Charles Halle Restaurant in Manchester

Outstanding set menu before concert. The food and service was flawless. Every course we both had flavour and tasted exceptional. Far exceeded our expectations for the relatively modest price.

I think they try very hard to get things right but unfortunately the food is bland at best. I ordered the prawn and scallop linguine which was dry and lacked any seasoning. The rest of the meal followed the same fairly tasteless nature. Sorry but have to be very truthful. The staff did try very hard but unfortunately unsure the kitchen were on the same page. Wouldn't visit again

This is a great restaurant for a pre-show dinner as it geared to delivering food in good time for the show. Service was excellent. We started with the Goat's Cheese Tartlette, and a prawn and crayfish cocktail - both were excellent. For mains we both chose th pulled pork dish. Again, great food We will certainly be eating there again

Went last night for a pre-concert dinner, had 3 courses and the cheese board. The meal was amazing and the service was second to none. Staff very attentive and pleasant.

Convenient for a show, but poor dining experience. We were seated quickly but the waitress had to check twice what soup was that evening. The asparagus and pea (I think!) was ok. Bread came first but our plates were whipped away and we were not offered bread again with the soup. I had the grilled halloumi which was fine. My partners ravioli was a great disappointment, pasta to thick and tough, unrecognisable filling and certainly no black truffle as advertised. My sea bass fillet was small but cooked well, the crushed new potatoes were hard, dry and tasteless. The Portuguese tart was all pastry and no filling. The only decaf coffee was a cup of instant- I saw cafetieres - not too much trouble to have a bag of filter decaf coffee in the kitchen. Service ok, but whole meal was very poor in quality and execution.

We really enjoyed our experience here. We had the camenbert tartlet and prawn salad for starters and the goats cheese risotto and the black truffle, leek and mushroom tagliatelle for our mains. The service was also friendly and efficient and we loved the white linen table cloths and black and white photos on the wall. I think a little light music and candles or flowers for the table would add to the atmosphere. We would definitely dine here again.

Pre-concert 3-course meal on a Monday evening. I am 56 but my presence probably reduced the average age of diners in the room. Probably about 15 tables each seating 1 to 4 people. Good, attentive service. Walls decorated with concert photographs but, apart from that, lacking in atmosphere. Quite a small menu. Starter chosen: fishcake with a small bean and potato salad. Not sure whether I should describe the fishcake as delicate or bland. Let's be generous and call it a potato fritter delicately flavoured with a hint of fish. The very small salad consisted of some tiny pieces of potato, some mayonnaise with a bit of dill, and four green beans. This course was ok. Main: tandoori paneer. Nicely presented skewers of pepper, onion and breaded deep fried paneer. Served with some puréed spinach and coriander (I think) which tasted maybe a bit salty or citrusy. Considering the Indian promise in the name, the dish was decidedly less Indian than a Wetherspoons, with microwaved yellow rice and served on a soggy bread circle that may have believed itself to be a puri, chapati or naan but certainly was none of those things. Spicing in the dish was hardly evident at all Dessert course: cheese selection. An unimpressive selection of supermarket cheeses with bland crackers, tired celery, salty chutney and a few grapes. Overall: about in-flight meal standard.

Very nice food spoilt by poor service and staff attitude. Waited 50 minutes for mains. Would have been longer if we hadn’t asked where it was. Staff response for delay was ‘well you’ve had a starter’. No apology just a sharp attitude. Too many places to eat around the hall to put up with this… last time we eat here.

Had a pre show 2 course meal, consisting of broccoli and blue cheese soup, very good and followed by braised beef, veg and delicious chips. For Manchester, i thought good value for money and wine reasonably priced too. Service was great but would have preferred a carafe of water to be left on the table. Also, i ended up with a sliver of meat stuck in a tooth and no tooth picks available. That annoyed me for the rest of the evening until i got home! The actually dining area was a little grim, no personality, no windows, nothing on the walls. It was like a works canteen and i could also smell the fish of fellow diners which was a bit off putting. Fresh fish doesn’t smell, so i’m glad i didn’t have that! Another annoyance was an addition to my bill of a very small payment ‘For Ukraine’. I wasn’t asked if i wished to contribute and the server had no clue where the money was going….just Ukraine!…A big no no for me. Sorry

Great food and excellent service couldn't ask for more Good choice of meals staff very attentive. Very convenient dinning in the venue Decent choice of wines. Good value

Dinner for two at the Charles Halle restaurant on June 3rd was quite awful. Both the pork and cod main courses were dried out and the pork tough and unedible. The chips were dry and hard. A most disappointing meal in a lovely setting. But the service was good!

Excellent food and amazing service. Staff couldn't do enough. Fantastic night out. Can't wait to go again.

The Charles Halle restaurant provides a relaxed setting to enjoy an excellent pre-show meal and is good value too. The dining room is light and airy, and although relatively small the tables are well spaced providing a comfortable and reassuring environment, especially whilst there are still concerns regarding Covid. The staff provide excellent , attentive and efficient service, even when the tables begin to fill. The menu offers a good choice of dishes for each course, and the food does not disappoint, being well prepared and presented, and made from fresh tasty ingredients. As well as all that, being located in the Bridgewater Hall brings added convenience to pre-show dining at the Charles Halle restaurant, so really does make sense when making an evening of it.

If you have the time before a concert the restaurant is a must, great quality food, reasonably priced and friendly service.

When they suggest you book at 5.30 for a 7.30 concert I assumed they thought we were slow eaters. In fact it’s the service that is extremely slow here. Plus point - lovely ambience and no background music. Menu was lovely (although options limited and vegetarians get one choice if tonight was anything to go by). Presentation was lovely, enjoyed starters and main but the creme brûlée tartlet was really heavy and not good at all. It’s above average but not top notch, lacks some attention to detail. I’d still return for pre-concert meal but the slow service is off putting.

Restaurant is smart and comfortable. The staff pleasant and polite but the service was slow but not a fault of the waiting staff I think. My husband's chicken when it came was cold and although there was no quibble about replacing it the dish was still on the cold side. The wine was good and reasonably priced. We were thankful we had arrived early and had plenty of time before the performance was due to start.

Anoche fui con mi esposo. Ambos tuvimos budín negro y terrina de pollo para comenzar. Fue horrible. El pollo estaba seco, pero empapado, como si hubiera sido cocinado y luego congelado. Era como cartón empapado. Todo fue insípido, no ayudado por el frío helado. Los dos teníamos mejilla de res como plato principal. La carne era encantadora y suave pero la salsa era suave y acuosa. Había un puré servido con él, pero no podíamos decir qué era, ya que tenía poco sabor. El desierto fue memorable por todas las razones equivocadas. Se suponía que era ron baba sobre una cama de compota de manzana. Sin embargo, el personal de la cocina obviamente no sabe cómo se ven las manzanas porque sirvieron la baba en una cama de chutney de cebolla. No estoy bromeando. La camarera no se disculpó mucho; ella solo se rio. No volveremos

He tenido muchas comidas aquí antes del concierto, de hecho, estará allí mañana por la noche antes de ver a Brendan Cole Showman. Excelente comida excelente servicio muy relajante gran variedad de menús que cambia diariamente. He comido aquí también. Mi amigo y yo siempre comemos aquí cuando vemos un concierto.

Comí aquí antes de un concierto el sábado 23 de febrero. Qué brillante sorpresa, realmente deliciosa comida, mucho mejor de lo que esperaba para una cena previa al concierto (lo siento chef).Inicial de huevo escalfado y pudín negro, un delicioso filete de merluza picante muy sabroso y muy bien cocinado, seguido de un delicioso pudín de mantequilla y pan de frambuesa con helado casero. ¡Cielo! Todo por 27. 50! ! ! ! Quiéralo.El servicio tambien fue bueno. Sin embargo, solo es un lugar pequeño, así que reserve lo antes posible para asegurarse de que pueda disfrutarlo, especialmente si va a un concierto.

We have enjoyed an excellent 3-course meal before this evening’s concert at the Bridgewater Hall. We were impressed with the quality of the meal and the service in the setting of a prestigious concert hall. This is an experience that we shall certainly repeat.

¿Por qué el estrés es intentar encontrar un bistró o italiano rápido cuando se puede comer comida de calidad en un ambiente relajado sin preocuparse por llegar tarde a su concierto? El servicio es amable y eficiente, y hay opciones de menú para todos los gustos. Puedes reservar junto con tus entradas de teatro y simplemente relajarte!Hemos estado varias veces y ahora siempre lo incluimos como parte de nuestra velada. Los asientos son tranquilos y refinados y la comida es bastante deliciosa.También el precio es más razonable.Convierte una noche en el teatro en una experiencia extra especial.

Estuve con mi madre hace un par de semanas para una cena show. El restaurante era elegante y cómoda, aunque estaba muy caliente y me pareció que el aire acondicionado era un poco débil.Siento decir niether yo o mi madre precio la comida. La presentación estaba bien, pero nos quedamos muy decepcionados con el sabor. Mi peor era el salmón starter como me pareció que el salmón no estaba tan fresca como podría haber sido. Yo tenía el cerdo para principal y que estaba bien. Mi madre tenía su principal risotto, que a ella le pareció insípido y soso, no me alojaría allí de nuevo, que es una pena, ya que es muy conveniente para ir a un espectáculo.

Visited with my wife for a pre concert meai. Thoroughly enjoyable. Good food and polite, attentive staff.

Reservamos una mesa pre-concierto yo y 2 amigos que estaban de visita. El aspecto de menús en línea y en el restaurante. Uno de mis amigos y yo pedimos el queso de cabra y remolachas bien si hay una cucharada de queso (que había estado con nata) que fue! Mi otro amigo tenía las vieiras, que era aceptable.

Parte de la sala Bridgewater, este pequeño restaurante es excelente. Sí, tiene un menú limitado, pero todos los campos mostró un alto grado de cuidado y atención al detalle en la presentación y el sabor. Los camareros son muy atentos. La lista de vinos es limitada, pero de nuevo tiene algunos excelentes vinos para todos los gustos. Fueron capaces de ser flexibles, con una buena selección de quesos locales - un toque agradable. Reserva esencial, e implica un prepago, pero vale la pena, especialmente si vas a ir a un evento ay el Hall. Sin duda volveremos.

Reservamos una mesa en este restaurante cuando íbamos a ver un espectáculo. Aparentemente debes asistir a una actuación para conseguir una mesa. Valió la pena 3 platos con café y petit fours para 27. 50 es un gran valor. La comida estaba hermosamente presentada y servida. por personal realmente servicial, eficiente y amigable. Nada era demasiado problema. La comida era muy buena diferente e inusual para empezar uno de nosotros tenía cangrejo, el otro juego terrine principales eran un cordero ragu y un bacalao al horno con un desierto de corteza de chorizo. Tuvimos un ruibarbo y jengibre y una tabla de quesos con seis quesos diferentes. La próxima vez que vayamos a una actuación en el Bridgewater Hall definitivamente reservaremos una comida. Recomendaria esto a todos. Solo prepárate para probar algo un poco diferente.

Elegimos comer en este restaurante ya que íbamos a un concierto para una celebración y queríamos una comida relajada y conveniente de antemano. El menú tiene una variedad limitada de platos para cada plato, y hace uso de productos frescos y variados. La cocina ofreció adaptar algunos platos para que no sean trigo para mi esposo. El baklava que tuve para el postre fue decepcionante: el relleno de pistacho estaba seco y las salsas de fruta con él no fueron suficientes para compensarlo. En otra ocasión se saltará el postre y obtendrá una solución dulce de los petits fours que vino con café. Servicio atento

El restaurante es conveniente para los asistentes al concierto, me gusta especialmente la mantelería blanca, y no tengo ningún problema con el d cor - paredes blancas decoradas con fotografías enmarcadas en negro de músicos. Sin embargo, la experiencia culinaria fue un poco decepcionante en esta ocasión y probablemente no volveremos a cenar aquí. Había disminuido nuestro disfrute general de la noche en general.

Es difícil revisar el restaurante Charles Halle de manera justa. La comida probablemente solo mereció dos estrellas, pero no se puede negar lo conveniente que es para la cena previa en Bridgewater Hall. Y está lejos de ser terrible.

Having read the latest reviews (after I'd booked) I was a little concerned at going but have to say the food was fabulous. I had fillet of beef with artichoke gratin and I devoured every mouthful! Admittedly it is lacking on atmosphere though.

This was my first and defiantly my last visit to Charles Halle. Maybe we should have looked at the menu before booking, but as my husband is disabled and we were going to a cocert at Bridgewater Hall we thought this would be a good option. There was not a lot to choose from and what we did choose was very bland. The amount of people dining told us everything they too were very disappointed with the quality of the food and lack of choice. we will defiantly opt for one of the restaurants nearby next time we go to Bridgewater Hall.

Como alguien comentó, es como estar en una pequeña sala de conferencias sin alma - ¿por qué no dejar las persianas abiertas no sé como al menos no hubiera sido de vislumbrar el canal, etc.

Friendly service tailored to those attending concerts at The Bridgewater. Small but varied menu with some really good touches at a reasonable price for central Manchester

Would normally have gone to one of the many excellent restaurants in the vicinity of the Bridgewater Hall but due to bad weather decided to try the Charles Halle. I'm afraid it was a bad decision. It doesn't help that the restaurant is just a large brightly lit 'conference' type room with very little atmosphere.

Hemos estado aquí unas cuantas veces cuando asistía a un concierto y no tenemos ninguna queja en absoluto. Sin embargo, hace unos días nos fuimos a comer en el restaurante, pero no asistir al concierto, nos dijeron que el ejecutante había cancelado debido a problemas de salud, lo que significaba que habían cerrado el restaurante. El personal del restaurante se disculpó y nos dirigió a la taquilla para un reembolso de nuestro depósito. Aparentemente el show había sido cancelado en pocas horas y podría haber estado bien si habían tratado de contactar con nosotros con la información que tienen de nosotros en el archivo. El depósito se ha reembolsado el día siguiente. Esperamos volver a verle pronto.

Un grupo de 8 cenamos aquí antes de el Concierto de Paul carrack la semana pasada.

The Charles Halle restaurant gives convenient dining to those attending concerts in the beautiful Bridgewater Hall. There is an eating choice of 2 courses or 3 courses. The wine list is adequate, with additionally, two of the reds (a merlot or a rioja), and 2 of the whites (a pinot grigio or a sauvignon blanc) being available by the glass, and in different sizes. All very practical and convenient. The restaurant is adorned by large, well presented, topical photographs (of musicians that is, not food), and the tables themselves with crisp white linen. One of the waiters took our coats and hung them up. We both opted to have two courses, a main and a dessert, rather than a starter and a main, and a glass of wine each, one pinot and one rioja.The service was efficient and we both enjoyed our main courses immensely. The portion sizes were not particularly large, but satisfactory – I didn’t particularly want to stuff myself immediately before sitting through a concert in any event.The desserts however were very disappointing: There was a massive portion of cheesecake and a miniscule portion of yule log. These significant differences in size could have been enough to start a fight, for example, in the case of somebody with a large appetite and, if still being hungry after the main course, were to be presented with the wood shaving of yule log, while their companion had the “Desperate Dan” sized hunk of cheesecake dropped with a loud thud on the table in front of them. But it was the quality of both desserts that were a problem, some of the worst I have eaten.In summary, it’s 5 stars for the main and 1 star for the dessert. I would definitely eat here again, but would try a starter in future. I would not recommend the main course and dessert combination to anyone.

First off-this is not a restaurant! It is simply a room in a partitioned off room of the bridgewater hall. You certainly won't see any sign of the kitchen. The staff were pleasant enough but very inexperienced. When I asked one of the waiters if they could take our order he said he couldn't and the other lady was working her way round! The menu choice was fine for us but a table sat next to us got up and left complaining that there was nothing they could eat off it. Bread rolls were brought out but I have to say they were not of the crisp fresh variety but suspiciously of the type that had been defrosted and warmed up. I had the pumpkin soup, that was very nice as was the chicken main course. I did notice another table returning some of their meals. All in all the decor was drab, no atmosphere, food nice and staff need more experience. I wouldn't go again to be honest.

We arived in time for our table and I had high expectations for this restaurant where high, unfortunately when we arrived no one offered to take out coats, I put mine on the back of my chair but it was dragging on the floor. I then had ask a member of staff if they could hang my coat up. Disappointing to say the least. Lovely ironed linen table cloths, and wine glass’s polished.The food we had was amazing, portion size was perfect and the wine wist had quite a few nice ones to choose from.For the price we paid it was very reasonable for the quality!! We bought a bottle of wine and I requested a glass of Red with my main, as soon as they brought over my glass of Red, my meal followed immediately after. Very Good service. The only downside of this was we where seated very close to other diners, and right by the door. The room was very plain, blue carpet, very small, it felt like more of a conference room than a fine dining restaurant.Food fabulous, but a bit of styling and comfort wouldn’t go a miss.

Visited this restaurant before a concert and was pleasantly surprised it was great. 3 course meal prepared to a high standard and the cheese and biscuits was the best everyone had ever had. Fantastic value and well worth a visit. Highly recommended

Very nice restaurant with attentive staff. Food was very good and beautifully presented. A very nice relaxing experience before the show. Have booked again for my next visit in January.

This restaurant is a little gem and because I don't think too many people know it's there, there are always a couple of empty tables. It's tucked away behind the main bar area and is only quite small but it's really nicely done. It's a light room with lots of windows, simple decor and nice table linen. The food is fancy but unpretentious and they clearly have a very experienced chef who knows his ingredients. There is a set menu at £23 for 2 courses and £27 for 3 which is great value. Tap water as an option if you want it and the Prosecco is decent. I had a selection of seafood to start which was really nice and pork for my main course which was also nice. I had ordered the wild sea trout but the order came out wrong and as I had been struggling to decide between the two I decided to say nothing and was glad I didn't. The food is really light which is just what you want before sitting in a concert hall. I was offered a bread roll but declined although they looked nice. We didn't order coffee (opting for a second glass of Prosecco instead) but were still given some complimentary petits fours which was a nice touch. The staff were pleasant and attentive but not in your face which was good. A very nice dining experience. The best bit for me is you can book from 5.30 so plenty of time before the performance which means you miss all the crowds and difficulty parking, when I left the restaurant the bar was packed so I was glad not to be in that scrum. I'd recommend it for a civilised start to your evening

This is our second visit here for a pre concert meal to see George Benson. The food was excellent, very fresh & piping hot.I'm not fussy but did struggle with what to choose from the menu, I had soup to start and risotto with smoked fish and poached egg for the main course......that was delicious! Followed by a peach desert, very nice.Fresh bread was also served before the meal, tea/coffee and petit fours after.The staff were really nice and worked hard.

We had not eaten here for a while and, after some of the negative comments in recent reviews, we were a bit apprehensive. We need not have worried though; everything was excellent. As always, the service was attentive, efficient and friendly. The food was imaginative, beautifully presented and very tasty. Other reviewers have commented on portion size. It's true that it's not on the scale of country pub grub but, for pre-concert dining, we found it more than adequate. After three courses, coffee and petits fours my wife and I both left feeling quite full.We'd be more than happy to eat here again. In fact we've booked to eat here before a show in November!

Visited for a pre concert meal, very disapointed, food was tasteless and bland. Portion size was very small which would have been ok if it had been delicious and something special, sadly it was neither.To be fair to the restaurant they did adjust our bill when we complained but we will not be dining here again.

I had not had dinner at the wonderful Bridgewater Hall in Manchester for some years. I arrived soon after opening time. The serving staff were most attentive and I ordered a chicken dish. I was concerned when it was delivered soon after and then tasting it confirmed that it had been in a hot plate for a long time after cooking. The dish had a bland tepid taste and I was disappointed. The desert was a commercial lemon curd tart with some apple placed on the top. I shall not make another booking there again, especially as there are some wonderful restaurants in the area.

It always sounds greedy to criticise portion sizes, but I will risk that as these were small to minuscule. Additionally, at least part of mine ( a "hotpot") was microwaved. Not a hotpot fan at the best of times, but the menu was limited anyway. More food, more choice please

Restaurant is just a room within the Hall, service was very efficient, food was very well presented and the taste was superb. Would dine here again.

My husband booked this restaurant as it was our anniversary and we were attending the concert. The grouse for me was inedible, the carrots complete with tops were tasteless and al dente in the extreme. The portion was miserably small - in fact felt like stopping for chips on the way home but restarined myself. I ordered trifle for afterwards thinking little can go wrong with that.- how wrong I was! Pour some raspberry puree into a impressive long-stemmed glass, cover with runny cold custard, chop half a small brownie into pieces and place on top , Finally, put decorative blobs of cream around the creation. I must say it wasn't like any trifle I've ever had before.

So disappointed with the meal here before the concert. We waited a long time to be served. Were not offered water although other tables were and the food choices were very limited. The grouse was terrible. The chips greasy. The thigh so touch it was like boot leather. Not at all edible. The spelt barley and rice balls had lumps of pumpkin (? ) or other random orange veg in the middle and were bland and heavy. Overall we recon 4 /10.

Lovely restaurant, not to large so a good atmosphere. The staff were very pleasant and attentive, we all enjoyed our choice of food. Not an extensive menu but very good. Very fresh and well presented. Grouse and fish were our choices. The cheese board was really good value for £5.55. Several different types of cheese, with biscuits and cress. Would visit again when going to a concert at Bridgewater Hall.

Best meal last night that I have eaten in a long while. Immaculate presentation and amazing staff. Thanks.

Had a meal here prior to the Joan Armatrading concert and wasn't sure what to expect given the mixed reviews. However I needn't have worried as the food was excellent and the service first class. It set us up ideally for the rest of the evening.

I booked a table some months ago but, having seen recent reviews, it was with some trepidation that I visited. Any fears were totally unfounded, however, as my wife and I both found the service to be excellent, the food as tasty as the menu descriptions suggested and the portions generous (so much so that neither of us could manage to try the dessert offerings).The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Bridgewater Hall in a pleasant room past the bar and Stalls Cafe. Initial impressions were pleasing with the tables nicely laid with white tablecloths and the necessary accoutrements for eating and drinking. Service was swift with menus provided promptly, orders taken within a few minutes, a choice of breads offered and our cold starters provided soon afterwards. There was a slight delay while the main courses were freshly cooked which was preferable to having them pre-prepared and kept warm. Each dish was full of flavour and cooked to perfection, always a slight concern when scallops and venison have been ordered. The wine selection was reasonably priced and range offered was just right for what is, after all, a pre-concert meal rather than a fine dining event in itself. It was good to note that the cost of a 250ml glass of wine (£5.85) was only marginally more than a third of the price of a full bottle so there was no feeling that we were being ripped off.In summary, an excellent experience all round at the bargain price of under £22 per head for the 2 courses (including coffees and petit fours but excluding wine). We shall definitely visit again.

I have dined in this restaurant a number of times previously and have always enjoyed the food. The food was not up to usual standard (I heard on the grapevine that the chef had not turned in).However the staff were attentive and friendly. I will continue to use this restaurant when attending a concert at the Bridgewater Hall because of convenience and its unhurried ambience. I particularly like proper table linen and glasses.

Arrived 5.30 prompt for dinner before concert at 7.30, you would think plenty of time! Once seated with Menu was left for 20 mins without even being asked if we would like a drink, we eventually got a waitress to bring two glasses of wine, then another 15 mins go by and no one has taken an order. Again had to pull a waitress up and gave our order. 6.30 soup arrives, which was ok. At 6.50 soup bowls not cleared and no sign of our meal after asking twice!!! 7.05 gave up told them politely to forget the meal as we had no intention of shoveling it down as we had to be seated for the concert at 7.30. The only explanation given was they had two tables of 10 and they couldn't cope. I had booked this at least two months in advance and had to pay £10 as a deposit, this was my Christmas Treat for my 80 year old Mum. We were offered cheese & Biscuits for the interval, which I declined. They are a pathetic excuse of a restaurant and ruined what should have been a lovely evening. Won't ever go back

Quando estive em manchester, fui convidado pela família de uma amiga a comemorar o aniversario dela neste restaurante. Ainda bem que não paguei nada, pois ele é MUITO caro. Mas o ambiente é super chique, luxuoso..

My friend took me to this restaurant recently he raved about it having eaten there in the past. Unfortunately for both him and myself this was not a very good experience. The menu looked fabulous, the description of the food was excellent. Unfortunately the reality did not match our expectations. I seldom if ever use condiments. On this occasion I was forced to season the very bland soup which I had for starters. When the main arrived, which was a lamb (which was strangely tough) that too required a serious amount of seasoning. Considering how much was paid for the food it was not very good value nor a good dining experience. A Restaurant is more than just a room with tables. The ambience along with bland food and flat lighting and no background music all contributed to a very boring dining experience. It saddens me to make this review as in the past my friend has had very very good meals there that aside the ambience and decor leave a lot to be desired I don't think I would eat here again even if the food were improved purely on the grounds of the decor and lack of atmosphere.

Last week we went to a concert at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. We booked a pre concert dinner in the Charles Halle restaurant, 2 courses for £21.95. My first concern was when I looked at the wine list, I have never seen such a pathetic wine list in any restaurant, it simply listed the grape varieties on offer i.e. sauvignon blanc, pino grigio etc,no indication of the Country, the producer or the vintage! In all fairness the first course was fine,however the second course which was monkfish with chorizo and spicy beans was quite frankly a disgrace,the so called spicy beans were barely warm and were remarkably similar to the tinned spicy beans I have used at home for BBQs except that mine were hot! The 2 young female waitresses were very pleasant,however when a male waiter came to enquire if we had enjoyed our meal I told him that mine was barely warm and he responded that I should have sent it back to be heated up! When paying £21.95 for 2 courses I expect it to be served correctly. There were a number of restaurants in the vicinity offering two course pre concert menus for £12.95 which I shall use next time. This is the first time that I have put a negative comment on Trip Advisor so I am clearly not overcritical, however this meal was so poor with a wine list that was virtually useless that I felt compelled to put in this report. Save your money, go elsewhere, most pubs serve better food and have more informative wine lists.

A pleasant enough eatery - particularly if dieting !The menu be rather limited regarding the fayre on offer - and even more so concerning the drinks.The food be presented in a 'delicate' if not pretentious manner.The portions for all three courses were on the small side.Asparagus - starter. Pork - Main. Cheesboard - finale.The food itself was splendid - gourmet but not gut-busting !Drinks comprise table water and wine - no beers or spirits - even though there be a bar next door !The décor be rather sparse - but neat enough.There be thick net curtains blocking the view outside.This 'view' consists of an old warehouse - now private apartments with car park alongside and a modern office block across the old canal basin.The reason for the net curtains be two fold - to allow the diners privacy from the residents and to afford those residents privacy from the diners. It works !Service was excellent - once the correct menu was sorted out ! - two diners - two different menus.A good meal, but, methinks many of the eateries nearby offer more satisfying dining.

Nothing negative, always a high standard of food drink and staff. A reasonable price for a nice meal.

Yet again my friend and I had outstanding food in the Charles Halle restaurant in the Bridgewater hall pre-concert. We had decided to come to the Halle Sounds of the Sixties and ate, as always on site. My friend had the chicken parfait which she said was very good whilst I had smoked salmon on small croutons accompanied by a small jug of the most delicious ice cold cucumber soup with small crayfish tails in it. So different, and so delicious, I could have had a full bowl.Main was, I have to admit, just ok with a chargrilled chicken breast on a bed of sweet potato cubes and broad beans. Not much imagination but still very tasty.The highlight though, had to be the roast plum and elderflower creme brulee which was so delicious we both wanted more. Sweet but accompanied with a warm very sour plum half, it was so good. Compliments to the chef. Yes, I take on board the comments about the lighting etc, but as this is not a restaurant that one lingers in for hours and it is obviously used for other functions, it is still comfortable, clean and all the staff are very welcoming. We shall certainly be back again as always.

The Bridgewater Hall is one of the iconic venues in Manchester. This restaurant however is stuck in a corner of it that could be someone's living room. No love and attention had been paid to the restaurant, either the menu or the space devoted to it. A ghastly bright blue carpet, harsh lighting and a ridiculous decision to close the curtains to the views of Manchester, made this a restaurant you didn't want to spend time in. On questioning why the curtains had been closed we were informed that the table layout didn't give the staff any option - absurd as there was plenty of space to rearrange the tables.Unfortunately the food wasn't much better. Out starter of an artichoke and Brie tartlet, tasted more like a pork pie at a football match. The white wine had to be sent back as it was warm. The smoked haddock was adequate, although the skin hadn't been crisped, but unimaginative. My wife's dessert of poached fruit and yoghurt was inedible. My own cheese board was actually the highlight of the meal, but not enough to salvage it.Fortunately the concert was great!

we had booked seats for the brass band concert at the Bridgewater Hall and decided for a change to eat in the restaurant first. The staff were very pleasant and first impressions were very good. My menu choice didn't live up to my expectation. I had chosen a starter of scallops and king prawns. Had one scallop two prawns and a mussel plus rocket salad. I didn't like their mussel and was very disappointed in the two prawns. My maine was beef and that was very good. I chose poached fruit and this was only average sadly. My husband had the soup which he enjoyed, the beef and cheesecake. He enjoyed his meal. Obviously I made the wrong menu choice. the brass concert was excellent and we were very fortunate to hear two premiere performances played by the Black Dyke Band followed by an excellent programme by Fodens band.

My friend and I have eaten here a number of times pre= concert and last night was so good, I wanted to eat it all over again.From our arrival at 5pm, half an hour prior to opening we were treated very well. sat in the bar with drinks which were taken through for us by a very nice waiter.Seated we had our own waitress throughout the night who proved to be very knowledgeable about the items on the menu and extremely pleasant and attentive.. We both had the rack of lamb which was delicious and came with an unusual Rogan Josh sauce and sweet potato mash with a hint of curry. Exquisite! The wait between courses was at our request and when dessert came the lemon and white chocolate cheesecake was sublime and we really did not want the dinner to end. A two course dinner in a silver service restaurant for 27.95 each is certainly not over the top for the quality of food and surroundings. Yes, a tad corporate, but also very understated.

We booked the 3-course meal in the Halle Restaurant at 17:30hrs, prior to attending the "Clannad" Concert later that evening. The meal was good value for money at £27.50 each and the food was excellent and well presented. All the staff were very professional, attentive and helpful. The only drawback I felt was that the room used for dining felt a little bit like a corporate dining room with little privacy or intimacy between tables, so I do think there is a little room for improvement here; but overall a lovely meal and a relaxing start to what went on to be a wonderful evening with an excellent concert.

Frequented the Charles Halle Restaurant several times a few years ago and was extremely impressed by the uniqueness and quality of the cuisine. Not so anymore! Have visited three times over recent weeks, each time being very disappointed, truly hoping that the next visit would prove better. It hasn't. Shall not be returning. It simply isn't a pleasurable experience. The environment is cold and somewhat starched and stuffy. One can almost hear a pin drop, diners almost too conscious to speak. The floor to ceiling net curtains enclosing us on all sides shut out a rather pleasant view of the canal and surrounding characterful architecture. When I asked if they could be pulled back to reveal this, the waitress replied that it wasn't possible as the track interfered with the seating arrangement! This was definately not the case as I was able to discreetly pull back the nets myself to reveal the canal view. Only did this very briefly, however. Felt too much like a naughty child! Why on earth did the waitress tell an untruth? During past visits, a few years ago, the net curtains were always pulled back to reveal the lovely canal area. Obviously not anymore. Service is consistently slow, long waits between courses resulting in no time for desert and coffee before the concert. This has happened on each of my recent three visits, desert and coffee left out for the interval instead. Hardly enjoyable, gulping it down in a corner during the brief interval. As for the food itself, it is absolutely tasteless. There is simply no flavour whatsoever to anything. Bland to the extreme. Cannot believe the deterioration over the years. From a wonderfully fulfilling culinary experience to this nothingness. Shame, shame, shame. No, the Charles Halle has had it's last chance with me!

Dined in the restaurant before going to a concert as the veue was easily accessible for our elderly guest, as everything we needed was on one level and the menu choices were enjoyed by all 3 of us

Really disappointing experience. The restaurant is shoe-horned into a small room that lacks atmosphere - white walls, blue carpet and net curtains create a really sterile feeling. Although the menu is limited, the dishes sounded perfectly acceptable, however everything we tasted lacked flavour. The poached egg with the asparagus was overcooked, the soup was too oily and the main courses were bland in the extreme. When we complained the waiting staff were gracious and charged only 50% of the food bill. The service was very good but the quality of the cooking was a serious let-down.