Old favourites are expanding as we welcome some exciting new kids on the block
The restaurant bunnies have been busy this spring as we look set to welcome a whole litter of bundles of joy in the summer months. From celebrity chef blockbusters expanding their empires, to the rosy-cheeked offspring of several existing Mancunian institutions, as well as success stories from elsewhere bringing their nippers along to the Manc party. There's plenty to coo about.
What - George's Bar and Kitchen
Where - 60-62 High Street, Manchester, M4 1EA
When - Open now
From the creative minds behind the 'Magical Christmas Movie Experience' and 'Valentine’s Movie Experience' pop-up cinema events and boasting a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives-style 'American food truck' menu, the very recently opened George's bar should find itself right at home on the edge of the Northern Quarter.
Offering up a decent range of cocktails, wine and beer alongside the food, the bar promises to go forward with a packed calendar of live music, DJs and sports events.
What - Chi Eatery (& Tea Live)
Where - 58 Mosley St, Manchester M2 3HZ
When - Summer
The kooky cafe chain Tea Live has recently taken over the site formerly occupied by Dazzling Cafe and is now open for all your pressing red bean bubble tea, roasted milk tea with grass jelly, and mango espresso (!) needs. Intriguingly, next door is set to be a modern Chinese takeaway concept from the same owners. We're hoping their food menu will be equally outlandish. Not much info as yet but due to open 'this Summer'.
What - The Thirsty Korean
Where - 127 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PG
When - Open now
Another new addition to Chorlton's already enviably varied beer and dining scene, The Thirsty Korean promises a lip-smacking fried chicken and beer based menu as well as introducing us Mancs to Korean boozy favourites like the Soju Bomb which involves a large shot of Soju (a sort of rice vodka) plonked into a glass of pale lager. For their opening weekend the hospitable owners offered up free 'Teok' (rice cake) in keeping with the tradition of their homeland when celebrating a new venture.
What - The Black Olive Grill
Where - 27 Shaw Rd, Stockport SK4 4AG
When - Open now
It's a challenge to open a restaurant serving a cuisine that is not already heavily represented in Manchester, but Croatian food is not something we often have the pleasure of sampling round here. Croatian natives Darijo Rimac and Danko Puskaric, have taken over what was formerly the renowned Brassica Grill, and have rebranded with a totally new concept. The Black Olive promises specials like a traditional pasta dish with Istrian ham, wild mushrooms, black olives & truffles, or seabass baked in a bag with grilled vegetables, garlic, white wine and olive oil as well as steaks from the fantastic Josper grill they inherited from the last tennant.
What - Vertigo First Street
Where - 11 Jack Rosenthal Street, First Street, Manchester M15 4RA
When - August
Following the runaway success of its Cross Street branch, 'plant based eatery' Vertigo will be opening another in the burgeoning area of First Street (which already boasts winners like HOME, Bunny Jackson's, Indian Tiffin Room, WOOD and that massive statue of Friedrich Engels) in August. We can expect an expanded menu and the addition of a natural wine bar to the former Kettlebell Kitchen site. Yet more evidence of the seemingly unstoppable wave of people eating less meat.
What - Ribeye Steakhouse
Where - Unit 1A, Number 8 First St, Manchester M15 4FN
When - Open now
If you're a die hard committed carnivore, this new venue might be more your scene. Another newcomer to First Street, Ribeye does exactly what it says on the, er, tin but certainly isn't a pedestrian option. Based around a 'theatrical grill', diners can expect to be dazzled by the flying flames as their chosen hunk of flesh is cooked before their eyes. All the meat here is halal and, quite refreshingly in our chug-chug-chug culture, there is no alcohol on the premises, with a range of mocktails taking centre stage instead. But is it actually possible to enjoy a steak without a big glass of red wine to wash it down? There's only one way to find out.
What - Wok to Walk
What - 61 Barton Arcade, M3 2BW
When - Open now
With currently over one hundred branches around the world (Manchester one being their fourteenth in the UK) the popularity of Wok to Walk is clear. It was launched in Amsterdam in 2004 after its founders returned from a trip around Asia. The concept is comfortingly familiar, choose your base (noodles, rice or veg), add some fun stuff like duck, katsu chicken, pak choi, cashews, tofu or more veg, choose a sauce from Thai curry to Balinese peanut to Tokyo teriyaki, finish with herbs or crunchy stuff, and you're ready to wok and bowl.
What - Ezra & Gil
Where - Peter Street, M2 3NG
When - August
One of the best loved coffee shops in the Northern Quarter, Ezra & Gil seems to have been packed to the rafters all-day every-day since it opened its doors four years ago. This self-styled 'neighbourhood hangout' does fantastic, simple food, great coffee and cakes and also incorporates a shop selling 'general provisions' and accessories. Tote bags on sale? Check. Smashed avocado on toast? Check. Menus on brown paper scrolls? Check. It's all very NQ/Ancoats. Sidling up alongside Asha's and just down the road from the prodigal son of Ancoats fave Rudy's, the Peter street branch will have later opening hours and a small selection of alcohol, bringing yet more of that covetable coolness to the other side of the city.
Ezra & Gil, Peter Street, M2 3NG
What - Salvi's NQ
Where - Basil Chambers, 65 High Street, M4 1FS
When - August
Everyone's favourite family-run Italian will be opening their FOURTH branch, this time in the Northern Quarter, very soon (once they've got Fest Italiana out of the way). As usual, they will be producing dishes made with ingredients flown over from Campania, for that authentic Italian flavour. Expect their sexy mozzarella to take a starring role as it drapes itself across classic Neopolitan pizza and pasta dishes. If you're totally over pizza, worry not, there will be Southern Italian fish and meat dishes from mama's recipe book too.
What - Six By Nico
Where - 60 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
When - July/August
If you're looking for something a little bit different, Six By Nico might be your ideal new restaurant destination as they boldly claim to reinvent the whole dining experience. With a six-course tasting menu that changes every six weeks, each based on a different theme, diners will have little chance of getting bored. This is the award-winning chef's first restaurant in England, having won over admirers in his Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh restaurants with themed menus such as picnics, childhood nostalgia, and Catalonian cuisine.
What - El Camino at The Cotton Factory
Where - Whitworth Locke, 74 Princess St, M1 6JD
When - Open now
Love the idea of an ever changing menu but not a fan of fine dining? The Cotton Factory has a concept not a million miles away from that but a bit more down to earth and gentle on your wallet. Housed in the impressive Whitworth Locke hotel on the corner of Princess street, the restaurant will change concept entirely every three months, with a different team of chefs bringing their colourful pop-ups to the bricks and mortar kitchen. First up is El Camino, from the team behind the much-loved Get Chucked in Urmston who bring levelled up tacos and tequila cocktails to the mesa.
What - Island Vibe
Where - 414-416 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton cum-Hardy, M21 0SD
When - Open now
Bringing some very welcome Caribbean sunshine to Wilbraham Road, along with a sprinkling of that lovely, laidback 'Island Vibe', this newbie whips up classic ingredients like goat, ackee and plantain into slightly more refined dishes than some of the other places doing this type of cuisine. Not that there is anything wrong with a cheap and cheerful, turmeric-hued veg patty dunked into a tray of home-cooked goat curry, but it's always good to see a slightly different take on things.
What - Wood, Hotel Indigo Chester
Where - Grosvenor Park Road, Chester CH1 1QQ
When - Open Now
Masterchef Simon Wood opened his flagship First Street restaurant shortly after winning the coveted TV prize in 2015 and he hasn't gone against the grain with his newest opening in the historic town of Chester. Sticking to his successful model of simple but modern takes on traditional flavours in a relaxed but stylish dining environment, the a la carte menu features his now signature dishes such as Anjou squab pigeon with bacon butty bread sauce and Cheshire beef with burnt onion, horseradish, madeira and truffle. There are tasting menus too, of course allowing Simon and his team to take you on a little culinary adventure.
What - MPW Steakhouse, Bar & Grill
Where - Bredbury Hall Hotel & Country Club, Osborne St, Goyt Valley, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2DH
When - August
Another big name chef, Marco Pierre White, is soon to open a new restaurant in Bredbury Hall, Stockport, where the food scene is really starting to sizzle. With a burger named after chart-botherer-turned-cheesemaker Alex James (smothered in his Blue Monday cheese, we're guessing) as well as a whole section of the menu dedicated to wild mushrooms, this is not likely to be your average steakhouse.
What - Ditto Coffee
Where - 61 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EQ
When - Summer
They say there's no money in the music industry these days, which is perhaps why Liverpool based music distribution company Ditto Music, who specialise in working with emerging artists, has launched a coffee shop as a side project. Set to open on Oxford Road this summer and following on from the success of their Liverpool branch, the new venture promises to give opportunities to up and coming musicians with an in-store 'demo dropbox' and a live music programme with an emphasis on community spirit. Their coffee is ethically sourced and roasted by Neighbourhood Coffee in Liverpool and the accompanying baked treats include vegan delights from the brilliant Teatime Collective in Hulme.
