Company, you've got to admire the enthusiasm and commitment of owner Jamie Boland.” Jonathan Schofield
Read the full review here
Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar, Corn Exchange: 16/20
“Maurizio Cecco, with his instinctive grasp of what makes Italian food and what forms Italian hospitality, is on to a winner here." Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Antipasti platter 9/10
Read the full review here
El Gato Negro, King Street: 15.5/20
“The first floor restaurant is a hike up a set of stairs you need to be wary of after a few (really, really good) sherries. Again, the fit out is sumptuous, classy, fourth generation Madrileño giving you a cuddle in heavy red. It’s class, the complete opposite of Real Housewives of Cheshire.” Gordo
Best Dish: Oysters 10/10
Read the full review here
San Juan, Chorlton: 15.5/20
“It’s tiny, like so many Madrid bars, and usually packed, like so many Madrid bars. It was chocka on Tuesday evening, so much so we had to eat our tapas standing up until two stools were vacated by the fellas next to us. Standing, drinking beer and munching on tapas threw me backwards in time too.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Tortilla 9/10
Read the full review here
River Restaurant, Lowry Hotel, Salford: 15.5/20
“Gordo thinks we have too few 'occasion' restaurants, lucky this one's firing again.” Gordo
Best Dish: Half lobster 9/10
Read the full review here
Yuzu, Manchester: 15.5/20
“Chef David Leung works in a space fit for a pod hotel but he’s serving barely 20 covers with an appropriately restrained menu.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dish: Daikon/Wakame Salad 9/10
Read the full review here
Salt Bar, Macclesfield: 15.5/20
“The exterior of Salt Bar is a picture of a pretty whitewashed cottage and begs you to enter. The dining space is light and airy and simple with a lovely big window boasting slender pointed arch mullions. The food is just as wholesome.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Goats cheese and pickled beetroot 7.5/10
Read the full review here
My Thai, Manchester: 15/20
“Manchester has a new Thai restaurant serving the kind of fresh soups, salads, rice plates and noodles that wouldn’t look out of place in the street food markets of Bangkok.” Ruth Allan
Best Dishes: Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup – both 9/10
Read the full review here
Cottonopolis, Manchester: 15/20
“What about the food? Never mind this ‘Ice, Fire, Steam and Oil’ marketing bullshit. Yes, you heard right, oil. Hmm. What this menu is, is a cut down Australasia, 'JapoChine', with small plates for grazing.” Gordo
Best Dish: Tempura 9/10
Read the full review here
Alabamas, Manchester: 15/20
“It seems like a lot of people have fallen for brunch’s charms, in the Northern Quarter at least, where there is no such thing as too American. At just after 11am, when some lucky sods are still betwixt sheets, Alabama’s was absolutely heaving.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dishes: Breakfast 8/10
Read the full review here
La Cantina, Heaton Moor: 15/20
“The Damson folk seem to have made a smart choice by diversifying into all things Espanol. Their wisdom is seen in the fact it doesn’t try to take on the big city centre names with anything flashy, but sticks to that easy simplicity which makes tapas bars so popular.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dishes: Morcilla 9/10
Read the full review here
Grafene, Manchester: 15/20
“Despite Gordo’s pickiness, Grafene is a hugely enjoyable experience. This lot, with Paul and Kathryn at the helm, are capable of a top five restaurant in Manchester.” Gordo
Best Dishes: Sea Trout 9/10, Dripping Spuds 9.5/10
Read the full review here
Hispi, Didsbury: 15/20
“Hispi is a great local bistro, which every now and again shows firework displays of brilliance, with few duds.” Gordo
Best Dishes: Featherblade and broccoli – both 9/10
Read the full review here
Porta, Altrincham: 15/20
“Though Porta is not perfect in every aspect, I’ll be battling the crowds to eat there again” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dishes: Ox Cheek and broccoli – both 9/10
Read the full review here
The Refuge, Principal Hotel, Manchester: 15/20
“Refuge by Volta is only a fledgling, the staff are charming and the prices are not scary.” Charles Campion
Best Dish: Lamb Chops 9.5/10
Read the full review here
Rudy’s Pizza, Manchester: 15/20
“Rudy’s is generally rammed. We arrived not long after noon Saturday to ensure a table by the window overlooking the square rather than in the odd-shaped space at the back. Come 1pm punters were jostling on a bench by the door, awaiting a table (there are no bookings).” Neil Sowerby
Best Dish: Calabrese Pizza 9/10
Read the full review here
The Allotment, Stockport: 15/20
“Nutter’s doing something really different here and I’d urge food fans, veggie or not, to give it a whirl.” Ruth Allan
Best Dishes: Cauliflower Wings, Manchester Tart - both 9/10
Read the full review here
Vero Moderno, Salford : 15/20
“We are getting a generation of Italian restaurants and coffee shops that are excellent, providing artfully simple and straightforward food that lingers in the mind and doesn’t come dressed in million pound fit outs from corporate machines. Well done to Bepe and the team and long may this authentic Italiano trend continue” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dishes: Calzoncini, Gamberoni, Scialateiella, Branzino – All 8/10
Read the full review here
The Fat Loaf, Sale: 15/20
“They have kept it simple and the formula works by creating a classic British neighbourhood bistro menu, together with using good local suppliers (name-checked on the menu) and uncomplicated cooking techniques for reasonable prices.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dishes: Scallops and Duck 15/20
Read the full review here
Albert’s Shed, Castlefield: 15/20
“The word that perfectly sums up this place is ‘solid’, which might seem like half-hearted praise, until you realise that in the restaurant trade, pleasing most of the people most of the time is actually an incredibly difficult thing to do.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: 8/10
Read the full review here
Tapeo and Wine, Manchester: 15/20
“The whole Tapeo experience was distinctive and memorable with simple and effective decor too, all clean lines, with a judicious use of tiles, over a ground floor and basement.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dishes: Aubergine Crisps, Lamb – both 9/10
Read the full review here
Bird at Birtle, Rochdale: 15/20
“What he's done here though is seriously good, a model 'gastropub' menu. I wish there were one of these pubs every seven miles or so across the region. I wish there were two or three in the city centre.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dishes: Beef and black peas, Arancini, lamb shoulder, steak and ale pudding, knickerbocker glory - all 8/10
Read the full review here
The Red Chilli, Manchester: 15/20
“I think it was better than it used to be. Two dishes were so outstanding I nearly jumped in a cab to pick up the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who lives down the road to drag her back and force her to chuck an ode their way." Jonathan Schofield
Best Dishes: Cold beef, Soft Shell Crab - both 9/10
Read the full review here
Oyster and Otter, Blackburn: 15/20
“This ambitious group is the brainchild of Jocelyn Neve, daughter of Chris 'The Codfather' Neve, supplier of fish to some of the North West’s top restaurants. Jocelyn has taken full advantage of her position to snatch the best of the day’s catch, plus the fact that Lancashire produces some of the finest vegetables and dairy produce in the land.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Smoked Haddock 8/10
Read the full review here
Gusto, Manchester: 15/20
“Gusto is a chain of suburban restaurants across the North West and further afield. Headed up by Gordo’s pal Sue Crimes, the stunning MD of the group, it consists of a menu that has been crafted over a decade to deliver food that succeeds with families at lunch and early dinner, business peeps and mates having a long boozy dinner.” Gordo
Best Dishes: Chicken 8/10
Read the full review here
Salvi’s Osteria, Norden: 15/20
“Osteria translates as a 'country restaurant serving simple, authentic food' and transforming the former Norden Inn into one has obviously been a labour of love for Maurizio, who lives nearby.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dish: Buratta 9/10
Read the full review here
Evelyn’s, Northern Quarter: 14.5/20
“Where these guys have really succeeded is in making a truly comfortable local restaurant, as welcoming as Home Sweet Home but a little more honest and less achingly trendy. Somewhat healthier 'n' all. This is an inclusive place; good value, warm, safe and cosy.” Gordo
Best Dish: Tagliatelle 9/10
Read the full review here
Vivid Lounge, Ancoats: 14.5/20
“It's a tiny venue, lurking under an overhang of the Islington Wharf development, but with a generous terrace above the attractive civil engineering of the 219-year-old Ashton Canal. The interior is happily indie in feel, easy-going, not the victim of an interior designer over-thinking and over-spending.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Corn Fritters, Duck and Tamarind Sauce – both 8/10
Read the full review here
Zayka, Whaley Bridge: 14.5/20
“Zayka describes itself as serving ‘Contemporary Indian Cuisine’ and this comes across in their simple branding, restaurant decor and menu.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Scallops 9/10
Read the full review here
King Street Tavern, Manchester: 14.5/20
“A good-looking bar is on one side and the smart, bijou restaurant is right there in front of you. The tables all wear linen, the cutlery shines. Instead of a cram-'em-in soulless room (there are too many of those in Manchester) there's intimacy” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Mushrooms and Scotch Eggs – both 7/10
Read the full review here
Doring Sushi Bar, Chorlton: 14/20
“Japanese food is about much more than sushi of course, and even though Doring, a newish addition to Chorlton’s plethora of restaurants, bills itself as a sushi bar, it is about much more than vinegared rice.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Tofu 8/10
Read the full review here
Indique, Didsbury: 14/20
“The menu was tricky to choose from – a good sign here. They’ve managed to pitch it somewhere between creativity and fad, but more importantly, they’re not over-charging customers for the privilege.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Smokey Lamb 8/10
Read the full review here
Seoul Kimchi, Manchester: 14/20
“Seoul Kimchi is a little place that many people have passed dozens of times. Next time you find yourself in the area, make it a destination.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Plum Ice Cream 9/10
Read the full review here
The Marble Arch, Manchester: 14/20
“It's a proper pub, pubs I've been going to for years. I could list scores of the beasts. The Marble Arch is right on the 'hygge' mark. A fire, a glistening interior with light flashing off the shiny tiles, good food, chatter and better beer than any 'hygge'-bugger.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Terrine and Onion Soup 8/10
Read the full review here
Pho Bowl, Chorlton: 14/20
“The interior is relaxed: canteen-style seating meets slightly iffy lighting. They’ve obviously put all their pennies in the kitchen. As such, it’s the kind of place you want to drop into when the mood strikes; something of as issue when it’s hard to get a table” Ruth Allan
Best Dish: Tofu 8/10
Read the full review here
Ida’s Fish Bar, West Didsbury: 14/20
“I’ll save you the suspense and confess straight up that I rather liked Ida’s. Perhaps the key is not to compare Ida’s to a real old-fashioned chippy, where you can order 50p cups of brick-coloured tea or a side dish of thick sliced white to make your own butty, if the whim overtook you.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Chowder 8/10
Read the full review here
Chorlton Green Brasserie, Chorlton: 14/20
“Chorlton Green Brasserie opened in January 2013 and has proved such a hit with the locals, that you can barely get a foot in the door.” Ruth Allan
Best Dish: Rump medallions 8/10
Read the full review here
Casa Italia, Didsbury: 14/20
“The shelves and cold counters of the Didsbury offshoot are packed with top notch Italian ingredients at fair prices and, although we didn’t sample it, we smelt the coffee and it smelt good.” Neil Sowerby
Best Dish: Carpaccio of Octopus 10/10
Read the full review here
Masis, Sale: 14/20
“Masis ticks all the boxes; it’s easy to get to, prices are almost laughably cheap, the service is efficient and the food is delicious and plentiful whether you’re a vegan, a pescatarian or a hungry wolf.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Starter Platter 8/10
Read the full review here
Pinchjo’s, West Didsbury: 13.5/20
“This smallish neighbourhood restaurant is simply fitted out with wooden tables, bench seating with brightly striped cushions, and a few tables outside for those rare evenings of British summertime. They’ve definitely not overdone the Spanish theme here.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Calamares 7/10
Read the full review here
Mary and Archie’s, Chorlton: 13.5/20
“As long as Mary and Archie manage to achieve some consistency, their fries are some of the best in the city. A welcome addition to the neighbourhood.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Lamb and mash 8/10
Read the full review here
The Flixton, Urmston: 13.5/20
“The Flixton is, despite the name, a cracking local restaurant for Urmston. There is definite talent in the kitchen that perhaps just needs a wee bit of a confidence boost to really express itself.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Wagyu Burger 8/10
Read the full review here
Wings, Lincoln Square: 13.5/20
“There seems to be a lot of love out there for Wings for one reason or another. It seems that this place has been the venue for many a good time.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Squid 7/10
Read the full review here
George Charles, West Didsbury: 13.5/20
“This is a comfortable venue, sturdy with lots of wood but also providing handsome ground floor and basement spaces. There’s ale on tap, a good wine list and a modicum of unperturbing bedlam as drinkers mingle with diners and staff have to keep remembering which is which.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Beef 7.5/10
Read the full review here
Pho, Corn Exchange: 13.5/20
“PHO is a new restaurant in Manchester's Corn Exchange serving Vietnamese-inspired dishes such as soups, noodles and fresh juices. I’ve visited a couple of times now, and the food has been largely good and reasonably priced.” Ruth Allan
Best Dishes: Pho, Ca-Ri, Pho Xao all 8/10
Read the full review here
Tai Pan, Manchester: 13.5/20
“You don't expect many restaurants to host 100 diners at 12.30pm on a Tuesday. Especially when the exterior of the restaurant looks like a run-down DIY shed in a soulless blank of a location on a bland arterial route. Tai Pan at lunchtime was buzzing, packed and noisy.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Pork mince and bean curd 8/10
Read the full review here
Chapati Cafe, Chorlton: 13/20
“The décor is basic, but clean, light and airy with cheerful pops of colour. Its spiritual cousins are Northern Quarter's This ‘n’ That and its brethren, the now sadly defunct Chennai Dosa in Stretford, only of course with its own Chorlton touches.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Aubergine 8/10
Read the full review here
Gino, D’Acampo: My Restaurant, Corn Exchange: 13/20
“All the selfies Gino’s ever taken have been plastered around his new restaurant from Individual Restaurants in the Corn Exchange. It’s sickeningly self-reverential even for an age of sickening self-reverence.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Lamb Cutlets 7.5/10
Read the full review here
The Lost and Found, Knutsford; 13/20
“The food hasn’t wandered too far away from pub classics; beyond the fantasy, they’re keeping it real, but there’s enough creativity in there to keep things interesting.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Short Rib 9/10
Read the full review here
La Viña, Deansgate: 13/20
“La Viña is not a bad choice for the unthinking foodie despite its predictable menu, because it seems to do the simple dishes well. And the service we had was superb.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Fish 9/10
Read the full review here
All the Shapes, Prestwich: 13/20
“With a few small tweaks, this trendy new Prestwich café-bar could be one worth the journey” Ruth Allan
Best Dish: Bakewell Tart 9/10
Read the full review here
Teacup at the Museum, Manchester: 13/20
“It’s not a cheap place to refuel, and though the cakes weren’t quite as good as I was hoping, the salad was a quality dish at a really reasonable price.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best dish: Chicken and chorizo stew 7/10
Read the full review here
V-Rev, Northern Quarter: 13/20
“Service is strained and stocks are squiffy, but Ruth Allan can’t help but like this new vegan diner” Ruth Allan
Best dish: Fried pickles 8/10
Read the full review here
The Garden, Hale: 12.5/20
“This organic café ain't half bad considering they've abandoned 80% of what usually makes food taste good” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Chicken/Earth bowl 8/10
Read the full review here
Namaste, West Didsbury: 12.5/20
“Namaste Nepal is an Indian-Nepalese restaurant in Didsbury, the interior of which takes you back to the Curry Mile in the mid-1990s.” Ruth Allan
Best Dish: Paneer Chilli 9/10
Read the full review here
Stretford Canteen, Stretford: 12.5/20
“Stretford residents said they were frustrated with not having a local place to eat out, and they were using this pop-up to test the waters for a more permanent venture.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Onglet Steak 7/10
Read the full review here
Man Bites Frog, Chorlton: 12.5/20
“Not sure anybody would cross the city especially for a visit, but if you find Chorltonistas taking you there for nosh and drink then you won't come away too disappointed and your wallet will applaud.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Chicken Pot 7/10
Read the full review here
Manchester Smokehouse and Cellar: 12.5/20
“The whole interior design is vigorous with brick and wood and shiny metal. It's handsome, well done and very like Albert's Schloss but with the addition of a big load of smoking kit and what-have-you on view at the rear.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: The Big Smoke 6.5/10
Read the full review here
The Garden, Hale: 12.5/20
“This organic café ain't half bad considering they've abandoned 80% of what usually makes food taste good” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Chicken/Earth bowl 8/10
Read the full review here
The Elk, Chorlton: 12.5/20
“Elk does a good line in themed nights – steak night on a Monday, curry on a Thursday etc. - but what it really does well is a sense of cosiness” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Cake 7/10
Read the full review here
Mustard, Sale: 12/20
“The menu is relatively restrained, concentrating on burgers and their various accompaniments, with a couple of token steaks thrown in for no reason whatsoever. If you don’t want a burger, you have no reason to be in this place.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Chicken wings 9/10
Read the full review here
Fox, Hale Barns: 12/20
“Fox is the restaurant equivalent of an upmarket new-build Wimpy home or an Audi estate for those with a reasonable disposable income that they didn’t get from following a career path in some creative pursuit. I’m sure it’ll do very well.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Sea Bream 7/10
Read the full review here
Leaf, Portland Street: 12/20
“Tea and cake is a bit of a difficult one. All these beautiful teas don’t actually benefit from being consumed with the sugary stuff as it impedes the complex flavours from unfurling. Builder’s is best in this situation.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Chilli Squid 6/10
Read the full review here
Kettlebell, Manchester: 12/20
“The theme here is fitness, there's even a corner of the handsome and clean space that appears to be some kind of arty exhibition of fitness hardware. The strange thing is the customers match the theme.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Chicken Protein Waffle Burger
Read the full review here
Smithfield Market Tavern, Northern Quarter: 12/20
“The result is a delight: A proper pub that seems a reversion to some mystical time when pubs were simple and straightforward, an echo perhaps of a pub in Harold Brighouse's Hobson's Choice or Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: wild boar and pork sausage
Read the full review here
Chez Nous, Sale: 12/20
“The name of the restaurant suggested an outpost of French cuisine, but the menu is old-fashioned British” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Scallops 6/10
Read the full review here
Bacchus, Prestbury: 12/20
“Stepping into this restaurant is like stepping back in time (roughly, the cretaceous era), which maybe just how most of its customers like it.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Beef 8/10
Read the full review here
The Bronx, Knutsford (now closed): 11.5/20
“Do the people of Knutsford want this sort of thing on their doorstop or would they prefer it to be back in the city (which city is debatable) where it thinks it belongs? Only time will tell.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Grass Box 8/10
Read the full review here
Con Club, Altrincham: 11.5/20
“It felt so unbalanced, there can be no way this dish had actually been tried by the chefs before they put it on the menu” Deanna Thomas
Best dish: Goosnargh duck breast 8/10
Read the full review here
Brasserie Blanc, Knutsford: 11/20
“Unremarkable, premium chain food in a Cheshire market town willing to pay for it.” Lucy Tomlinson
Best Dish: Barbary Duck 8/10
Read the full review here
Mace, Castlefield: 11/20
“The menu is straight down the line, in a ‘just name a typical curry and it’s in there’ kind of way. Mace has gone even further down the average, people-pleasing road by adding ‘Gourmet Burgers’ and steaks.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Seekh kebab 8/10
Read the full review here
Yu, Alderley Edge: 10.5/20
“Even the popular aromatic crispy duck has been gentrified, by offering only a ‘deconstructed’ duck breast. Perhaps the moneyed minority aren’t too keen to smear their lip gloss on anything as vulgar as food.” Deanna Thomas
Best Dish: Broccoli 8/10
Read the full review here
Nueve, Didsbury: 9.5/20
“It’s astonishing that anyone would open a place like this, with a decent investment in the building and interior, to serve such appalling food. Have these people never visited their competition?” Gordo
Best Dish: Estofado de Cerdo 6/10
Read the full review here
Holiday Inn, Manchester: 9/10
“I surveyed the living room-cum-airport lounge of the restaurant and bar, designed by those prolific interior designers of chain hotels, Messrs Bland, Boring & Dull.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: Club Sandwich 5/10
Read the full review here
Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, Manchester: 9/10
“It was authentic food from a decades old motorway service station mingled with a hospital meal and a school dinner.” Jonathan Schofield
Best Dish: go hungry
Read the full review here
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