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Somehow, Ibérica always manage to strike the perfect balance between slick professionalism with an almost obsessive attention to detail, and a welcoming, comfortable environment. This Spanish-owned group of restaurants really know how to give their guests a genuine taste of Spain from the ambience, to the service, the drinks and of course, the food.
It’s no secret that Executive Head Chef, three Michelin starred Nacho Manzano has been heavily involved in creating their menu of main dishes alongside his signature tapas, or that group owner Marcos Fernandez only has eyes for importing the best top quality ingredients from his native county. Everything at Ibérica has an air of perfection about it, although the experience is never stuffy or formal.
They are not all about guests working their way through huge pans of delicious paella or multi-course formal dinners (although they cater very well for both.) They are also keen to welcome lunchtime customers at the downstairs bar for a bottle of one of their new Spanish beers and a complimentary bocadillo, or groups enjoying in the all-weather terrace, sharing a white, red, or Cava sangria or all three (sangria is available 2 for 1 from 5-7pm on Fridays.)
Like any good restaurant group, they are keen to refresh their menu several times a year to showcase the best of the seasons, excite their regular customers and entice new ones to visit. Group Head Chef César Garcia has created some fantastic new summer dishes which will commiserate anyone not travelling to the Iberian Coast or mainland Spain this year. One afternoon or relaxed evening spent in Ibérica’s gorgeous restaurant (especially on Saturdays when their resident DJ dishes out smooth Balearic beats) will soon have you convinced that you’re better off spending the money sampling their cocktail menu or taking advantage of their Thursday 2 for 1 offers on Gin and Tonics (which have a whole section dedicated to them.)
It would be missing the point to not sample the range of wonderful jamons and other cured meats at Ibérica as they are arguably the finest in Manchester. We recommend ordering the Trio of Ibéricos which, you’ll have to forgive us, we can’t help but savour like fine wine. The finely sliced hams (carving Spanish hams is an art in itself), or to give them their full title ‘Jamon Iberico Puro De Bellota’ are the finest available: Black Label 100% Ibérico de Bellota, Green Label Jamón 100% and Ibérico Cebo de Campo, all from pure-bred Iberian pigs, acorn fed, free-range and generally looked after better than some family members.
We recommend you also graze upon Lomito de Bellota, from the shoulder of the celebrated ham pigs with its mesmerizingly perfect white marbling and fantastic flavour. Ibérica also offer a wonderful air-cured Beef Cecina, similar to the more familiar bresaola, with a touch of smokiness.
It’s not all about the meat though, Spanish cuisine reveres the humble vegetable just as much – but to be fair, all that Mediterranean sunshine really does bring out the best in them. We loved the deceptively simple ‘Toasted Bread with Tomato’, Spring Onion Tempura (it turns out beer battered spring onions are actually a wonderful thing) and Salmorejo; a soupy purée of tomato, garlic, fruity extra virgin olive oil and bread. It’s a lesser known dish originating from Cordoba in Andalucia, southern Spain. Similar to a refreshing gazpacho, it has appeared on our ‘Best Things We Ate This Month’ lists more than once.
Fish and seafood dishes are also hugely popular in Spain and we recommend the modestly named ‘Garlic Prawns and Pasta’, a tapas dish of fat king prawns soaked in garlic and parsley with fideuà - hollow noodles that are so popular in Spain they even form a Valencian seafood paella dish with noodles instead of rice. Hake can be found on almost every tapas blackboard menu in the mother country and it’s in one of the lightest, most summery dishes on Ibérica’s menu. Softly steamed hake (as opposed to the more common fried fish) comes with buttery hollandaise, white pil pil (an emulsion made from the fish stock and olive oil) and vibrant lettuce vinaigrette.
Leave room for desserts as you can’t leave without trying their ‘Caramelised Spanish rice pudding’, again a ridiculously humble name for what is essentially a mother’s love and unicorn’s tears in dessert form. You should also try the Gloria Cheesecake which is a proper, literal version garnished with dries strawberries and shards of Parmesan, which you’d be forgiven for mistaking for white chocolate (don’t say we didn’t warn you.)
We’ve left a few dishes out because we don’t want to totally spoil the surprise for you, but whether you’re in the market for a quick lunchtime sandwich, somewhere with a more interesting cocktail and wine list or a continuous parade of wonderful tapas dishes, there aren’t many classier joints that Ibérica.
Iberica from Manchester Confidential on Vimeo.
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