Erst. in Manchester

Underwhelming and overpriced. Plates were okay but largely lacked a depth of flavour. Basque cheesecake was certainly not basque - solid and stodgy. Had high hopes for this place, but it’s not worth the hype.

Great delicious food, nice wine, cool and calm atmosphere and nice staff - what more do you want? Really enjoyed the food it with punchy flavours, favourites were the two flatbreads (the tomato one shouldn't be slept on), the fish with the squid ink sauce was so tasty, and the pork and clams was delicate and great

Thanks to all the staff at Erst for our magnificent meal today. We were first arrivals and made to feel at home, but it soon filled up and there was a lively but not overwhelming buzz to it. We had six plates plus a dessert and came away with our taste buds feeling like they’d had a spa treatment. Olives, sardines and green tomatoes in buttermilk, gnocco and squash, and the kohlrabi/pear/dates were all great, with the flatbread and peppers/walnut bringing all the flavours together. And the lamb rib with coco beans delivered at the end was amazing. Afterwards the baked cheesecake hit the right balance of sweet/savoury & the fig panna cotta was heavenly. The beetroot lemonade washed it all down well. The service was excellent: attentive and happy to talk through the choices. All in all, it was a wonderful meal.

We visited here for our Anniversary over the weekend and had high hopes for the small plates. Stand out was the Beetroot dish which has been on their menu for 5 years and deserves to be on there for another 5, interesting flavours that work very well together. However, we were disappointed with other dishes, the hake was cooked perfectly however, the cuttlefish was very salty. The beef flatbread which is highly spoken of on the reviews was fine, it was cooked well but the flavour was underwhelming, after trying the flatbread from Another Hand this does not compare. Anchovie dish was OK, glad it is now served on bread rather than by itself. The basque cheesecake was interesting, given the strong flavour of Goats cheese I think it would only appeal to a small audience, for me it was a little dry. The panna cotta however was very nice, the grapes did not taste of palma violets. The wine menu was comprehensive but dissapointing for us, the majority of the wines were from 2020 onwards, we expected the 'from the cellar menu' to include more aged wines at least from 2016 onwards. Additionally, the menu needs to be updated on their website as it did not reflect the menu we were given in the restaurant. We were looking forward to trying the Onglet & Bordelaise and was shocked to see this had been replaced by a pork dish at a whopping £28..

The hake and sirloin were both amazing!

Honestly, it is one of our best food experiences in the UK. Service was great with fantastic recommendations for the wine Food was scrumptious with seasoning on point Seasonal menu with great great vegetarian options Ambiance/atmosphere great as well Highly recommend !

Top notch. We will be back. We came in a recommendation and didn’t know what to expect. Some influences of Basque, a great wine list and excellent service

We went for lunch and had a great time. The staff were lovely and so knowledgeable about the food and the wine. Highlights were the sherry with house soda, the walnut flatbread and the hake with spiced cuttlefish and aioli. I would definitely go again

Stunning dishes and great drinks.

Delicious grilled artichoke, beetroot with ajoblanco and hake with cuttlefish. By far one of the best meals I’ve had this year.

Delicious grilled artichoke, beetroot with ajoblanco and hake with cuttlefish. By far one of the best meals I’ve had this year.

By far my favourite restaurant in Manchester

One of, if not the, best restaurants in Manchester. Service, food, drinks, everything is top drawer

Disappointed with the anchovies they were very salty, I’m aware that anchovies are expectedly salty, but as a chef you would think one would pair it with some bread or crackers? And there’s no bread as sides to order for choice! I had to eat it with the bread with beef oil and … Is this what the chef expects? Perhaps, the staff could advise on certain dishes and pairing? It is always said, one eat with the eyes first, unfortunately the hake dish we ordered certainly is lacking in that area.

Oisters were lovely! rose wine and house lemonade were great. Nice to sit outside.

Our second visit and as good as the first. The flatbread with beef fat could turn a vegetarian 😋 and beetroot is a staple to add balance, and this carnivore really loved it. We had Coppa dAbruzzo, cucumber, melon and oregano with pecorino. Grilled sardines, borlotti beans with peach and tomato, hake with cuttlefish. The prize of the day was the cold roast beef, artichoke and parmesan. The natural wines are delightful, and I was not an easy convert. Chocolate sorbet with olive oil and seasalt - amazing. The staff and owners are delightful and I personally think it the best restaurant in Manchester. Love it great produce and ethos Bravo

Went for our wedding anniversary. Both the service and food were top. We had accidentally ordered a wrong carafe of wine, but we had it easily exchanged and the waiter told us that he would hate to have us sit there drinking wine we didn’t enjoy :) We would definitely return

Fantastic food, amazing service - everyone was warm, friendly and went above and beyond (including finding red wine stain remover when I spilt my drink all over my dress!) Great vibes all round

One of my fave restaurants in Manchester. Get a seat at the bar. Order a glass of wine. Get the flatbread (dear lord - best thing I've tasted). Get the staffs recommendations. Amazing place.

Louis (hope I have his name right) an excellent waiter - I felt like I have been eating out for 50 years (I am retired and used to work away from home a lot) and couldn't remember anyone so knowledgeable about the food and wine. I expected some blather when asked but he really knew his stuff. Most of the recommended restaurants you go to are boring, this one really has memorable unique and enjoyable food.

My experience in Erst was less than I really expected, I heard many people saying good things about and also is the 50th best restaurant in the UK (in my opinion It’s a joking). Good food and good quality products also the cooking of my Hake was perfect. Good food but normal dishes nothing special they think they are one of the best restaurant in the UK but It’s not true It’s just a good restaurant in Manchester but a bit far from the best restaurants in MCR

The most delicious food I’ve ever had, I had it in Erst

Beautiful Ingredients Perfectly Used… We were so excited by Erst’s menu that we ordered pretty much everything they have to offer (small plates, so it’s fine!). Every dish is constructed with great care and thought, and everything we ate blew us away (special shout out to the beef fat flat bread that the staff perfectly described as ‘umptious’). Despite the quality and sophistication of the food there is nothing pretentious about Erst - the atmosphere is relaxed and staff are decidedly lovely (especially with my young daughter). Definitely not cheap but really good value considering the quality of the seasonal ingredients and the skill/knowledge of the kitchen. GO TO ERST - IT’S GREAT! ❤️

Great food, super kind service, really top, definitely recommend this place. We ate almost everything at the menu, and it all was delicious! Fair prices to and nice winelist. Go!

Lived up to the hype. I’ve been wanting to try Erst for a while but something always stopped me I didn’t believe it would live up to the hype, however I was very wrong. This is one of the best meals I’ve had in Manchester for a long time. The restaurant is cosy and modern with just the right atmosphere for you to relax and buckle in for a culinary journey. The waiter was exceptional he was very personable and knowledgeable explaining every dish with passion and detail and helped us navigate through dishes we’ve never tried such as a full artichoke. The food was amazing we had 5 dishes plus an oyster to kick off the proceedings. Every dish was well thought out, full of flavour and you could taste the quality of the ingredients. In particular the beef fat flatbread was out of this world, my gf actually had tears in her eyes it was that good (she loves bread). A very special meal for a special occasion I’ll definitely be back to try their ever changing menu and you should try it too! Perfect for any occasion, I’d say it’s on the higher price scale but still very reasonable for the quality and setting.

Amazing sharing style restaurant. The food was absolutely amazing the menu was extremely varied. The service was superb. Cannot speak highly enough about it. Lou in particular was brilliant and was so friendly and helpful with recommendations. We will be back, especially as the menu changes regularly.

Loved the place, food was very tasty, the flat bread was a bit doughy but I didn’t care, tasted fab! The service was amazing, very attentive staff. 100% recommended.

Amazing!! The food is absolutely delicious and each dish is so unique. The best combo of desserts I’ve had in my life - if it’s on the menu everyone must have the honey tart AND the chocolate sorbet… You’ll thank me later.. Lovely atmosphere in the restaurant, not pretentious at all.

Finally we got the opportunity to try one of the best restaurants in Manchester. I love the flatbread with beef fat , very tasty. Friendly staff, great service, lovely food too! Hope I can return soon for some new dishes!!!

With just one night open for dinner on our own in Manchester, we chose Erst and were so happy we did. We loved the sharing menu and ability to sample many different items from the menu without leaving stuffed to the gills! Louie was our server and he truly added to our experience with wine and meal suggestions and his overall enthusiasm. He was supportive without being intrusive and while the excellent kitchen and flavors they prepared were the real stars of the night, Louie added a lovely sparkle as he helped us navigate through a delightful meal. Wish that we could get back to Erst on a regular basis. If you are in Manchester - make sure you dine here!

Erst is currently one of the best Western restaurants I’ve been to in Manchester! I highly recommend everything, whether it’s the garlic bread with special sauce shown in the picture, the restaurant’s wine, or the dessert pudding with rich milk and egg flavors.

Really excellent food and lovely and very efficient service, all for a reasonable price. Most interesting and delicious food I've had in Manchester

The tapas-like side dishes served here taste lighter than expected.

Great atmosphere would come again . The menu is not the largest but each dish was interesting and unique. Also not terribly overpriced.

We had an absolutely delightful early dinner. The staff was so welcoming and helpful. Food was top notch and inspirational. Our top pick was the salted chocolate sorbet with olive oil.

My favourite restaurant in Manchester, we have been going for years and it never disappoints. The Erst classics still stand out… Order the beetroot dish, order a flatbread, order the panna cotta - you won’t find better. A new dish of hogget with caponata also a stand out this time. Service was great as always. They do a perfect negroni, and have an interesting wine list - featuring natural wines and crowd pleasers… it goes without saying you will need to book in advance

Big thanks to Louis. Made our evening with his suggestions / food knowledge

Faith has been restored in the small plates concept. Simple, unassuming, and flavorful. Great wine selection—mention spéciale for the Chenin Blanc, pairs really well with the honey tart!

Really lovely food and service in this small but nice restaurant. The food is tapas and of a very high standard. We had 6 dishes and 2 desserts between 3 of us. All were lovely but the desserts were the standout. Pannacotta with prunes and burnt honey tart were to die for. It's not cheap, but highly recommend if you enjoy fine food and are feeling flush

food is way too salty. Services are too pushy. The flat break is just 0.5star, it’s just the google map don’t have that option. feel sorry for the salt price is just so cheap that the chef use toooo much, Don’t eat rest, otherwise you might go 饿死.

I booked this for my birthday at the end of May. Erst had been on my must visit list for ages and I was not disappointed. My partner and I arrived and had a warm welcome. We decided to sit outside as it was a nice day. Our waiter, Louis, was wonderful. I had noted on the booking that we were celebrating my birthday and Louis came over with a choice of two sparkling wines for a complimentary glass of fizz each. I thought this was a lovely touch. He recommended the pink sparkling wine and it was absolutely delicious! So much so that I had a second glass. He explained some of the dishes on the menu for us, and recommended a few of his favorites. All of it was stunning. We had the skate, beef fat flatbread, brawn, sea bass, and bresaola. However, the burnt honey and ginger tart with creme fraiche was my favourite. Would come back just for that!! Will definitely be returning.

really delicious, well prepared beautifully presented food. great flavour partnerships and knowledgeable table service. puddings were just gorgeous too

What a fantastic place to go for something to eat absolutely brilliant

Bad condition. I hate this place. Don't come here

Dear Food Enthusiast, Prepare to embark on an extraordinary culinary journey like no other! Allow me to paint a picture of a restaurant that exudes extravagance, where every bite is a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. Imagine stepping into a world where the menu is an opus of exquisite dishes, meticulously crafted to elevate your dining experience to unprecedented heights. From the first course to the grand finale, every dish sings with an orchestra of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, expertly fused together to create harmonious explosions of taste. As you enter, you will be enveloped in an ambiance that is nothing short of enchanting. Soft, warm lighting dances upon the elegant furnishings, casting a spell of sophistication and allure. The air is filled with the delightful aromas of culinary mastery, teasing your senses and beckoning you to indulge in the feast that awaits. The chef, a true culinary virtuoso, orchestrates a symphony of flavors that will leave you spellbound. Each dish is a masterpiece, lovingly prepared with an exquisite attention to detail. From the delicate balance of flavors to the stunning presentation, every plate is a work of art that transcends mere sustenance. Prepare to be swept away on a gustatory adventure, where your palate will be treated to a crescendo of taste sensations. Every bite is an invitation to experience the extraordinary, as the flavors dance across your tongue in perfect harmony. From the velvety richness of a perfectly seared steak to the delicate intricacy of a handcrafted dessert, every morsel is a revelation. So, my dear gastronome, await no longer! Let your senses be seduced by the allure of this extraordinary dining haven. Take your place at the table and prepare to be captivated by the culinary marvels that await you. Your taste buds will thank you, and your soul will be forever nourished by the symphony of flavors that this remarkable establishment has to offer. Bon appétit! Warm regards, Frank Tough

Incredibly wonderful experience!! Staff were extremely attentive, food was sublime, and overall excellent experience 👌

The location, food, presentation and choice was exquisite and ideally suited to the local business community

The food, service and ambience was amazing. I give this restaurant 10/10 and would go back in a heartbeat.

Superb salt cod and small plates

The food was very tasty and the service was quite fast.

Great service and friendly staff.

Excellent menu that offers fiversityxsbd some unusual and exciting good.

My favourite was the oysters and the flatbread..

One of the best experiences. By a country mile the stand out meal for our trip to Manchester, everything from wine, the (complimentary) pink lambrusco, the food, the service was absolutely extraordinary. Been back home in Newcastle for 24 hours and I've told everybody I've spoken to since about it. The gent who looked after us made the evening and also grateful to his recommendations of Jane Eyre and Siopshop. Both class. Thanks again, we can't wait to return 🤠

Visited Erst Manchester for dinner last night with a friend, and it was great.loved the food and the atmosphere

Really delicious food and fantastic wine! We had the rabbit, seabass crudo, lonzino, both flatbreads and the oysters and everything was outstanding. Also tried two different glasses of red white and orange wines, all of which were really lovely and complemented the food so well.

For the first time I get such a delicious top recommended dish

Excellent cuisine, pleasant service.

Pana cotta is the best Others…hard to describe in a word Who is recommending this room to me? Ah, a restaurant for white people, right? If you are an Asian, I would not recommend this restaurant. Every step is a surprise. For example, the pork ribs were very dry and tasteless. You can’t taste the scallop flavor either, it’s overshadowed by the other searing ingredients, which is a pity. The service environment is really good You can come here for a date

Great food, atmosphere and service will def come here again

Flawless - food, service, wine. Worth every penny and more

Louis made our night. Food was 10/10, service 11/10. Having worked FOH before, we so appreciated the effort, passion and care Louis took with looking after us, suggestions for food and especially wine hit the mark! So glad we picked here for our trip to Manchester.

Erst is in a really great spot and has a superb ambience. However, for us it didn't really hit the high notes we were hoping for. While the food was great, it didn't consistently hit the high levels we hoped. The flatbread, anchovies, and beetroot dishes were all superb but we felt the oysters and the skate lacked the kind of flavour and quality we wanted. The service was also a little patchy, with different waitstaff throughout our meal - some were lovely and then others kind of inserted themselves in between us without warning to collect plates etc without a word. Overall the atmosphere and the food warrants 4/5 despite the shortcomings in parts!

Delighted to have tried it, we will return. Thanks to the team

Very pleasant setting and service

Simply competent, performance-oriented, reliable. Kind regards, Bernhard Gutmann

Incredible food and impeccable service. We were sat at the bar and were served by the most friendly and knowledgeable waiter who advised us on our dishes, wine and even technique (so we didn’t swallow any bones). Best service we have you ever had. Also got me back on the red wine 🍷❤️

fabulous, very good Dishes, I not had for very long time

Cozy, I prefer oysters without other accessories. A bit simple on the plate, but tasty.

friendly service (3 of us had dinner for our son's birthday on a Tuesday lunchtime) with knowledgeable and helpful information from the house to help us make choices we would like. We love them, we did. each plate. Superbly prepared, top-notch ingredients that made our taste buds sing. Each dish on the menu complements everything else in a synergy that is both extremely clever and incredibly tasty. Beautiful wines, a fabulous Martini and a trip we will definitely repeat. The people who recommend this gem of a place are not wrong; thank you to the whole team for this truly exceptional and fun experience.

A visit at Erst was a thing to remember. The relaxing atmosphere is graced with amazing waiters who provided quality service from start to finish. Food was great and wine was and an absolute bang. I'll be back again!

Erst is a nice place to go with your colleagues, family and friends. Nice food and excellent customer service.

Most amazing atmosphere, the best food! Would recommend it ! You would not be disappointed. A definite go to restaurant in Manchester

"Great place to eat, always very consistant in quality and lovely staff

Delicious cuisine served at a charming restaurant…

Cool area, very reliable workers, work as nice team, food palatable with very chilled wine.

One of the best restaurants in Manchester. Food was incredible. Can’t wait to come back again.

Most of the food was very good. The unpeeled artichoke with goat cheese mousse was the only uninteresting thing. But what really shocked me was that in a sophisticated wine bar with natural and orange wines, the Spanish house wine is poured from the large tetra pack canister into carafes and bottles and then a bottle of white or red also costs 28 pounds. You can get really cheap, good bottled wine in Spain and you don't need to pour out such lint. We have a good French for around 54 pounds. Chardonnay found on the map. advice is rather poor. wine prices impossible. If I lived in Manchester that would be a reason for me not to go there again.

We have been here on two occasions and the food has been incredible both times. The service is wonderful (particular shout out to Louis who has served us on both occasions...honestly it is spectacular service! ). Wonderful restaurant to come to for a special occasion. I could not recommend it any more.

What a lovely evening ! Great atmosphere and very friendly and attentive service . Started with some grilled flatbread and we shared many dishes : my favourite was the chicken and the orange pudding !

Class gaff. Came here for a wine tasting last year and was super excited to revisit for the regular service. Beautiful space, delicious grub, tasty wine and impeccable service. Didn't catch our servers name but he nabbed us the last chicken parfait and for that he has my eternal loyalty. 11/10

Relaxed excellence! Contemporary small plates using seasonal ingredients cooked to perfection. Served up in a super-inviting and casual setting. If you’ve not been here and tried the beef fat and urfa chilli flatbread then you’ve not lived. Thanks to Will and the team for the exceptional service.

Food and service is the best I have ever had in Manchester. Waiter was very helpful in going through the menu. The various foods we had was very interesting, tasty and beautifully presented. Highly recomend.

One of the best dinner places in Manchester

The best food in Manchester. Perfect selection of seasonal small plates that are full of flavour and variety and surely the worlds best flatbread? Perfect for sharing. Been 5 times now and its always the same standard. Staff are friendly and makes the place seem casual but fancy. Fairly priced for very good food. Our Favourite

Delicious food, can't be faulted. Same goes for service and the prices were extremely reasonable. Can't wait to go back

Visited Erst Manchester for dinner last night with a friend, and it was fantastic. The atmosphere was relaxed, with a nice crowd. Bar seating was perfect for catching up over wine, and the food was sublime. We shared several dishes, including the must-have grilled flatbread with beef fat and Urfa chili, which was outstanding. The Gnudi served in brown butter and wild garlic was out of this world, and even the beetroot dish with ajo blanco and green chilli managed to convert me into a beetroot fan. The lamb belly and heart skewer with date was a melt-in-your-mouth delight, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour. Finally, the Seville orange tart with rhubarb crème fraiche was an amazing combination of flavours for dessert. Plus, the natural wine selection was fabulous. Would definitely recommend for a great dining experience.

A happy and helpful team will serve you some of the best food you will have eaten in a while. We had an absolutely wonderful experience. I was visiting Manchester and can honestly say it would be worth getting on a train to come back and eat here again. I also liked the wine list which isn’t your usual run of the mill list and brings the same level of intrigue and anticipation the menu does. Thank you team Erst!

Been dying to try Erst since moving to Manchester a good few years ago. It didn’t disappoint, had a lovely evening. Between 5 of us we tried one of everything on the menu (including a few extra flatbreads) and we really enjoyed it all. Service couldn’t be faulted.

Absolutely outstanding. Took a friend to celebrate a birthday. Food, service and drinks all incredible. On a personal note I loved the back ground music (very chilled DnB). defo 5 *

The staff were wonderful, vibe and buzz was exquisite and the food wasn’t like anything I’ve ever tasted. To be honest I could have sat there all day and tried everything on the menu, 10/10 ⭐️

Great food, great atmosphere, great service

had a lovely experience here for valentines! only suggestion for improvement is there could be slightly more veggie/vegan options - but still a pretty good range. thank you!

We celebrated an early valentines dinner at Erst on the 13th, Louis our server was outstanding! His knowledge of every single item on both the food and the wine menu is an achievement in its self, but he also made excellent recommendations for both mine and my partners specific tastes. One of the most reasonably priced restaurants in Manchester for the quality.

During our trip to Manchester, we celebrated our anniversary at Erst and had a delightful experience. Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the wines. He also took his time to explain the concept of Erst: choosing a variety of dishes to share with your companion. We tried the smoked beetroot, one of their signature dishes, pork belly, oysters, and more. Everything was delicious, and we completely lost track of time during our meal. The wine recommendation was also spot-on. We just wish we were a bit more adventurous and had tried the orange wines. Overall, we had a great time at Erst. The warm, buzzy atmosphere with its exposed brick walls and candlelight created a truly memorable evening. We'll definitely be back during our next stay in Manchester.

Fantastic food and staff. Everything about the place is quality. Atmosphere is pleasant - not noisy so you can talk and be heard

Quality small dishes with big flavour. Chocolate sorbet was particularly stunning. Cosy lighting and charming waiters add to the cool, confident atmosphere. Recommend!

Booked following a recommendation by Jay Rayner … & was he right ! A really nice vibe in this small restaurant ; with knowledgeable & attentive staff . Great food with Interesting & unusual flavours ; light, unfussy & delicious . Highly recommended . We shall return.

Excellent food and service with very efficient friendly staff. Would highly recommend

Good vibe, good service, good venue. Food not memorable. Heard lots about this place. Everything but the food on the night we went was good. However the food for me was just a bit meh! Highlights were the oysters, and the steak tartar. Other than that, everything else for my palat was over seasoned. (Too salty). The £14 scallop dish felt like one scallop sliced very thinly spread over a small plate with mandarin segments. Dominant flavours were tart citrus and salt. Another £9 dish was a couple of leaves of chard, and a couple of veggies with sitting in a soups Cesar sauce. This was nice but it wasn't a £9 dish. It felt incomplete and an after. The place has a lot going for it. However on the night the selection was underwhelming for our table and not good enough to entice us back.