MANCHESTER HOUSE and Lounge opens to the public on Tuesday 17 September. The grubby media were invited in on Thursday to sample part of the menu.
The kitchen is a beautiful, elegant, tyrant. It invades the main dining room providing spectacle and dynamism.
The whole experience was as slick and effortless as you'd expect from a restaurant with Michelin star aspirations. But it comes at a price. The Manchester House and Lounge cost £3m. The coffee sets alone, cup and saucer, cost £80.
There will be a full review next week of the food.
One dish was utterly exceptional Gordo and I think the roasted pigeon with black cherries and pistachio won't be bettered this year. It was a quite remarkable symphony of presentation, textures, flavours and surprise, with one of the cherries turning out to be disguised foie gras. Aiden Byrne, the chef, should be very very proud of his work.
Aiden Byrne in action
As for the restaurant, it has a wonderfully comfortable yet modern feel, the tables for two are so generous you could play table tennis on them, there is a cracking terrace and best of all, the kitchen is a beautiful, elegant, tyrant. It invades the main dining room providing spectacle and dynamism.
The main restaurant is on the second floor, eight floors higher is The Lounge at Manchester House. The designer, Aiden Keane, has opened the corners of this square International Modern building from the sixties to the elements - although there is of course canopies for the winter months. One corner even has a water feature.
The views are superb. The Lounge is high but not too high. The taller buildings of the city create a manmade landscape, like peaks rising from foothills.
The bar is design magazine porn, long and craftily lit. You couldn't really have - given the views - a more appropriate name than The Lounge at Manchester House. The city itself provides the backdrop to a jaw-dropping parade of booze bottles.
As stated above we'll be reviewing next week. In the meantime here are the pics.
Manchester House
Manchester House - Ajwain cracker with carrot butter
Manchester House
Manchester House
Manchester House
Our very fine waiter
Manchester House - beetroot oyster and stock
Manchester House
Manchester House
Manchester House - the spectacular pigeon and cherries with the surprise disguised
Manchester House
Manchester House - a crazy prawn cocktail
Manchester House - a crazy prawn cocktail shattered
Manchester House
Manchester House
Manchester House
Manchester House
Manchester House - herb terrace and the naughty room
Manchester House
Manchester House - Welsh black beef with grilled mushroom, salsify and spuds cooked in clay
Manchester House
Manchester House - Manchester Tart
Manchester House
Manchester House - the gaffer Tim Bacon, Aiden Byrne and a BBC film crew
Manchester House - Macaroons
Manchester House
Manchester House
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
The Lounge
Lucy Noone, manager, and a man
The Lounge
The Lounge
Panoramic view from The Lounge
The curious loos in The Lounge
Tim Bacon and Aiden Byrne
