Another Hand in Manchester

Still my favourite place in Manchester. From the hospitality and welcome to the absolutely incredible food! Complex but approachable cooking with sauces to die for. Each dish is immaculate and full of flavour with superb presentation. The guys here are just going from strength to strength, every visit they somehow keep getting better. Inventive drinks offering with local suppliers and natural wines. Front of house is relaxed and attentive but the stars of the show are Julian and Max the chef/owners whose welcome and conversation is the best you will get anywhere in the city. Wether it’s on the chefs table or being served one of their dishes they truly make every meal a special occasion. Absolutely loving what these guys are doing and with the challenges of the venue size they are smashing it out the park. Go and visit Exhibition too in Manchester where they have a kitchen serving incredible flatbread based dishes called Jaan.

My absolute favourite place to eat in Manchester. It's casual fine dining at its best. The small plate concept gives lots of choice for different preferences and appetites. Great service and excellent value compared to so many of the instagram focused "must visit" restaurants out there.

Amazing food, this is a different level

Nine months after our first visit we went back for round two for a little celebratory meal. Sat at the counter and we were extremely well looked after by the kiwi chef and his team. Outstanding service, food, and drink in an intimate yet atmospheric setting with a great soundtrack made for another unforgettable experience. My highlight was the oyster with tom yum, ponzo, burnt lime and wild garlic. The cheesecake and Lagavulin to finish wasn’t bad either.

A gem. Small and intimate restaurant. Attentive staff. Some of the best food have ever had. Was an utter treat.

Too many truly delicious dishes here for me to pick one as the best, but ooh! the burrata! the scallops! the hasselback potato with skin so crunchy it could be pork crackling! I'll be back soon.

Great experience overall. Top service - highly attentive staff. Staffs are friendly and put you at ease. The lady was very knowledgeable about the food. Dishes are of creativity and showcase the ingredients especially some simple ones like carrot, cabbage, potato. The deer main is the best one in our opinion! Nice casual atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. One humble suggestion is to get rid of the sunflower seeds that are part of the presentation of the scallop dish (underneath the shell). Reusing sunflower seeds could pose hygiene problems.

Everything is really thought through, great service and introduction to the menu, balanced flavours yet interesting, audacious and innovative dishes! Lovely atmosphere and staff, this was an amazing experience - can't wait to go back :)

The best service I have ever had at a restaurant. We came for my Girlfriend’s 23rd birthday and were blown away by the staff’s knowledge on the menu and attention to details The food was amazing particularly the deer and the wine was great too. Would highly recommend

This is a must visit. Stunning food with the drinks and service to match! Chef owners Julian and Max have created such a special menu that more than warrants a Michelin Star. Big thanks to the whole team for making it such a special experience!

What a place! Food out of this world, staff exceptional and the chefs are unbelievably talented! To even think of that menu is just genius Cannot recommend highly enough, just perfect !

I have been to most of the well known restaurants across Manchester and Another Hand is *hands* down the best restaurant in Manchester. From the intimate setting to the exquisite food and the tentative staff. 10/10

We were hugely impressed with Another Hand, a classy, unfussy little restaurant that deserves a big reputation. We sat at the counter overlooking the kitchen and chatted with the friendly chefs when they were not too busy. The skill and attention to detail on display were reflected in the food, a selection of small plates which we shared. The flavours of simple ingredients cleverly blended were intense. We had five savoury dishes and two puddings. Ther included one dish based entirely on carrot and another on cucumber which doesn't sound that interesting but both were absolute taste sensations. The flatbreads cooked over a mini barbecue were a revelation. I've previously not been over impressed with orange wines but the chef's recommendation of Baby Bandito Stay Brave was not only spot-on but also one of the cheapest on the wine list. Having watched the dishes that we didn't choose being prepared and served, it won't be long before we go back to sample what we missed. A terrific experience and very good value for the quality. Highly recommended.

Genuinely don't know where to start . Not sure I have the written vocabulary to describe the pure joy of eating at this restaurant. From the moment you walk through the door and are greeted by the team to the moment of leaving it's a special night . The time taken to explain every item on the menu to the wine suggestions and wine tasting without ever been condescending. I really don't have the words to describe just how good the plates were . Highlights were the flatbread , chicken skewers , lamb to die for and the deer just melted in the mouth . Thank you to the team you made an old man very very happy

We had a great experience here for our anniversary. Sat at the chefs table and had relaxed chats with the chef throughout about the food and food in Manchester in general. I'm not the biggest fan of sharing plates, but they were excellent here with portions being large enough for two people. Flavours were incredible in all dishes, particularly impressed with the vegetarian dishes. Wines were also great.

Food was super salty and mediocre. What was bad was the service. The restaurant was jam packed with tables. We had a reservation and still seated uncomfortably in a tiny table in the middle of the restaurant with little space for the waiters to pass through. I hanged my coat on my chair and sat with my bag behind my back on the seat. Then a waiter came and told me to hang my jacket and let him put my bag away, like it wasn’t an option. I told him I would hold on to my jacket but can’t let him take my bag away because I got valuables inside. My dog just passed and his ashes were inside. He didn’t seem to care. He told me to put my bag on their filthy floor. He said sitting with my bag on my own chair wasn’t an option. That was very rude. If space is a problem for the waiters to pass through, then they shouldn’t have put that extra table in the restaurant, instead of making customers uncomfortable. Also, I saw a woman putting her handbag right next to the serving plates, literally touching them, totally against health code! I will not come here again and will not recommend anyone.

The service and food was amazing - this is definitely a new favourite!

Best restaurant in Manchester. The menu was interesting , beautifully prepared and the service was superb

For only a small restaurant this place packs a punch. They made my partners 40th such a special experience and looked after us so well. With gorgeous seasonal food that is so intricately put together I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Some of the best food I have had in a long long time… intimate, atmosphere, amazing staff and the FOOD!! unreal… thank you!

Where do I start with this place !! Food was incredibly delicious very high standard , orange wine was unreal 👌 service was professional and made to feel special overall probably the best meal I've ever had ! Also I love the fact the toilet is away from the dining experience! Highly recommended

Very delicious plates for sharing. Warm hearted service. The flat bread dishes are fantastic.

We were really looking forward to visiting this restaurant, especially since it has a high rating of 4.8 on Google. The starters were a pleasant surprise—very good and creative. However, the main courses were a bit of a letdown. The cabbage tasted good, but the core was bitter. Unfortunately, the steak was dry and overcooked, even after we sent it back (we had ordered it medium rare). Overall, we wanted to give this place a higher rating because it seemed like a hidden gem, especially for the price. We’ll need to come back another time to see if it was just an off night.

A wonderful find. Incredible food, great atmosphere, attentive staff. The food is imaginative and tasty, served in a relaxed, congenial setting. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The food is simply stunning. Everything else is perfect too - service, atmosphere and all round dining experience. Beautiful little restaurant. Up there with one of the best around…

Very cool place, everything perfect.

Amazing lunch experience from start to finish. Super nice service, great wines and excellent food. The restaurant is very small and you can watch the Chef working. There is also an area to sit outside. I will come back for sure!

Lived in central Manchester for 7 years and this remains our favourite place. We visited 2 years ago and again today, things are just as good if not even better. Sit at chef’s table if you possibly can to watch masters at work and hear about the menu from the experts. Beautiful food that we cannot fault. It’s a must visit!

From the moment we walked in the door, we felt very welcomed by the staff and ambience! Definitely suggesting sitting at the kitchen bar if you would like to chat with some great chefs. The scallop and tomatoes were a standout for us, unreal. The wine list was really approachable with some good natural gems. Every dish was explained perfectly, and having chefs drop dishes was a great touch. Chef Max made the experience one of the best we've had in England with some great conversation. We will be definetly be back and spread the word!

A fabulous experience from start to finish. The venue is cosy with a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The staff are knowledgable and friendly and the food did not disappoint. This really is a hidden gem!

Not child friendly. Unwilling to accomodate a child in pram, despite this being noted in the reservation. Staff cited their policy on this on their website, which seems to be non-existent.

I have to say that the waiter is very good, giving people a very comfortable and kind feeling, and the training is very in place. The restaurant was a bit difficult to find, I went to take a taxi and couldn't find it at all, about ten minutes after the appointment time, on the small garden on the second floor. The restaurant doesn't have a big coat to hang in the doorway, but it's too crowded because I'm sitting right in the doorway. I ordered twice‘Hay roasted hasselback potato‘ which was so good. but i will give pork chop 3 star, cause i cannot accept that fish flavor mix with pork

One of the best places in town. Incredible creative food, lovely staff, great drinks menu. Really on it for gluten free needs too. Can't recommend it enough.

What a treat, food you can talk about! We had everything but the bread from the lunchtime menu for a group of five. A delicious experience from start to finish, exquisite presentation, powerful flavours. If you don’t usually eat something, try it here they will cook it too perfection. Looking forward to returning! Thank you

Decent food, quite overpriced. Had the sirloin steak which as per the menu was from a dairy cow; tough and tasteless, rest of the main and starters & sides were decent. Good choice of wine. Use a flat iron instead if you want to cheap out on the steak

I can't say enough good things about this place! The food here is truly unique and absolutely delicious—it's the only thing I'm craving before I head back home to Indonesia. Every dish is packed with flavor and creativity, making each bite a memorable experience. A special shoutout to Lily, one of the waitresses who really made my visit special. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu, taking the time to explain each dish and offering great recommendations. Her positive energy added to the overall fantastic experience. If you're looking for a place that offers amazing food and top-notch service, this is it! I know I'll be dreaming about these flavors long after I'm gone.

What a stunning little place! Food was out of this world, highly recommend sitting at the chefs table, it just really elevated the experience. Great service too.

Arrived during lunch hour and it was no problem to have lunch without a reservation. Very friendly and professional staff. The have a nice selection of wine by the glass and the bottle selection is also really good. Foodwise I can say that every dish had wonderfully balanced ingredients of high quality. Some of the dishes (artichoke and cabbage with mussels) were magnificent. A must visit when you want wine and dine on a high level in Manchester.

Came for a meal during our break away and we weren’t disappointed. We sat at table 1; the chef’s table; seeing the chefs cook was a great experience. The head chef/ owner presented our meals to us, which again was a great touch. The food was 10/10 and equally the staff were as good, especially the young lady. We wish we could have tried everything! We will for sure be back when we stay in the city again. Thank you to all at Another Hand x

This place was probably one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to in my life. I had booked at table at this establishment over a month in advance and *specifically* stated there would be a young child in our group. First, they mistakenly booked us for the the wrong date, which I was very understanding about. When I informed them that they had made a mistake, they correctly it promptly and booked us for the correct day. We arrived for our dinner reservation and we were all excited to try this place out. But after ordering our food, the chef/owner served our dishes along with some pretty mean and "borderline hostile" words. He basically said he would hate to have to ask us all to leave, but the child had to act 'properly'. According to him, children are not usually allowed but since we "showed up" with a child they were kind enough to let us in. Apparently their restaurant is 'high end' and customers spend a lot of money not to be disturbed and it's an intimate establishment so noise must be kept to a minimum, etc. And trust me, I get it! Restaurants have their rules and some times children are not welcome. I am completely understanding of these rules. HOWEVER, I specifically stated a child (and their age) in my reservation email. Your staff and restaurant accepted our reservation and did NOT say or hint in any way that children were not allowed. This is a problem that the restaurant should've handled internally by increased training instead of rudely reprimanding patrons for bringing in a child. Train your staff properly! Tell them not to accept reservations from parties that include children. Lastly, a piece of advice for this 'owner/chef': your approach is completely inappropriate. You might have three kids but that doesn't make you a good parent. If your first instinct to a child entering your restaurant and making some noise is to reprimand the parents, then I suggest you think hard about what kind of person and parent you are. Instead of offering help or understanding, you gave us some pretty harsh words that honestly felt very much like a threat. You ruined a happy occasion. Honestly, your food might be good, but we wouldn't know because everything tasted bitter after what you said.

Chef here is rude and inconsiderate! His attitude makes the food taste like trash.

What a find. Unpretentious inventive beautiful food. Divine Irish oysters...that sauce. Scallops, mackerel pate, flatbread with burrata, bergamot lemon cheesecake. We sat at the Chefs table. How they can multi task like that, cooking up a storm, chatting and super composed. In awe. Love the concept, see you again

Very innovative but felt most of the dishes just didn't come together as we had hoped. Excellent service

What an amazing place, modern, relaxed, so friendly and welcoming, we sat at the chef table and watched the beautiful creations being made! Food is sharing plates, super tasty, beautifully presented the flatbread, steak, and there famous hassleback potatoes were delicious 😋 Staff were beyond helpful with recommendations of wine and menu choices.

We booked for our anniversary and couldn't have asked for a better evening! The vibe was really nice and intimate with great background music and cosy feel. We took our time there and didn't feel like the food was rushed out and the plates were nicely spaced between portions. We ordered 6 plates and left so full, wish we left room for pudding! Definitely get the tomato salad and prawns, cooked to perfection! The staff were all unbelievably nice, we chatted to the chefs, barman , waitresses, everyone was so lovely and chatty! Would definitely recommend!

We were there a couple of weeks ago during our vacation in the UK. We still talk about the amazing food they have here. Next time I'm in the Manchester area, I'd make sure to go there again! Loved the food, loved the people, loved the location.

We’ve eaten here a few times and every time we leave incredibly satisfied. The food is top notch and I’ve never had a bad dish here. All dishes are generous portions and have so much depth of unique flavours. The cocktails are great and the wine list is good and fairly priced. The staff are always welcoming and the vibe in the restaurant is pleasant and relaxing. This is my favourite restaurant in Manchester and every meal I’ve had since coming here pales in comparison.

Best restaurant in Manchester hands down! We’ve been to higherground, Erst, Sparrows etc but the food here is on another level! Every dish is a fusion of flavours, well thought out and executed so well. There’s a really nice vibe in the restaurant. The chef and waiters are so friendly and really have a passion for food :)

I don’t know how they offer Michelin-star quality for the price they do! The whole experience is stunning: inventive, elegant, tasty food from a seasonally changing menu plus beers and wines that suit the flavours. They know their suppliers and get the best from their produce. I have been four times now. Their sauces are exquisite. They use smoke and fire with refinement. I was always reluctant to leave a review because I didn’t want the place to become so popular I couldn’t get a table. It’s the best value fine dining in Manchester.

Wonderful dining experience. We were lucky enough to sit at the chefs table. Each dish was well thought out & described to us. Super accommodating by plating the meat & mushroom elements separate from their dishes so I could enjoy them (as a mushroom hating veggie 🤣) my husband was able to eat them as intended. The cabbage dish was especially good, though all the dishes we chose were superb. Great wine selection, and very knowledgeable front of house were able to advise us on our selection, even offering tasters so we could choose. We were both wowed & will definitely return.

Simply beautifully and intelligently prepared dishes, so much flavour, brilliantly executed. This restaurant is as good as anything we have tried in the City centre, and we have tried many. The staff are lovely too! Fully deserve their Michelin guide entry. We will certainly be back soon.

Just phenomenal. Service was excellent and the suggestions and explanations were very helpful when choosing dishes. Excellent variety on the menu and the key ingredients on each dish really seem to shine. Will happily return. P.s best seats in the house are at the chef’s table!

Every dish was a gem. Layers of flavours that only an alchemist could achieve.

Fantastic little restaurant hidden away on Deansgate mews. The dining room is great, with an open kitchen. The service too is good and really friendly. But the highlight is the food. The menu is cleverly put together with something for everyone, every dish packed with flavour and beautifully cooked. It takes a bit of finding… but it’s well worth it when you do

We had a great dinner served by Elisa! Food was well paced, super yum & Selection of natural wine was a perfect pair.

I enjoyed my birthday here and the chefs were more than accommodating with my specific dietary requirements, the chefs and server wonderfully talked through each wine and dish as they were brought over you could really tell they knew a lot about what they were serving with passion too. I have been back since and the second time was just as good. 10/10

The best place to eat in Manchester hands down, a must visit. Food, staff and vibes 5 star x

What an incredible place! From dawn until dusk, I’ve had the privilege of dining at this restaurant. The warm welcome and delicious food leave you feeling happy for days. A big thank you to all the lovely people at Anotherhand.

This place is a gem! Great food, great service and wonderful atmosphere. Food was absolutely fantastic!

Some of the best food I’ve ever had in Manchester, but not without some flaws. First up, the toilet is outside, round the corner and in a dimly lit strange building which makes things really inaccessible for some and doesn’t feel very safe late at night. The service was good, it was the waitress’ 2nd week in the job so we can’t complain much there but took us a while to get extra drinks etc The food, well, three of the dishes were straight up 10/10: the bbq king prawns, the artichokes, and the pork chop. The pannacotta and forced rhubarb dessert was delicious. The beef flatbread felt a bit bland and unnecessarily big, and the signature potato was beyond crunchy, couldn’t chew the top of it and you could probably have smashed a window with it. The wine selections are great, too, and a good choice by the glass which helps. Overall, really glad we tried it but just seems to lack a bit of finesse and care in places. We’d still go back when the menu changes.

Always a treat for lunch with some of the best sandwiches in Manchester made with high quality ingredients. Reliably great food.

Cannot fault Another Hand, superb cookery with interesting combinations and well executed classics, a well priced and varied wine list, great atmosphere, and superb service.

Staff and Chefs are all very passionate and overall provided an incredible experience. A real hidden gem.

An all-time great! Every detail executed with TLC. No dish was the same and there was no favourite because everything we ordered was executed with impeccable refinement and judgment. The flavours were complex and the ingredients fastidiously fresh and hand selected. There were no dominating or wayward elements which threw off the balance of flavours or compromised the enjoyment of any single dish. The presentation was as beautiful to the eye as the flavours and textures were to the palate. In short, a bravura experience to be remembered fondly. Last but not least, we were floored by the value for the money! The only reason that the Atmosphere gets only 4 stars is because the restaurant is quite drafty and can be quite cold, depending on the weather outside.

Put down the plating tweezers and pick up some tasting spoons. Decent looking restaurant in an enjoyable Manchester neighbourhood. Food reads well on the menu, looks beautiful when presented, but unfortunately the Chefs flavours fall short of the mark. Came in for lunch and was offered a lunch special. Single oyster with a wild garlic sauce. The wild garlic was so over powering I almost coughed it up. I love strong flavours. And it wasn’t bad, but I don’t remember eating any oyster. Smoked mackerel pate to be honest is not good. Again a beautifully plated dish, but the sour green apple was off putting. It wasn’t spoiled but it gave the impression. The pate at the bottom was smooth and nice, but there was no Smokey flavour to be found in the dish. The gel set on top did not have any appealing flavours. The Rye muffins we fun, but the dish ate oddly trying to spread it and eat together. The winter squash was suggested to me and it was just ok. There was nothing terribly wrong with the dish, but that was also the problem, it was just ingredients on a plate. The squash itself was cooked well but under-seasoned needing some salt. The harissa broth was nice. The pumpkin seed stew, was explained to me as a risotto by my server. It was neither. It was just pumpkin seeds at the bottom of the plate. I Love roasted grapes. These grapes were not roasted and basically raw. Has all the makings of a good restaurant. Maybe just a bad day by the Chefs. Taste the food.

I came here with my husband for his birthday and I have to say it was one of the best meals I have ever had in Manchester. Our waitress was knowledgeable and enthusiastic; she delighted in taking us through the wine list, which included a great selection of interesting natural wines (we normally get a bottle, but we ended up going with several different glasses throughout the meal, each more delicious than the next). The food was a triumph. Dishes were seasonal, well executed and delicious. My favourite was the lamb skewer - succulent and drenched in flavour. The vegetable dishes, including the cabbage with mussels and the hesselback potato with black garlic puree, were just as spectacular as the meat and seafood dishes. We both agreed that some of the dishes wouldn't have tasted out of place in a Michellin starred restaurant (albeit larger portions). The desserts didn't quite live up to the standard of the other courses. The pannacotta was pleasant but lacked 'oomph', and the chocolate dessert had a cookie base which felt a little bit out of place and too comfortable (simple?) compared with previous dishes. Overall, a fantastic experience. We look forward to returning whilst we can still book a table within a reasonably short space of time, and before the rest of Manchester wants a table!

Amazing food and perfect service! Great value for money. We had such a good night here and would definitely come back if we’re ever in Manchester again.

Absolutely amazing! Best restaurant in Manchester hands down. Every dish was mouthwateringly tasty!

If your looking for a shared menu options and is a different menu you've come to the right place for a first class meal.

Came here for my 24th and my goodness!!! The food was absolutely out of this world. The service was 10/10 (gave me a glass of bubbly got my bday how lovely). Our waitress was a delight! Explained the menu brilliantly . Could not recommend this place enogu.

A beautiful quint setting in the heart of Manchester. A superb Mother’s Day treat. I fell in love with the food, Simplicity and tasty, the science behind the food. This cheff is very talented. My favourite was the butter beans with the coffee crisp eat them together and it taste like crispy panchetta. I wandered why everyone was ordering a crispy well made croissant with their meals, it was a hassle back potatoe. Excellent wine and service. Definitely will go back pending if we able to get a reservation. Truely a hidden gem . Loved every moment.

Fantastic food and service - would definitely recommend. Highlights were the prawns in XO sauce, the burrata flatbread and the sirloin

Excellent meal tonight at Another Hand - food was superb and service was perfect - friendly, professional, attentive without being fussy. We had five small plates between two and were pleasantly full afterwards- wish we’d left room for dessert. Will definitely be back for a return visit!

Excellent meal tonight at Another Hand - food was superb and service was perfect - friendly, professional, attentive without being fussy. We had five small plates between two and were pleasantly full afterwards- wish we’d left room for dessert. Will definitely be back for a return visit!

Amazing restaurant - possibly the best I’ve eaten at in Manchester. Visited with my brother and we were sat at the chef’s table. Max (owner/chef) and Lily (waitress) were excellent throughout the service. Would certainly return.

This restaurant was beyond, even my expectations. After reading various reviews I thought it would be lovely. It was a superb experience from beginning to end. All facets were fantastic. The various waiters/waitresses, were knowledgeable about the food, the provenance of the ingredients, and were really friendly and helpful. I enjoyed every plate served to me and my wife. The only exception was the pudding which was Leeds Blue cheese accompanied by a millefeuille. It was OK but I thought the ingredients were a little incongruous. The wine was perfect.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience here. The service was exemplary with the staff all very knowledgeable about the menu, and all our food choices exceeded expectations. A lovely evening. 😊

Great meal, great service. Very small and intimate. If you can, ask for chefs table (4 seats) as you get a front row view of what’s going on. Highlights are hassle-back potato, scallop, pork chop with rhubarb, artichoke and hogget. Tucked around the back so not actually on Deansgate. Go up the stairs off Deansgate and go right and it’s just there.

My second visit for lunch and again everything absolutely superb. Small but perfectly formed... every plate we tried was incredible. As another reviewer said would like to keep this a secret as its so good ....... but it certainly deserves every accolade.. amazing food, lovely knowledgeable front of house team and amazing kitchen team. I'll be back.

Delicious food and amazing service!

This is such a hidden gem. We went for lunch on Valentine’s Day. No special menu but it was great to pick from their general menu. All courses were suburb, down to the home baked bread with whey butter and garlic. We had the pork, artichoke, squid, hassle back potato and gorgeous hogget skewer. We sat at the kitchen bar able to see the work put into the food. All staff worked so hard. We will definitely return. Thank you to all at Another Hand.

Michelin-rated restaurant in Manchester… and deservedly so! Everything was perfect, even the Italian employee at our disposal to advise us on our choice... wine is known to have quite high prices in some countries and so we tasted two unusual but excellent beers. Highly recommended

I definitely don't recommend this place. Pros: - the staff is 5* and they are very kind. - dishes are coming quickly. - the idea to propose dishes that you can share is very nice. - drink choice is original But there are too many cons for me: - the place is too dark, it's really difficult to see and appreciate what you are eating. - the restroom is in another building, you need to go back outside to get to it. - the music is very loud and aggressive, it's not the right place to enjoy your meal peacefully. - the dinning room is too small, you constantly bump into a waiter or waitress and you have their butt on your table when they serve something 😅. - the quality of the food is very different between the dishes that you will choose. - the quantity is too small for the price, and can't be justified by the presentation or the quality of the ingredients. - I really recommend that they add bread on the tables, so we fully enjoy the dishes that come with a lot of sauce, and so we don't need to go to another restaurant to be full after eating 8 dishes here.

Very cozy settings and genuine service. I like that every dish has a great combination of all textures. The food is tasty and offers both bold and subtle flavor. The only thing that was not as I expected was the BBQ king prawn which is more like seared and not completely grilled. The Jerusalem artichokes is by far my favorite dish.

There’s a song from the 80s by Richard Marx called Endless Summer Nights and this was the emotion I felt through the meal. Not that the food was summery, but that it was a gorgeous, warm meal that you didn’t want to end - and each dish got better than the previous. The gist I got from my dishes was restraint - all components harmonized with each other, producing elegant bite after bite. The right amount of seasoning, the right blend of textures. It was a beautiful dream of a dinner and I think MCR is lucky to have this stallion in their culinary stable.

Wonderful combinations of flavors. It's worth booking several weeks in advance. I would especially like to note the sophistication of the dessert. We'll come back here again.

I'm on the fence with this one and wish I could give 3.5 stars. Having heard amazing reviews and taking a sneak peak at the menu I decided to book a table for my fiancé's birthday. I am pretty certain there was meant to be a January deal of sorts but this was never mentioned. Anyway, when I'd popped my head in during the week the atmosphere was more relaxed but on a Friday it was loud and claustrophobic. We were greeted warmly and our coats taken. A server then throughly walked us through the menu, suggesting how many plates each and ideal pairings. Of course I wanted try them all pretty much but I was firmly told no when I tried to order the 5 dishes (looking to share 1) and my partner knocked his selection down to 2 as consequence. While we waited for the food the hyped up natural wine menu was presented to us, all based Italy, France, Spain and Argentina, after trying x3 wine samples graciously offered we only thought one was palatable but not worth the asking £12 a glass price. I stuck with the beautifully made old fashioned cocktail and my partner water as they did not stock any rum. The first dish came out promptly which was the beef flatbread. It was the cheapest and the most flavoursome dish on the menu. The portion was easily divided too to share. This set the bar high and the ideology "oh perhaps the server was correct advising me on the dishes" While waiting for the next dish I envied the pork belly skewer being served next to me which looked amazing and quantiful for the price, unfortunately it was the dish I'd dropped to fit the criteria. Eventually the Shetland scallops turned up with burnt orange and creame frieche. For £19 and x2 scallops cut up with a bunch of cream freiche my heart sank. The sauces combined were tasty but felt underwhelmed. Another half hour seemed to pass and I felt others were getting food delivered more regularly than us and it was awkward having a server either side of us explaining the menu to other diners passionately. We could not converse easily. Finally the next £12 dish of smoke beetroot arrived with charcoal cream and horseradish. This was difficult dish to share, a single blackberry sliced, few pieces of beetroot and two giant leaves smothered with the cream. It had been 1.5 hours and we were starving having had just those components and we were getting hangry. By then the restaurant had started to wind down so at least the atmosphere was better. Hurrah the £30 sirleon,cheek and tongue dish arrived (so glad we ordered two, the waiter was surprised we had) and a shared hassleback potato. Passionately they went on to describe the dish again but we were impatient by this point. The beef dish was very tasty, my partners seemed a touch tougher than mine but they don't have steak knifes on premise. The potato I found overrated for £8 and a little overburnt. Overall for £119 for a cocktail and the dishes mentioned we felt it was very over priced in terms of substance and there seemed to be a heavy reliance on cream in the dishes. The star of the show was the flat bread and I think the server should have relaxed on the plate recommendation because it obviously depends on what your order. For what we ordered my partner was still hungry especially as we there for 2 hours receiving the odd tidbit. The service was very attentive though consistently topping up glasses of water and taking plates away quickly. I am undecided if I'd return, again some good flavours but very pot luck.

Absolutely impeccable food and service. The best pork dish I've ever tried and immaculately attentive staff and suggestions on both the food and wine. Yes, there is a price tag attached but every penny is worth it

We booked on a post-Lyon low, wanting some great food after our holiday in France. Great service; amazing food. We ate at the chef's table and loved the whole experience. Having been an orange wine sceptic, the waiting team recommended wines to change my mind forever! You will not find a better place to eat in Manchester.

Outstanding experience all round. Built for sharing. Smallish menu so we ordered every thing on it

Just ate here what an amazing experience! Great food, well thought out, great service and excellent portion sizes!

A small but brilliant restaurant tucked away in the Great Northern complex. Be prepared for unusual foods that surprise and excite in equal parts, with fine wines recommended by the knowledgeable waiting staff. Well worth a visit for anyone coming to Manchester.

Amazing food and atmosphere, would definitely recomend

Flavourless food dressed in fancy prices and citrusy sauces. All the food lacked flavour though the squid Bolognese was quite nice, very tender. All the other food was quite average which was disappointing for this price range. Would not recommend, I’m sure Manchester has more to offer than this

A fabulous and intimate restaurant serving amazing food

Perhaps the most overrated restaurant I’ve ever visited. The restaurant cannot accommodate anyone arriving early because they’ve designated the bar a “chef’s table”, I kid you not. Restaurants don’t need to be fancy to impress me, I could forgive the overly complicated dishes, the poorly designed menu, the lack of a toilet, the sense that this place takes itself way too seriously, if only the food was good. From start to finish we were served soggy, poorly seasoned and confused dishes that lacked any character. The ingredients were almost unrecognisable. Either they were smothered in sauces or burnt to a crisp. All style and no substance. Looks good in a photo but lacks maturity and quality. Three hands deli made fantastic grilled sandwiches but this restaurant venture seems to be overstretching the chef. I should have listened to the disgruntled customer that I met on the way in and gone to another restaurant.

Actually reluctant to leave this review as I want to keep this secret to myself, although the staff deserve a fab review - food, atmosphere (fab music!), service all great and such a wonderful place to have a more intimate dinner as a couple. DO NOT go without ordering the hassle back potato - amazing !

A fabulous dining experience of delicious shared platters in an intimate friendly space! We had the delicately flavoured scallops cervich starter after a lovely plate of fresh breads and olives. The pork curler was mouthwatering with a tantalising smokiness and a good size too! The Hassel back potato side was full of flavour and a subtle black truffle note yet simply done. The beef main tastes as good as it looked with all the parts making a sumptuous experience. We had several unusual varietel wines by the glass which were good vintages and complemented the menu. I only wish we had left room for a desert! The service was attentive and warm, and to see the chefs cooking for you was an added pleasure! A return visit is a must!

Absolutely incredible food. The flavours are sensational, this was the second time I've been in a year and would 100% go back. Highlights for me were the hassleback potato, the trout and the chocolate dessert.

I went to this restaurant with my partner for a special occasion. We ordered a house flatbread (keema spiced lamb) as a starter to share. Then, we had squid bolognese. The starter didn't meet my expectations. It wasn't as special as I thought it would be in this kind of restaurant. However, my partner liked it. We both expected it to be a more generous portion as it was recommended to us as something shareable. Next time, we will certainly order two of these with different toppings.The squid bolognese was exceptional; the ragu was proper, as expected. It tasted like home and was really lovingly cooked with the best ingredients. We had two glasses of Zegwur Gewurztraminer. It was interesting and matched the food. However, it's worth noting that while we frequently drink wine, we are no specialists. The service was really good and attentive. The atmosphere was welcoming. The restaurant is cozy, but my partner found it to be a bit too cold inside. Part of the kitchen is open, and seeing ingredients and the chef making food with such care and precision was really nice. In conclusion, I'd suggest selecting music that's more appropriate for the personality the restaurant and its refined dishes evoke. Moreover, we think the restaurant should offer a tasting menu option given the sizes of dishes proposed.