The ever changing, alfresco pop-up restaurant is keeping us on our toes
Community Kitchen On the Square is heading into its fourth week and Manchester is hooked on the ever changing restaurant pop-ups. We’ve already had top tapas from Evuna and banging burgers from South Manny Flavas, but who’s moving in for this bank holiday weekend and beyond?
This weekend, for the first time, there will also be a DJ hitting the decks on Friday afternoon, starting from 4pm
If Community Kitchen On the Square has somehow passed you by, the alfresco restaurant outside the Great Northern Warehouse provides a pop-up space for local businesses. Weekly-changing, three or four day takeovers allow restaurants with limited outdoor space of their own to pop up and safely serve their fantastic food to the wider community. All diners receive table service to reduce close contact and aid social distancing.
This week, it’s the turn of Salvi’s who will be bringing their authentic Neapolitan street food and summery Italian cocktails to the party. They will be dishing up fried croquettes with mortadella and pistachio, indulgent arancini risotto balls - a Sicilian classic - stuffed with rich ragu or herby pesto and pizza fritti with ricotta, mozzarella and tomato or - surely the best one - mozzarella and n’duja. Check out the full menu here.
These pick 'n mix small plates are good for sharing or just take yourself away from the office for a while and get stuck in to your own private procession.
While holidays in Italy are off the table for most of us right now, Salvi’s can help get you in the sun-soaked terrace vibe with an ice cold Limoncello, Aperol, or Meloncello Spritz. As always, there are red and white wines available too, alongside ice cold pints of Estrella Damm, sponsor of the project. Let’s hope storm Francis has bogged off by then.
This weekend, for the first time, there will also be a DJ hitting the decks on Friday afternoon, starting from 4pm.
On Great Northern’s restaurant on the square, Centre Director Mark Schofield said: “We’re excited to welcome one of the city’s best loved eateries, Salvi’s, and I’m sure visitors to the Great Northern will love the authentic flavours of southern Italy which will be on offer at our pop-up kitchen throughout the bank holiday.”
Opening hours for Salvi’s are 12-9pm Friday to Sunday. No need to book.
The following week, it has today been revealed, the team from Eat Well MCR will be moving in to showcase dishes from 'The Creameries and friends'. Judging by the folks that have been getting involved cooking for disadvantaged people and NHS workers for the social enterprise, we can expect those friends to be some of Manchester's top (and most generous, it has to be said) chefs. We'd be more than happy eating Mary Ellen McTague's delightful food out on that terrace but we've also got our fingers crossed for guest appearances from Baratxuri, Elnecot and Higher Ground, whose chef Joseph Otway recently popped up for a supper club at The Creameries.
Poles apart but just as exciting, a little bird tells us that the another restaurant to pop up at the square very soon will be delightful dumpling dealer Platzki. The teeny restaurant tucked away down the side of the Great Northern doesn’t get enough attention for its authentic, hearty Polish cuisine - complete with copious shots of vodka if your host is feeling frisky. Our reviewer was utterly poled over on his visit and now Platzki will strut its stuff on the terrace, winning over a whole load of new fans with its perfect pierogi and other Eastern European dishes - full menu TBA. Put it in your diaries that Platzki will be popping up from 9th September.
Community Kitchen On The Square, The Great Northern, Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
