Those hints of summer might have retreated, but there’s still plenty of reasons to be getting out there and in amongst it after the dark winter months. There are a raft of great new places to eat in town that have just hit the scene or will be ready to very soon indeed… here is the pick of the bunch.
Station South
A five year labour of love, Station South in Levenshulme is finally open, a community-focussed cycle cafe, workshop, bar and restaurant that will be showing the Tour and the Giro on big screens. And while that might be paradise for the bike nuts, they’ll also be rolling out the roasts on Sundays, and lunch, dinner and morning pastries through the week. The pistachio custard croissant is deserving of sainthood.
The Vurger Co.
Branching out from sites in Brighton and London, The Vurger Co is bringing its plant-based fast food to the Northern Quarter, just by the massive new piano shop. This means a New York Melt made with a Beyond Meat patty, double vegan cheese and its own burger sauce, or perhaps the Buffalo Vurger, a crispy 'chicken' patty dipped with buffalo hot sauce, topped with vegan mozzarella, gherkins, crispy onions and house-made baconnaise (don’t worry, there’s no bacon in it, merely a figure of speech).
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Fat Pats
Manchester has upped its sandwich game notably in recent years, with the likes of Bada Bing and Fat Pat’s leading the charge when it comes to ludicrously overstuffed loaves. Now, Fat Pat’s has arrived in town, and while it’s hard to stomach their attempts to shorten the word sandwich to ‘sando’, the Philly cheesesteak and hot honey fried chicken go down considerably better. Order them online and pick-up at 88 Portland Street, around the back of Chinatown.
Off The Grid
‘Have you been to that Off The Grid yet?’ is a phrase anyone who lives in or around Chorlton will have started to become slightly annoyed by in recent weeks. Yes, yes, alright. Jeez. Run by Nipuna Bogoda, who also owns pizza joint Double Zero next door, Off The Grid specialises in ‘flame kissed’ dishes inspired by travels to Portugal, Argentina and Spain, encompassing everything from lamb rump to flat iron. Or just have beef cheeks with fried potatoes every time. Easier.
Ornella’s Kitchen
Sicilian-born Ornella was previously one of the crew at the peerless Ancoats bakery Pollen, and now has opened up on Manchester Road in Denton, her first standalone restaurant after successfully launching a delivery Italian business in lockdown. The lobster ravioli is discussed in hushed tones, as is the creamy pork sausage papardelle. Oh, and that chicken parm. Heavens.
Sugo Sale
From being slightly lacking in the Italian department in recent years, it now seems to be the cuisine du jour in Manchester, with Sugo - having launched in Altrincham and then Ancoats - now moving to the burgeoning culinary hotbed of Sale. This new branch will boast the same brilliantly fresh pasta as its more established siblings, and all in the smart setting of the reinvigorated Stanley Square mall.
Carnival
The pedigree here speaks for itself. Chef and butchery maven Richard Turner has been at the heart of some hugely well-respected restaurants, from Hawksmoor to Pitt Cue. With his new project Carnival coming to take over from Bataxturi at Escape To Freight Island, this could become a meat-lover’s paradise. Expect porterhouses, prime ribs and pork chops that will live long in the memory. Oh, and scampi. And lobster. And a potato gratin with anchovies. Holy moly.
Lucky Mama’s
From a lockdown take-away truck situation in Eccles to bricks and mortar in Chorlton, owners Mamadou and Gaby have finally opened their pink palace (it’s incredibly pink), brightening up Barlow Moor Road no end. Mamadou’s Italian heritage means he knows his way around a pasta machine and a dough ball. Cut him, and he bleeds marinara sauce (please don’t try this). Let there be ragu!
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