Australasia in Manchester

we return almost annually to this place and we do it for a reason - the food and drink. not disappointed thus year - lovely water (Dan) explained our options and gave the food allergy to the chef to ensure my partner was good with the tasting menu. sake was great and the food amazing. Only thing was it was too much - dessert was just a step too far!!! lol.

We booked for 2 people at 6:30 but didn't get seated until after 7, no apology or any recognition of how long we had waited. When we eventually got seated we waiting for ages for our food, which was average at best, to the point we asked for our food order to be cancelled so we could make our drink reservation somewhere else, our food then miraculously showed up. Wont be returning, it's was great a few years ago but based on this experience it feels like it's all gone to pot and they've been left in the wake of many other incredible restaurants in the city

A walk in having enjoyed early dinners and hosted family celebrations in the past. Really insulting to be told the restaurant was fully booked when we had never seen it so empty.

Warm inviting atmosphere, delicious food and friendly service. Tried most of the high-end restaurants now in Spinningfields and Australasia really sets the standard high. The food is absolutely delicious - it really is. Mouth is watering thinking about it. It’s expensive but it is well worth the price you pay. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. It gets a 5 star rating from me!

Came in for a birthday meal on Saturday and we were let down as soon as we got there. We had a reservation for 9:15 but had to wait almost an hour for the table. We had to order food before we even sat at the table as had other things planned and didn’t think it would take that long. Manager did kindly offer a complimentary bottle but when we went to sit down at the table a smashed glass had been set up there. Although we could understand it was busy they shouldn’t be taking bookings if they can’t accommodate for it. Portion sizes were small for what you pay and just wasn’t a great standard of food. Although staff were very apologetic it was still very disappointing

Went to Australasia for a meal to celebrate both mine and my mum’s birthday. The food was great and service was above and beyond thanks to Emily!

Food was brilliant, with unique flavors. Extra points for our Greek waiter, who made our night even more special!

The vegan options were delicious and our server looked after us very well. Thanks everyone for a special night! xx

What an amazing sushi and great atmosphere! I’ll be back many times!

We went to Australasia with high expectations. A friend was there the night before and reported it was a wonderful night with good food. For us it was mostly a disappointment. The staff were friendly, but they didn’t seem to know what they were doing. The decor was nice, we sat in the bar to wait for our table. The cocktails were delicious. When we moved to the table I would have expected that the waiter offers to move our glasses of water and drinks, but no we carried them awkwardly, including my mother who is in her 70’s. We ordered food generously with great anticipation. The small plates were edible, just ‘ok’ the prawn tempura seemed like it hadn’t been battered fresh, perhaps frozen? We had to ASK for the table to cleaned as we shared starters and made a little mess, surely this is part of the service, the waiter didn’t spot it on several occasions. The mains were disappointing except for the chicken. Two had ribeye steak, brought without steak knives, hard to cut, not medium as ordered, but rare. It was sent back, one still rare the other medium, but both were stringy and tough. We took most of it home for our dog. The barramundi was overcooked and tough, the fried fish skins were like paper and tasted pointless, the artichoke was not fresh, from a jar (cheap) the outer leaves inedible, I had to spit it out. The rough cut chips were ok, but seemed like they were cooked a while ago. The pork curry was ok. To top it off we ordered a bottle of wine that was £38 and were charged for the one on the list below at £50. I think the main issue is young untrained staff and cooks. Needless to say I won’t be going back.

Awful service from the general manager. Combative, condescending, and tried to convince us that it was our fault for waiting 2 hours for food. I feel bad for the staff that work for her. Won't be going here again.

Beautiful and delicious food. Stunny setting..But welcome was lacking...we were on time for our table and invited to have drinks at the bar beforehand...which was fine...but then had to queue 5 deep for 20 mins to get served. Before this could happen our table was ready. So 30 minutes before we were even able to get a drink. Just not what you expect for those prices.

What a shame - we were really looking forward to coming here for our wedding anniversary but we felt really let down. The food took ages to come, hours! We were seated at 8 and we were still waiting for dishes at 9.50. We waited at least 30 mins between our small plates and when we asked about our missing food (several times), we were just ignored. All the waiting staff were waiting around the pass so they were not there to take drink orders. It was difficult to flag anyone down. When our food finally arrived, the server did apologise and said he wasn't sure what was going on with the kitchen tonight! I had to ask several times for some tap water, the pork belly curry was insanely salty - it was barely edible. We paid £160 for two people and this included the service charge - not worth the money!

Went for drinks for my friends 21’st and found a dead rodent under my seat - offered nothing complimentary, slightly disappointing.

Manchester is one of those cities that you walk into and feel, not just see. It has a pulse, a buzz, a kind of gritty glamour that most cities only wish they could fake. It has an energy, an identity that makes it thrilling just to be there, like you’ve stepped into a world that’s going places, fast. It’s exciting. And Australasia – right in the thick of it – is one of those venues that embodies exactly that. There’s history in this place, not the dusty kind but the kind that feels lived-in and storied. Tucked away below the pavements, Australasia feels like a secret only the city’s in-the-know glitterati are privy to. You step down into this slick, glass entrance, and suddenly, you’re in another world. It’s not just somewhere to eat – it’s a place to *be seen*. And trust me, that’s part of the fun. You’ve got your glamorous women – all lips and heels, sipping their cocktails as though they’ve been hired to add to the scenery. There’s footballers, of course, casually draped over the sleek leather banquettes like they own the place, which, in a way, they sort of do. Because this is the spot where the stars come to sparkle, and you can’t help but feel a bit shinier yourself just by proximity. Now, the food? Well, it’s not bad. That might sound like faint praise, but hear me out. You’ve got sushi rolls that look like art installations and small plates that’ll make your Instagram account sing. It’s got that pan-Asian flair that’s been in vogue for a decade but doesn’t feel old here. There’s a sense of craft to it, a knowing wink from the kitchen that says, “Yes, we’ve done this before, but we’re doing it just right.” Manchester is lucky to have Australasia – it’s different. It’s one of those special places that makes the city what it is: bold, brash, and a little bit fabulous. It’s a place where you want to linger, soak in the scene, and maybe even become part of the legend yourself.

One of the best restaurants I have been to. A must if you are in Manchester

Went for my birthday as a surprise the atmosphere was great and cozy and the staff was super friendly and informative. That’s about it, when it came to the food was half cold and half warm.

Arrived at the restaurant to a warm friendly welcome. The restaurant has excellent appeal with a fabulous atmosphere vey smart decor. The service team were friendly, professional, knowledgeable and helpful, without being overly attentive or fussing’. The food and drink, while on the pricey side, was excellent in presentation, taste and texture. We highly recommend and will be back.

Excellent from start to finish. The food was amazing

Had such a lovely time yesterday at Australasia, our server Dani was very attentive and kind, food was worth the money. Had the mushroom and shittake dumplings they were to die for! Would definitely come back

Food: I have no complaint about their food quality. In my opinion all of the menu that i ordered is well served, and really tasty. And also worth the money. But one menu which i think needs to be improved is the pork frid rice. It is an indonesian cooked food based (says the menu), and since i am a native indonesia, i think the fried rice could be better if you make a bit more smokey in terms of taste. Atmosphere: The decorations, and interior design is great, and i am surprised by how comfort the couch, it is so soft and comfy. Lightings and acoustic is also great, really suits for a light conversation with your colleagues or partner. Services: I just want to give an input for the management here, i hope they can put more attention to the customers. Because i think the order-taker not paying attention enough, i need to raise my hand for like 10 minutes in order for them to notice me when i am in need. That makes the dining experience a little bit ruined. But above all, it is a really recommended place for you to visit, especially if you are a japanese food lover.

I don’t know where I start with this review! I was invited by a property developer for an all expenses paid night out and when I arrived my first impression was WOW! The entrance is through a glass ‘triangle’ that covers a staircase leading up the underground restaurant. They say first impressions last and this contemporary entrance looks classy and straight away made me think if I ever want to impress a girl on a first date, this would be the place to take her! When entering the restaurant, I was stunned by how big it was and excellently decorated, again, looking classy, clean and bright. We were greeted by a lovely waitress and quickly taken to our table and drinks quickly served. The developer (who was paying) suggested that we have a range of different foods to try and ordered a variety of different items from the Canapé menu. This is the difficult part of the review as most of the items, I didn’t have a clue what they were, HOWEVER, every single item was delicious, flavourful and our waitress had perfect timing in bringing out our food at various intervals ensuring it was served hot. Each mouthful of food had an explosion of delicious flavours that made me question how on earth do they make food that good when I didn’t know what some of it was. I have eaten at a Michelin star restaurant before but the food here was at a different level in terms of flavour, ingredients, presentation and uniqueness but what I struggled to get my head around was that the restaurant was packed and mad busy yet they were able to deliver beyond exceptional food without having to wait any long periods. Our waitress was a young girl who had a great attitude and was always smiling, polite, humble, always available when we needed her, didn’t rush us and was very knowledgeable about the menu especially when I asked her questions about some of the dishes that I didn’t have a clue about. Overall, out of hundreds of different restaurants I’ve previously eaten at, this excellently run classy restaurant is without doubt the only place I’d take someone if I needed to impress them and for any lads reading this review, if you are going on a date and wanting to impress someone, take them here and it’ll be guaranteed 😘 This place has it all and it’s an easy 10 out of 10.

Came for some dinner and drinks for my birthday with my girlfriend tonight. The food was delicious and the interior was beautiful. The lady with the blonde bun was super welcoming and made our experience so great, she even made a birthday dessert plate which made the experience even more special, highly recommend for any occasion

Went here for lunch not long ago with a client and asked for the service to be a bit quickier due to us all having meetings. It wasnt followed lunch ended up taking over 2 hours, I complained via email nothing back... and the basic waiter service wasnt followed we were served food first without plates... not expected when you pay over £75/80 a head... still awaiting a response from my email.

Me and my girlfriend came to celebrate our anniversary here and we had an absolutely lovely meal. Our server Dan was amazing explained every dish perfectly and really knew his wines. Our dessert was a little mishap as our souffle ended up collapsing in the oven however the staff immediately offered us 2 cocktails on the house as we waited for a fresh one which was extremely generous of them. 10/10 location and experience I'd definitely recommend this location to anyone looking for a good friendly atmosphere with some amazing food.

First time dining here for our 1st wedding anniversary and it was amazing! Food was lovely and the staff were so welcoming and friendly.

Australasia and its staff went above and beyond to ensure that my party’s experience was a good one. We opted for the tasting menu, but one of my guests had an allergy to coriander, which was unfortunately present in most of the dishes. Our waiter (head waiter, perhaps?) took this allergy seriously and consulted with the chefs to determine which dishes would be safe for her to order over the entire menu. He had written all the details down from the chef and everything. You’d think this would be the expectation at restaurants, but it definitely isn’t — this level of detail and care was so thoughtful to us. It showed that he wanted everyone to have a good experience, regardless of which meal we chose. The tasting menu was delicious. You really did get a variety of foods, from sashimi to meats to rices and everything in between. And it was a lot of food. Almost too much! But much appreciated. The interior was beautiful and such a nice vibe for a dinner with friends or coworkers. I would definitely invest in the tasting menu here if I returned. Overall, a great experience.

Went for a birthday dinner, awful service waited 40 minutes to order and then a further 20 for our drinks to arrive, forgot part of our meal which they then tried to serve us cold, food was poor, waste of money, complained and staff barely apologised and still had to pay in full

We went as a group of 13 and had to order off a set large party menu. We picked the £55 per person set (which does not include drinks). There were 4 courses, including dessert, and everyone was already full after 2 courses. Amazing food, the most tender meat I have ever eaten. The chicken is as succulent as it could be and they had massice prawns. The dessert was light and left me feeling satisfied after so much food. My only regret is that I didn't ask for a takeaway box cause there was a bunch of food leftover cause everyone couldn't finish everything.

Me and my friend came in for cocktails in the bar which were lovely but the service from the bartender was awful as he was swearing infront of us , glasses seemed to be getting smashed and shouting at staff.We were surprised at his behaviour as it’s known to be such a nice restaurant

Dinner tasting of exquisite Sushi and unbeatable oysters, good Chardonay!

Jamie was amazing! It was my grad meal and it was perfect all thanks to him🤍 desperate to come back

Went here for our anniversary in April and was really let down by not only long delays serving the food which wasn't communicated by the staff whatsoever, but also the service and front of house in general. The staff didn't look like they wanted to be there which isn't what you expect from the level of restaurant. The wait might not have bothered us too much if the food was delicious, but it was distinctly average and not enough to salvage the night. We did express our dissatisfaction to the manager who gave us a token discount for the delays and poor service, but it's not somewhere we would eat at again unfortunately.

Went for our anniversary as a surprise for my wife, that atmosphere was great and cozy and the staff were friendly and informative. That’s about it, when it came to the food the portions were really small for their price and the flavour was almost non existent. The food looked good and that was it! No flavour profiles or anything to justify the exorbitant prices.

What a lovely relaxed environment to chat and eat excellent food. Jasmin was a lovely host. I'll be going back.

Poor service, mediocre food better atmosphere following the redo but generally below standard.£500 for 4 not great value - disappointing

Took my Daughter for her 18th birthday, lovely food and great service 💓 Thanks so much for making her day ☺️

Tuesday night in Manchester and a treat to visit a great restaurant, refined , unique , great service and a taste of difference not like anything in the South. Would I go again yes yes

To be honest we were a bit underwhelmed and disappointed. £220+ on our 34th anniversary and didn't even get sat in a booth or the higher level seats. Plonked next to a column so couldn't even look towards the cooking area..what's the point of open plan if you can't see it?? Food was nice but very expensive for what it was. Bottle of valpollicella was not great.. got to be from a poor supplier to get that wrong. Disappointing because when I booked I let them know it was for our anniversary. Young trendy couple sat next to us had the birthday plate but not us. The waiter was great and knew his stuff.. Having done a lot of work for Tim Bacon and Living Ventures back in the noughties I thought it was a shame the substance was no longer there...just the style. Won't be going back.

Fantastic experience last night, our favourite restaurant in Manchester. always delivers amazing food and service. James, our waiter was really attentive and the manager, Matthew was a great host

The fixed price lunch menu is great value I had the sushi tacos and the mullet both perfect and the fish cooked really well. Service fantastic and great staff

Had an amazing experience and the set up was just mind blowing! The food quality right from starters to desserts was just simply outstanding!

This place was so good I came back the next night. We were very happy with the food, service and ambience. Special thanks to Aslam and Jasmine.

Hadn’t been to Australasia in a while. We were pleasantly greeted by Judah who give us a run down on the menu. Unfortunately, the only vegan big plate wasn’t available however the rest was. We decided to order lots of small plates and sides which were organised by Judah and brought out in ‘waves’ which meant we had a constant stream of good food! We were both very hungry and around 5 small plates and sides each was adequate to fill us both up perfectly (we can eat…) We were slightly worried that the small plates dishes wouldn’t be filling but we were pleasantly surprised. The service from Judah was excellent, I am glad our evening was in his hands. We eat out a couple of times a week and this has to be the best service we have experienced in a very long time. There was a slight hiccup with the coffees but running a bar and restaurant ourselves, we inferred that this was human error and no fault of Judah’s himself. That being said, we were in no rush and the coffees did arrive after some time so we were happy. Judah made sure of that. We had come here for a special celebratory occasion and it did not disappoint. I didn’t rate the edamame beans dish all that much however this came out first, and the rest of the food and service made up for it. I honestly feel that the experience would have been average without Judah. However he made sure we had a lovely evening so hats off for that, big thanks! Last time I came to Australasia it was slightly pretentious however this time they took a slightly more casual approach, which as a younger couple made me and my partner feel at ease and relaxed to enjoy the food and our drinks. Our wine was topped up without asking, same with the water. Judah was friendly, as was the other waiter who brought a wave of food and it was easy to have a laugh with the front of house staff. The food was excellent and I highly recommend the tempura avocado, shiitake dumplings and tempura popcorn which were my personal favourites! However they were all very tasty. Thanks to Judah for making sure we had a nice evening.

Visited after debating for a while but food was disappointing at its best, no flavours on the sliders and the meat was very hard to chew as well as salty, the slaw was horrid and flavourless, the Korean fried chicken again bland and lacked flavour, overall would not recommend or come back again, service was lovely although when I first walked in the reception lady didn’t even know it was 12pm to start service and looked uncomfortable at my presence.

Great atmosphere but terrible overpriced food :)

Food was brilliant only let down by the service. We went early afternoon and there was more staff than customers and still received slow service.

No atmosphere, slow service & average food. My recommendation is head to The Ivy Asia, just around the corner and a much better all round experience.

If I were on a date I might have given it a higher rating, I think because we were a big group our food arrived after 4-5 glasses of wine despite having a set menu booked for us in advance. Regardless, the food was spot on, the atmosphere was fun and the cocktails were delicious!!! If everything was managed more efficiently it would’ve been the perfect dining experience. Kudos to the chefs 👌

Nice venue but over priced considering the quality of food on offer

Housed within a striking glass structure, the restaurant exudes modern elegance and sophistication, with its sleek design and luxurious ambiance. Upon entering, we are greeted by a stunning staircase leading down to the main dining area, which is adorned with contemporary decor, including bamboo screens, plush seating, and atmospheric lighting. The spacious layout provides a sense of intimacy while allowing for socializing and mingling. The culinary experience is centered around a fusion of Australian and Asian cuisines, resulting in a menu that showcases a harmonious blend of flavors and ingredients. Executive Chef Paul Green oversees the kitchen, curating a selection of dishes that are both innovative and delicious. Starters that we enjoyed include yellowtail sashimi with truffle ponzu and soft-shell crab tempura with yuzu mayo, while standout main dishes include miso black cod with pickled ginger and Australian wagyu beef with Asian greens. The sushi and sashimi selection is particularly good, showcasing the freshest seafood expertly prepared by skilled sushi chefs. To accompany the meal, Australasia offers an extensive beverage menu, including a curated selection of wines, Champagnes, and spirits, as well as creative cocktails crafted by expert mixologists. The bar area, with its chic furnishings and sophisticated vibe, is perfect for pre-dinner drinks or post-meal cocktails. Service at Australasia is attentive and professional, with staff members knowledgeable about the menu and adept at catering to guests' preferences and dietary requirements. The overall dining experience is one of refinement and indulgence, making it a sought-after destination for special occasions, romantic dinners, and upscale dining experiences in Manchester.

Average food at excessive prices. Very disappointing.

Great food and venue unfortunately let down by its service on our visit.

Revisited after having not been for a few years. Unfortunately food not as good as it used to be. The service we had was really slow - both cocktails and food. Bit of a let down. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend coming here any more and won't be returning again, such a shame! Though perhaps there were staffing issues. Waiter was lovely and extremely apologetic I must say - he is the only reason we kept the service charge on the bill.

The food was amazing. the service was as good as we've had at Michelin Star restaurants without the price tag. Chris, who looked after us, was phenomenal. Engaging, interested, and attentive. The price tag attributed below, was us buying expensive wine. They didn't have what we wanted in stock and they discounted the next best thing because of it. Would go again and again. Top notch, keep it up guys.

A place for people who want to dress up in Manchester. Impressive array of people! The food is more Japanese than Australian. Nicely done sushi and sashimi good robata. They gave us a free selection of desserts, which I suspect was prepared for someone for Mother’s Day, but doesn’t matter! Very happy with my experience.

Very nice food, good drinks. Friendly staff

Really disappointing overall - we came up to Manchester to visit, and had high hopes for dinner at Australasia. The entrance is great, and you descend into an incredibly welcoming and bright space, despite being underground. We had mixed sushi/sashimi, and tried a black cod small plate (at £33), and deep fried soft shell crab. White wine by the glass was barely cold. The food was generally very impressively presented, although generally very bland and underseasoned. Given the menu is so sushi heavy, and they have a tasting menu, I’d have expected much more. The rice was bland, the wasabi was so insipid you could eat chunks of it at a time, the fish was disappointing. It was all dressed nicely, but in a blind test, decent supermarket sushi would have beaten it. Service was a little disinterested, although it was a quiet Sunday evening. I had to walk the length of the restaurant to go to the main desk to ask for the bill. Generally managed a gluten free guest well, although we had to scan a QR code on the menu to sort it out ourselves on the online menu. Overall, nowhere near as good as it should be when you’re spending this much.

Visited last Friday with some friends, to celebrate International Women's Day. Our table was lovely. The atmosphere and set up were stunning, the food were great and nicely presented. My favourite dish was the pork belly curry and the sushi & sashimi board. The menu has a good variety of choices big and small plate. We had a great experience and will be definitely returning back. A huge shout out to our waiter Chris for his service, he was very polite and patience, providing us accurate information about the food. Well done Chris you are a credit to Australasia! Highly recommended restaurant.

Table booked for 6.30 - it wasn’t ready on our arrival so had to wait about 10 minutes. Then waited almost 20 minutes to order drinks so was 6.56 when the waitress arrived - in all honesty were just about to walk out. Our waitress was really nice but the others behind reception reminded me of the plastics in mean girls. The food was really nice, although quite expensive. We asked for salt and vinegar for the chips, don’t think this is the done thing as they had no vinegar and we were brought a bowl of salt that she had took from the kitchen. At just before 8 o’clock we were told by our waitress we would need to leave our table as there was another booking, we said we were just finishing our drink. Then one of the mean girls came over and told us we would have to move to the bar area if we hadn’t finished. It’s a good job we didn’t order desert as given the time we were kept waiting there would not have been time.

Celebrating 68th Birthday and the location was perfact and the staff was really attentive.

Lovely bar and great drinks selection

Very Nice atmosphere, exceptional service. Very polite lady host. Drinks got brought after we ordered food, took ages to clear plates and to bring the bill despite asking twice. The quality of food is not reflected by the price. They are severely overpriced as well as a cocktail for £15. Very lovely decor.

Even after years eating here, I'm glad to say it's still one of my favourite restaurants. It's always excellent service. Lovely atmosphere and the food instantly makes me smile.

Came here for a friends birthday, made the journey up from Bristol so we were really looking forward to it. Firstly I’d like to say that our server Dan was great. It was quiet in the restaurant (it was a Wednesday) but the atmosphere was still really nice. Cocktails were great. However the food was slightly disappointing, nothing was bad enough to warrant complaining about, but it wasn’t the high standards we were expecting. Pan-seared scallops (see pic) barely had a sear on them at all, the sweetcorn purée didn’t really add anything to the dish, and a measly amount XO sauce was lazily dribbled on the plate (I know this is supposed to be a potent sauce, but I couldn’t taste it at all in the dish). The pork wonton that came with it wasn’t really a wonton but some pork crackling? It tasted good though. And most of the dishes were garnished with pea shoots.. not the worst thing in the world but not particularly original or unique. The California rolls had really dense rice, which was unusual for sushi - again not really worth complaining about, but slightly disappointing. For the mains the ribeye steaks were cooked nicely, but the sauce they came with was very thin (even for a jus). The monkfish was very good. The lobster was presented nicely, but disappointing again. served with some sad steamed (or maybe blanched) vegetables without any seasoning or flavour, the pak Choi was floppy and a bit slimy. Also no lime leaves in sight. The broth served with it was flavoursome but wasn’t enough to carry the dish. The portion of coconut rice I ordered with it was tasty, but small for the price. Overall, good service and atmosphere but disappointed by the food and probably wouldn’t return again.

Brilliant place, good was fantastic service was great too couldn't of had a better time. Staff were brilliant too. I really recommend it!

For years I’ve wanted to go to Australasia…I moved away for 7 years but now I’m back and my friend came to visit I was down with the idea of eating here. First impression…the decor is relaxing and stylish, a few bits of it showing signs of wear but aren’t we all. My review stems from the staff…the barman tonight should have been more excited to see guests on a very quiet Monday evening…but instead gave the bare minimum in terms of effort as we appear to have interfered with his intimate relationship with the cocktail stick stuck in his mouth like the Godfather. He delivered the drinks and it was a surprise to see the state of his footwear, the gruftiest pair of trainers I’ve ever seen…minging, designer but absolutely filthy! Guys…up your game to match your prices. It’s not a problem paying for the full experience if parts of it aren’t a blatant fail

Food and drinks were lovely, service was quite slow and I had called ahead for a birthday plate for my friend that never arrived. As someone who works in the industry it wasn’t the best experience. Host and server were lovely just not very time efficient.

My partner and I wanted a romantic meal together as we were both working on valentine's day (we both work in hospitality). We were met by big smiles at the reception and taken to our tables. Our server was Jasmine, who was absolutely wonderful. She genuinely cared about our experience, she took time to talk to us (and other customers), she helped with menus and always kept an eye on us. The service was perfect. It's also worth noting that this place is very LGBT friendly, my partner and I felt very relaxed here. We bought six plates and each was sensational. We had staggered service, where our 3 sushi dishes came out first, and then our hot plates arrived once we were finished with our sushi. We even ordered an extra plate and received it in good time, which was beyond what we expected. We also got desert which was delicious. The price is just right for the quality of the food (which was superb). We are so pleased to have come here. Big love to Jasmine and the team. Despite not living in Manchester, we'll definitely be coming back next time we're in town.

Fantastic experience, food and service were second to none, would recommend for sure 👍🥂

Food was great a few dishes were a bit bland and the waiter was a bit OTT but generally a very good place to eat even if a bit pricey.

Great atmosphere and decor. Chic but cosy. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The food is absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. We (2 of us) had 4 small plates, followed by mains, then a shared dessert. You can see the chefs at work in the kitchen (not just at the pass) and they clearly love what they do. One chef was dancing along to the music! We booked 3 weeks in advance and could only get a table at 5.45pm on a Friday night. Top notch, highly recommended.

Loved the food. Lots of choice a great treat

My daughter and I dined here on our 1st night. Although our table was not ready so we were asked to wait in the bar area with sofa seating. After 10/15mins we were shown to our comfy, private booth table. Loved the setting, atmosphere and ambiance of the place. Kasim was delightful and was attentive. I ordered the salmon and kimchi rice which was amazing and my daughter had sushi which she loved. Overall loved everything about Australasia and would love to bring family and friends.

Joseph gave me and my mrs the best service we could have asked for. The last time we came the service was quite bad so we were really appreciative of Joseph and hope to see him again. I hope he gets some sort of praise or bonus

Drinks were good but £27.75 for 2 cocktails was abit steep, food was decent but again was abit of the steep side for what it was. Our waiter explained the menu and was nice but had to wait a while to be able to pay. Was a nice meal and nice to experience but probably won’t go for food again.

The food was extremely good. Service excellent. The waiter explained the menu and was patient when we kept asking what certain thing were. The thing that spoilt it was the noise. The music was boom boom all the time and very noisy. We had to shout. If you want a quiet romantic night this is not the place for you.

Visited here with a friend from Australia who I hadn’t seen for 12 years - thought it a neat twist! Beautiful surroundings and good service but the more I think about the food the more disappointed I am. I had chicken skewers to start - disappointing that these were thigh meat not breast meat - but I guess that’s my own personal taste - however slimy and just not nicely cooked. I then had monkfish after being told the red snapper I had initially ordered wasn’t available (neither was the red wine I had picked - why not update your menu guys instead of running through everything you haven’t got?!). Monkfish was dire - cut into thin slices when the whole point of monkfish is it’s a meaty fish. So overdone it was like rubber. My daughter had a rib-eye 50% of which was fat and as she said, really not worth the £28 price tag. None of it was to be honest. My advice- go somewhere less glamorous’ where they know how to cook. I should have complained but didn’t want to ruin what was a lovely reunion with my friend

place smells a bit funky, I saw several mice running around INSIDE!!!!!! When i reported this to a member of staff they just laughed in my face and shrugged it off. will not be returning, staff looked bored. when i asked to speak to a manager 'grace' was to busy to talk to me as she was laughing and talking with her collegeues. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL! will never be returning to this horrible establishment ever again

Very slow and messy service, long wait for the food. We were a party of 5 for a lunch meal. After we ordered our drinks it took 15-20 min to get them, the waiter arrived with 4 drinks only, when we asked where the other drink was, he said: "we ran out of orange juice". How can you not have orange juice? We asked if we could order something else, he said: I'll send my colleague to take that order... It was pretty much the same level of lack of attention for the whole service. Collecting our coats after our meal: more drama. We haven't received any tickets when they took our coats, so trying to find them took them another 20 minutes. Comedy! And all that happened when barely 50% seats were occupied. Can't imagine a busy time ....

It was lunchtime when we visited and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. Some of the best Sushi & Sashimi I've ever eaten. The Tempura Soft-shelled Crab was lovely and the Tempura Popcorn a revelation!

My favourite Place in Manchester

Amazing experience. Loved food and ambience. Found bit difficult to find the hotel as there is small entrance in the middle that take you on the lower floor. Massive menu impressed me. Quality of all items was exceptional. I would love to come back.

Stav was amazing with service and really made the dinner special for my girlfriend on her birthday. Expensive but so worth it for outstanding food and an unforgettable atmosphere. Will definitely return in the future.

Good food, good service, but not my cup of tea.

I came in last night with 3 of my best friends for my 28 birthday. Firstly, it took almost half an hour despite having a reservation to be seated at a table. This was really disappointing as two of my friends had come up from London and another from out of town and were expecting a great experience. From there on based on the speed of service we elected not to order drinks. We went through the entire evening with no water despite asking three times across an hour and a half. My friend has health issues and ultimately had to get her own bottle of water out. The food came out relatively fast, but then after eating it took 30 minutes for plates to be cleared and we sat in front of dirty plates and a table which totally ruined my experience. I was incredibly disappointed with this experience and I’m sad I wasted my birthday on this restaurant. It’s pretty and the aesthetic is nice but I truly won’t be back despite the food being nice. I can’t justify the service experience no matter how good the food is.

Been here through the January offer. Honestly, the staff did try to help us out, but the rice on the Sushi wasn't really good, the main dishes (seabass and pork) were overcooked, as much as I couldn't say what kind of meat we had (even been working as a head chef for over 20 years). I don't think the price offer worth the quality. It's a shame because we came for a birthday dinner which was also on the booking reference and they didn't even mention or made the event special. Nobody asked how the food or the night was going. And at the end.. desserts.. a boring profiteroles filled with a kind of raspberry and a frozen tasteless chocolate thing. I could understand it if they were busy.. but just 6 tables of 2 people each.. and at least 4 chefs and 4 front of house staff. Never again

The place is AMAZING. Great service. Great food. Great atmosphere. I was amazed.

delicious. definitely different and especially loved the sticky belly pork skewers! coconut rice was quite dry tho and not what i was expecting. overall a good experience. did go for a birthday which was mentioned to the staff when booking, but seemed to be no acknowledgement of it. would've been nice.

The food was good as usual. The desserts were particularly nice. We were treated to this by way of a gift voucher. The gift voucher was for afternoon tea for two. To say I was surprised at being charged for two hot drinks plus a service charge, which totalled an additional cost of £15, is an understatement. The response for Australasia has been poor in the extreme. I won’t be coming back. Anyone can make a mistake but the utterly naff follow up from their assistant manager, Grace, left me feeling unwanted as a customer who has enjoyed some very nice meals here in the past.

Delicious food, really high quality. The waiting staff are brilliant. Our waiter is now best mates with our 1 year old. Thank you for a lovely meal!

Thank you for the superb hospitality and service that we received at your Manchester site when we visited last Friday for a pre-theatre meal. Food and Menu The menu is superb and caters for a variety of different diners. There is a huge variety of Sushi if you are a lover from Yellow Tuna, Salmon and Crab to name a few. For Starters there are Tempura dishes if you love deep fried food such as Calamari and if you are a Meat lover then there are numerous small plates on a skewer such as Prawns, Lamb and Chicken. For Mains then there are various dishes to suit your taste buds from Lobster to Chicken dinner and there are a variety of sides to choose from which are a lovely addition to your meal. This includes Coconut Rice, Chips, and more. The Dessert menu provides a diverse range of flavours and textures from Ice Cream which includes flavours such as Hazlenut Praline and Green Tea to name a few. There is also the popular Chocolate Dome and the Passionfruit Soufflé too. For the starters the Calamari was tasty, moorish and irresistible to eat. The Prawn Skewers were delicious. They were big. Juicy, and they melted in the mouth. The Chicken Skewers were cooked brilliantly. It was crispy on the outside but also tender to eat. In addition the Sushi selection was superb. It was refreshing, vibrant, and with great flavours. They were all incredible but the one that stood out was the one with Aubergine. I did not expect that flavour to work but I really enjoyed it. All Sushi and Starters come with Soya Sauce and Sweet Chilli dips. The Chicken Dinner as a main was exquisite in its presentation, taste, and flavour. It was soft, tender and it fell apart. The skin was delicious. The gravy was presented in lovely fine jugs and added depth to the dish. It had a great sticky sweet flavour which went well with the Chicken. The Coconut Rice added flavour and texture to the meal. The Chunky Chips was scrumptious to eat. It was perfect. For Dessert the Chocolate Dome was divine. There was a bit of drama as the waiter will pour Caramel sauce to make it melt. It was a piece of art in its presentation. Inside the sphere there is delicious Chocolate Ice Cream and the addition of honeycomb is genius. It tantalises your mouth. I love everything about this dessert. The Latte was rich, indulgent and smooth. The quality of the mug used for my hot drink was lovely and it was unique in its style where there is no handle on it. Drinks There is a small selection of Mocktails that are on offer. There is a variety of flavours to quench your thirst. The one that I had was Apple, Mango, and Passion Fruit. It was refreshing, fruity and punchy. It went well with my meal. Service The service at Australasia was excellent and everything was presented in an immaculate way. Our waiters Kasim and Chris were attentive, friendly, accommodating, and made me feel at ease. They were very helpful when giving recommendations on food and drink to which they were spot on. I strongly recommend this restaurant. Lighting and Access Entry to this restaurant is through a flight of stairs which you need to go down. There is a handrail and there is some contrast in the colour. The lighting at this restaurant is decent enough in that you can enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Furniture The furniture is lovely especially the high tables with the soft sofas to sit on which are comfortable when having a meal. The quality of the cutlery is great and the way that they are presented with the menus when you first sit down to your table is greatly thought out. Parking There is parking however it is not nearby. You can either park at Byron Street car park which is pay and display but is also free for Blue Badge holders. Alternatively you can park at NCP Spinningfields where payment is required and then walk to the restaurant. Pricing This is a fine dining place and so the price of the dishes are high however when considering the service, presentation, and the standard of food on offer then it is worth it. However, it is not somewhere where you can go often and therefore it is ideal for a theatre night or for special occasions. If you love fine dining then Australasia is the place for you.

Had high hopes for this place considering the 4*+ rating with 4K+ reviews so booked for the £125pp 4 course NYE meal Massive mistake Table booked for 9pm wasn’t ready on arrival so went to the bar for a drink while waiting where a bartender was loudly complaining about her colleague for not serving customers due to cutting her hand. Thankfully her colleagues stuck up for the poor girl explaining she had gloves on to prevent bleeding and that it couldn’t be helped, very unprofessional Nobody came over after 15 minutes so we enquiring at the desk if we have a table yet and we were seated. The first course we both had the sushi selection, I had a feeling from this point we were in for disappointment The sushi was VERY dry and stale like which can be seen on the photo. We struggled to eat it and was lukewarm, even the wasabi was rock hard. I’ve ate sushi in many places and genuinely had better from supermarkets. The 2nd course of scallops were also flat cold, I put this down to a busy NYE night and that the servers were trying to keep on top of getting dishes out, I didn’t think to raise this but wish I had as I’ve had vomiting and diarrhoea for the past 48 hours The steak and vegetables arrived, also flat cold. Normally I would've raise this with the kitchen as mistakes happen but this clearly wasn’t a one off since all dishes were this way, other guests were also returning dishes and there’s similar reviews on here from the same night. I had one bite of the steak and frankly was fed up and wanted to get this over with and leave asap. The dessert arrived wrong, tried to get my email thread up as the server was insisting the dishes were correct but no service inside the restaurant, was given the right dish in the end and the Tart was lovely and genuinely the only edible part of the meal bar the lovely potatoes accompanied by the steak We asked for the bill and was over charged £80 as we’d paid £100 deposit and the receipt advised we’d only paid £20. The server kindly looked into this and advised our party had been confused with another table and corrected our bill. They did advise our sitting was supposed to be until midnight as we had already asked for the bill by 11pm but explained that wasn’t necessary as we’d like to leave Overall, very unhappy and disappointed. Waste of money and a meal, having to take time off work due to being ill from the food The servers were great and very polite and helpful but definitely won’t be returning a 2nd time

I’ve been to Australasia before and the food and service was impeccable so Tom and I decided to come on New Year’s Eve. We were both quite disappointed for a number of reasons. All the dishes which were supposed to be hot were Luke warm at best, and multiple tables were complaining of this as well, alongside pretty awful service and mediocre food. The entertainment they had promised ended up being 2 people wondering around the room and kind of dancing which we both found odd. At midnight there was only a handful of tables left so the midnight celebration wasn’t what we had expected at all. For a 4 course meal and two bottles of Prosecco, the meal came to an eye watering £380 which I would be prepared to pay for if it was worth it. I’m really disappointed this time around. I won’t be rushing back in a hurry which is a real shame

Overpriced food, average taste. Itsu its better for sushi.

Came back to Australasia after a 7 year hiatus. It used to be my favourite restaurant when I lived in Manchester so I was very excited to return. Unfortunately I had a mixed experience. A chronological review: Arrived 10 minutes early for our table then had to wait 25 minutes to finally be seated (one of the hosts gave our table away to the wrong customers). We ordered drinks during this time but they did not arrive until our waitress chased them up (35 minutes later). When they did arrive my partners champagne glass was riddled with lipstick marks. The barman refused my partner an espresso martini saying the coffee machine was broken, but three ladies sitting two tables away happened to be sipping on fresh ones. If it’s too busy/inconvenient/you can’t be arsed then just say, don’t lie about it. The end of the bar was covered in dirty glasses, like something you’d see in weatherspoons. When I went to order from the barman his little section was absolutely filthy and covered with sticky marks, clearly no pride taken in keeping his cocktail area clean and organised. The floor in the female toilets was wet in every cubicle and only one had toilet roll. Overall a very slipshod reception that was far from the premium experience I remembered. Fortunately for whoever owns the place, our waitress pulled out the stops in salvaging our evening and making up for the poor beginning. I forget her name but it begins with a T, she was delightful and clearly cared about our experience as diners. The food was great as I remembered, although 75% of the Rotaba grill options were unavailable which was very disappointing. In summary, first impressions count. For the price range Australasia sits in the reception was simply not good enough.

We felt the food was quite boring/lacking flavour and there was too many people sitting closely to each other, accompanied by loud music. Our drinks came after our food which was weird. It was also difficult to get the attention of the service personnel as they were so busy.

Australasia is a culinary masterpiece that took my taste buds on an unforgettable journey. From the moment I stepped into this gastronomic haven, I knew I was in for something extraordinary. The menu at Australasia is a symphony of flavors, expertly curated to deliver a dining experience like no other. Each dish is a work of art, both visually stunning and a celebration of diverse tastes that leave a lasting impression. What sets Australasia apart is not just the exceptional food but also the modern and chic ambiance that enhances the overall dining experience. The attention to detail in every aspect, from the decor to the presentation of the dishes, is truly commendable. The service at Australasia is impeccable, with a knowledgeable and friendly staff that adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're a connoisseur of fine dining or simply someone looking for an extraordinary meal, Australasia is a must-visit destination. Raving about Australasia feels like an understatement – it's a culinary expedition of exquisite delights that deserves every accolade. If you're in search of a dining experience that transcends the ordinary, Australasia is the place to be. An absolute gem in the heart of Manchester UK!

Dinner 23/12/23 Pre Christmas meal I have to say I was disappointed I have a number of issues food overall the food seems to lack taste and presentation & preparation ,had to ask for drinks ,table not cleared when the next courses came , wine glasses not filled standards have dropped my partner had to tell one of the staff there was no toilet paper ( not acceptable )we have been dining here for as long time !there have been a number of Anglo, Asian restaurants opening with big reputations and I have to say they are streets ahead of your restaurant at this time , such a shame was one of my favourites not any more !!!

Very pleasant staff thanks Daniel for taking your time and explaining the menu. Much appreciated