New year, new openings - 10 places to lift your spirits this January

January seems to be all about giving things up: animal products, booze, sugar - as if the month isn't long and depressing enough.  

Maybe taking things up is more of a positive way to go: yoga, volunteering, a new language...the trombone? Why not give up depriving yourself and take up trying new restaurants. Much better for curing everybody's winter blues.

Now the Xmas markets have packed up and pissed off, let's make sure we support our local businesses throughout this notoriously lean month for the hospitality industry (and into the year ahead of course). 

Here are 10 new gaffs that have recently opened or are poised to fling open their doors. 

What: Bakehouse32

Where: Stretford Arndale

When: Opening date TBC

Stretfordians are eagerly awaiting the opening of this new pizza place which has recently secured itself a home on the edge of Stretford Arndale. Specialising in Detroit-style pizza alongside the more predominant Neapolitan variety, there will also be Italian street food dishes on the menu and loaves of ‘naturally leavened’ bread to take away. Detroit-style pizza differentiates itself from the rest of the topped-dough disc world by being rectangular shaped and cooked in a deep pan, the crust is extra thick and crispy and in some cases oil or butter is added for extra crusty caramelised edges.  

What: Bhaji Pala

Where: 2 Old Hall Rd, Galley, Cheadle SK8 4BE

When: Open now

A first for Manchester, Bhaji Pala is a completely vegan Indian restaurant that opened at the end of November 2019. There’s all the usual spinach and chickpea Indian restaurant standards on offer but there's so much more as well. Spice loving vegans will be all over dishes like tandoori pineapple, broccoli Manchurian and avocado chaat, but why let them have all the fun? This looks like somewhere anyone can go to get their dosa veg fix without feeling in any way deprived. If you’re doing Veganuary, or even if you’re not, add this to your list.

What: Bombay Brew

Where: 1 Drake St, Rochdale OL16 1RE

When: Open now

Modern Indian street food paired with craft ale has been a success story for the likes of Bundobust and it looks like Rochdale’s Bombay Brew are hoping to follow suit. This plucky newcomer spent £150,000 on a refurb of the former Wellington Hotel on Drake street, opening in December 2019. There are six draught IPAs including collaborations with northern breweries like Vocation in Hebden Bridge and a small but constantly evolving menu of Indian street food favourites and traditional curries with modern, creative flourishes. You’ve had king prawns in your curry, but what about octopus? How about an Indian-style poutine? They even offer the choice of dishes garnished with or without coriander for those weirdos that don’t like it. 

What: Cafe Delhi Heights

Where: Unit 10 The Corn Exchange, Exchange Square, Manchester M4 3TR

When: TBC

Adored by diners in multiple venues across its native India, Cafe Delhi Heights is a success story which grew from the vision of Ushra Batra and was realised by her sons Sharad and Vikrant Batra. The idea was to open a restaurant with a menu which could appeal to three family generations who want to eat out together. Now setting its sights on the UK, its first venue over here is set to open in Manchester’s Corn Exchange this year. The menu in CDH’s Indian outlets covers pan-Indian dishes from palak choley to chicken Chettinad as well as overseas favourites like pizza, pasta and noodles and even specially devised Halloween, Xmas and Thanksgiving menus featuring ingredients like pumpkin, turkey and cranberry. It will be interesting to see if these non-Indian dishes feature on the Manchester menu too. 

What: Folk 

Where: 403 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AA

When: Open now

From the, er, folk behind the long established and much loved Folk in Didsbury comes a much anticipated North Manchester outpost. Famous for its indulgent brunch menu featuring pleasures like shakshuka with eggs (or tofu) and salt beef and black pudding hash, there are also the likes of cashew ricotta and beet bhaji bagels, fish finger butties and burgers at lunchtime. In the evening, the menu gets a bit fancier with small plates and mains such as their famous lobster mac n cheese. Booze is served from brunch onwards with creative cocktails and rotating craft beers on draft. Prestwich residents can also take advantage of the bulging events calendar featuring live music, DJs and more.

What: Gourmet Burger Inc

Where: 747-749 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M20 6RN

When: Open now

Even though it has a remarkably similar name to a certain national chain, Gourmet Burger Inc in Didsbury is an independent burger joint churning out a spectrum of instagrammable patty and bun combos. There are pink buns, charcoal buns, pretzel buns and focaccia buns with an all-inclusive range of beef, chicken, veggie and vegan patties along with a ton of side dishes from sweet potato fries to cowboy nachos. Still hungry? Ice cream, waffles and cheesecakes are on the dessert menu. 

What: The Mad Giant

Where: 653 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M20 6QZ

When: Open now

Moving into the space formerly occupied by the short lived Rafa’s (previously La Cantina and, before that, Cafe Rouge) in Didsbury, The Mad Giant is a mini food hall from Steve Pilling, who is also behind the recently refurbed Stockport Produce Hall. There’s a range of local foodie offerings including quirky pizza from Kneadful Things, globetrotting patties from AtLaSt burgers, noodles galore from Kambuja Cambodian cuisine and south Indian delights from the fantastic Chaat Cart. There’s also coffee from Black Market Espresso and a well stocked bar with lots of local craft ale, wine and cocktails. The space is filled with long wooden tables with bench seating - de rigour in today’s revamped market halls - but with characterful graffiti and up cycled bric-a-brac decor making things pop. 

What: Mosu

Where: 12 Barton Square, Manchester M3 2BB

When: Spring 2020

Roasting things on an open fire doesn’t have to end with your Xmas chestnuts. The newest Japanese dining spot in Manchester, Mosu, is all about ‘fireside cooking’ on the charcoal robata grill. Slow grilled and succulent meat and seafood will feature as well as a spanking fresh sushi bar. There will also be a big bar focus with drinks served til the early hours including an extensive range of premium sake. Moving into the basement of the Barton Arcade that was once home to the exclusive Circle Club, the team behind the restaurant previously launched Dive in the NQ.

What: Northern Eudaimonia

Where: 6 New Union St, Manchester M4 6FQ

When: Open now

It’s no secret that Ancoats has flourished over the past year or two and it looks like it will continue to do so as we launch into the new decade. Appropriately, this ‘grown up ice cream & dessert bar’ is named after the Greek word used by Aristotle to describe human flourishing or prosperity - not that you need us to translate it for you of course. Popping up next to Cask and Pollen on the canal-side at the end of November, the focus is on waffles, crepes, ice cream and Soul Vegan’s ‘bronuts’ (a brownie/doughnut hybrid - obviously) with lashings of chocolate and gooey sauces for good measure. There are plentiful vegan options and even ice cream for dogs. They are kicking off the new year with the addition of some savoury dishes to the menu.

What: Vincenzo Trattoria 

Where: 34 St Ann St, Manchester M2 7LE

When: Open now

Vincenzo Trattoria rises from the ashes of the ill-fated Al Bacio on South King street. Taking over the old Frankie and Benny’s site on St Ann Street, there’s a bit of a new look and, rumour has it, better food  - which, to be fair, is hardly difficult. Gone are the retro diner style, red and white vinyl seating and black and white, framed photographs, replaced by soft brown leather and trellises draped with colourful artificial flowers. Named in honour of Vincenzo La Colla who died early in 2019, the menu has everything you’d expect from an Italian kitchen - from bruschetta to spaghetti.