...without upping the price. Experience affordable fine dining for less
After a really special dining experience without breaking the bank? You’d struggle to do better than Restaurant MCR, which has recently made its legendary tasting menus bigger…without upping the price.
Previously available in six and nine courses, chef-founder Aiden Byrne’s culinary odysseys now come in a choice of eight courses (£60) and eleven courses (£85), with the option to add a wine flight for £40 or £60 respectively.
On trying some of the dishes, we particularly loved buttered mash potato with chicken confit and pickled mushrooms (a very refined ‘hug in a mug’) and gin fizz sorbet with cucumber and caviar; a satisfying palate cleanser even for those who aren’t big G&T fans.
The dessert finale didn’t disappoint either: ‘sweet woodruff, cherries and chocolate’ combined woodruff - a wild herb, picked from Byrne’s back garden and steeped in cream to make panna cotta - with a chocolate sponge base, while Byrne’s macaroon-like Manchester tarts lived up to their famous reputation.
Other exciting courses span butterhead lettuce and lovage velouté with crayfish and smoked anchovies to pig’s head croquettes with smoked apple puree. Elsewhere, you’ll find homecured charcuterie, handmade chocolates and even spectacular serveware.
Strapped for time? Restaurant MCR also has a three-course lunch menu. Available Wednesday to Friday for just £35, it includes a choice of popular dishes for starter and main - from salt-aged duck to stone bass - along with blackberries, meadowsweet ice cream and treacle tart to finish.
Take our word, this is some of the city’s best affordable fine dining. And what better time try to it…
Find out more here
