Nine new places to eat in Greater Manchester

Oooooh it's gone cold out, hasn't it? So it's a good thing that we've got a hot and spicy bunch of new openings for you this month. Read on to hear details of nine new gaffs including Indian street food, modern Chinese - with or without (sweating) chicken - and a Middle Eastern favourite heading North. 

With all that in your belly, you might not need a hot water bottle.

What - Bill's Spinningfields

Where - 3 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB

When - 28th October

Bill’s is upping sticks from its home of five years on John Dalton Street and moving to a lavish new premises in Spinningfields. It’s all chandeliers and velvet in the new place, as well as some vintage bits and bobs ‘hand-selected by Bill himself’ - moving away from the relaxed, lived-in style of the previous venue and becoming a bit more fancy-pants. 

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu will stay true to ex-greengrocer Bill Collison’s brand focusing on good food and seasonal produce. There will be a signature burger of the week for lunch, and dinner specials from classic British dishes like panfried chicken with wild mushrooms to plant-based plates like jackfruit salad bowl.

What - Foundation Portland

Where - 11 Portland Street, Manchester

When - December

Building on the success of their existing branches on Whitworth Street and Hilton Street, the team behind Foundation are opening a third venue at the top of Portland Street opposite the bus station. Owned and operated by award-winning design studio NoChintz, their design credentials promise a more sleek, bright and 'design-led' style than that of its sisters, aiming to reflect the industrious nature of this part of the city. 

As always we expect great coffee served every which way and a range of simple but well executed brunch and lunch dishes. There’ll no doubt be cakes and pastries too, along with plenty of takeaway options for those hot footing it from the office.

What - Picturedrome Macclesfield

Where - 98 Chestergate, Macclesfield SK11 6DW

When - November

Confidentials had a snoop around the building site that was once Macclesfield's Picturedrome cinema last week as they were laying stone flags and installing pipes. It’s a project that has been in the works for about a year and it’s finally coming to fruition.

The makeover of The Picturedrome into a lively market hall with a wide range of independent food and drink traders serving diners at long communal tables in the centre comes from the folk behind Mackie Mayor and Alty Market. If you’ve been to either of these success stories, you’ll know to expect top notch food and drink - from the likes of Tender Cow, Fin Fish Bar and Honest Crust - and a convivial atmosphere.

What - Pizzology

Where - 16A Crescent, Salford, M5 4PF 

When - early November

The Crescent area of Salford is going through a bit of a transformation at the moment. Newbie takeaway to the area Pizzology, the idea of Yorkshireman Rashid Ray, is gearing up to open in the next couple of weeks. We've had a sneak peek at the menu which includes a gluten free and even a keto pizza base - with less than 2g of carbs - alongside the regular, skinny and stuffed crusts. 

There will also be plenty for vegans including alternative cheese and meat toppings, vegan 'chicken' wings and vegan cheesecake. They pride themselves on using top drawer ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes and the finest Italian flour. The non-vegan pizzas include the classics along with more experimental ones like the Bombay patakha with a special tikka base, tandoori chicken, spicy lamb mince, onions, green peppers, chilli flakes, red chillies and served with a patakha sauce dip.

What - Project B

Where - 8 Albion Street, Manchester, M1 5NZ

When - 25 October

In a transformed disused American car garage, just a few minutes from the slowly but steadily developing First Street, Project B are bringing their 'beats, bites and beers' to town. Think Grub or Hatch in a massive archway with DJs and vintage trucks selling street food, craft ales and cocktails. 

Traders already confirmed include long-standing city centre tandoor tenders Zouk tea bar, The Falafel Fella’s converted caravan of veggie joy, Hobo Gourmet’s buttermilk fried chicken and Kebab Kartel’s handcrafted shawarma on Kurdish flatbread. The launch party is on Saturday and the lads have all manner of events up their sleeves for the coming months. 

What - Roti Food & Liquor

Where - 559a Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester

When - this Friday

This hip and modern Indian street food kitchen is putting the final lick of paint to its colourful signage and hoping to curry favour with the locals when it opens at the end of the month - just in time for Diwali. The vibe is Manchester meets Maharastra with plush leather seating and a colourful mural wall celebrating the vibrant saris and plaid shirts of the streets of Mumbai. 

Expect metal tiffin boxes brimming with the jewels of India’s spice cabinet and locally sourced ingredients. Early menu teasers hint at an Anglo-Indian street menu theme with things like haggis pakoras and Indian scotch eggs. There is also a selection of craft beer, wine and ‘an approachable but interesting cocktail list.’

What - Ruyi Vegetarian House

Where - 536 Wilmslow Road, Manchester

When - 28th October

When much loved Chinese vegetarian restaurant Lotus closed its doors in April this year, the response from Manchester's plant based community was emotional. But rejoice! For the long period of mourning is nearly over as the restaurant is set to relaunch next week with a new name: Ruyi Vegetarian house. Find it in the same spot as before with a similar menu but new owners.

Expect meat-free versions of all your favourite Chinese takeaway dishes like sweet and sour veggie king prawns and aromatic crispy veggie duck with cucumber, pancakes and hoisin sauce, as well as more unusual ones such as spicy caramel tofu. The fever is already starting on social media so get in line if you want a table in this tiny neighbourhood spot. 

What - Sweating Chicken

Where - 52 Portland street, Manchester

When - Open now

This delightfully named Chinese takeaway is the second Sweating Chicken in the city following in the footsteps of its predecessor next to Big Hands on Oxford Rd. While the name might be off-putting for some it certainly sticks in the memory and the menu is more fowl than foul. 

While there is fried chicken in the form of salt n pepper bites available, this place stands out from the rest of Manchester’s flock of chicken based takeaways by offering a much healthier option of steamed chicken with rice. You can also get a whole poussin to share with pancakes, salad and bean sauce. Fried rice and noodle dishes add a bit of variety. Drinks are firmly in the bubble tea camp, there’s even an Ovaltine one.

What - Yara

Where - Bury New Road, Whitefield 

When - soon...

With popular existing branches in Altrincham, Cheadle and Alderley Edge. Lebanese and Syrian restaurant Yara has been teasing North Manchester residents about a new venue in Whitefield for what seems like ages now. The latest is that they are ‘waiting on some paperwork from the council’ but they maintain that Yara Whitefield is ‘coming soon’.

When it finally opens, expect classic middle eastern fare such as lamb chops, meaty and veggie kebabs and freshly made dips like hummus and baba ganoush. There are less familiar dishes like lahembajeen - a baked dish of filo pastry topped with minced lamb, onions and pomegranate sauce and kabseh which is like a fragrant, Persian biryani. The portions are renowned for being huge and their existing branches are regularly packed out. Keep your eyes peeled for this one.