Masons Restaurant Bar in Manchester

This café bar is a lovely rustic spot where the food is top drawer and the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly

We visit Masons periodically and felt it was a good opportunity to return to part celebrate our wedding anniversary. We went for lunch on a Friday early afternoon in July 2024 and Jodie, who was front of house, helped me in advance to prepare a little surprise for my wife. She also co-ordinated the surprise with Sophie who was our extremely capable, diligent and friendly server on the day. We had a cocktail at the bar on arrival and then sat in a booth for a fine lunch. It wasn’t particularly busy at that time, so the atmosphere was created by ourselves! We both had starters followed by steak and the food was very good and well presented. A bottle of rosé was a light pairing as it was a very warm day. I love a red wine, but it didn’t feel it needed to be a red on that day. We shared desert which Masons delivered on a black slate board and wrote our anniversary congratulations on too. A lovely touch along with a complimentary glass of bubbles each. I don’t rate a restaurant on free drinks but I do commend a restaurant who give that personal touch together with really good food and customer service. Masons ticked all of those boxes. Thank you, and see you agin soon,

Oysters were beautiful. Made changes to accommodate dietary needs without problem. One of the best steak and chips I’ve had. Perfectly seasoned. Definitely recommend.

Visited for the first time to celebrate my 60th birthday with friends. We all had a wonderful time, the only disappointment was that the bottle of wine we chose wasn't available.

It's rare that I rave about my first meal at any restaurant, but my lunch at Masons on Wednesday deserved ten out of ten in each category - decor, service and food quality. In its cool, smart city-centre atmosphere, my waitress [Sophie] was welcoming, pleasant and efficient, (3 courses enjoyed within my brisk 65 minutes window). Ordering from the main Restaurant Bar Menu: my sausage roll was a tasty starter of surprising flavour; the main pan-fried chicken supreme with its courgette, green beans, tomatoes, olives, gnochi and goats cheese was an absolute delight, with such a subtle mix of tastes and flavours accompanying the very tender chicken pieces - the chef should be proud; then rhubarb and custard dessert was a pretty picture with orange sorbet atop a crunchy tart on braised, sweet fruit. This 'perfect' review isn't a paid for piece - two slight disappointments must be admitted: at typical Manchester city-centre wine price, my large Sauvignon glass cost almost £10, and the bill had 10% service charge added, which I didn't see on the menu. Nevertheless, it's positive tens all round from me and I will be back soon.

lovely food very well presented. friendly professional staff. couldn't fault anything

Really lovely meal and exceptional service

I shared a fabulous lunch will colleagues while in Manchester last week - staff, food and services were all amazing! I would definitely return when in Manchester - thank you so much!

was a fantastic meal, really great atmosphere and the staff were fantastic

Excellent service and fantastic food. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Masons restaurant and Manchester Hall in general for the best quality events!

Good food served well Server worked well and quick Just enough for lunch with a pudding Wine was expensive Server Sophie was very attentive as were the blokes serving water We have been four times now

Had an early meal before going to a show. Lovely decor and ambience along with nice selection on the menu. Just a couple of small things away from a 5 star review. Would definitely return to try more of the menu though.

Loved the food staff work hard attentive attention to detail went for ladies evening masks worn clean and tidy eating

An amazing place to come. The atmosphere is so comfy and warm, you feel like you are eating outside in the middle of nature. The service was perfect, nice dressing and nice welcoming. All the food was absolutely good and tasty. I recommend to eat in this place. Thank you for this magic moment. xxx

I spotted a lunchtime offer for Mason's on instagram and decided to give it a go. We weren't disappointed. Lovely venue, friendly staff who made us feel welcome. Decent choice on the menu, I opted for a chicken sandwich which came with fries, it was really good, lovely fresh sourdough and a decent portion of fresh tasty piping hot fries, my husband went for the ploughman's with a side of chips and it was really good, plenty of cheese, crackers, pickles etc. again really good. We wouldn't hesitate in visiting again.

Excellent staff on the front desk and serving. Witnessed the manager shout at staff - this is appalling and very poor management, and in front of customers is even worse. Average food - cream cheese and peas wrapped in some salmon as a ‘terrine’. Buttered greens consisting of overcooked tenderstem broccoli and cabbage. Stuffing which was just unseasoned paxo and, bizarrely, a sausage running through it. Tasteless. Beef rubbery and veg luke warm. Gravy like bisto. I wouldn’t leave a bad review normally but given with a few glasses of wine the bill was £110, I would expect better service and better food.

Faultless Sunday lunch and good value. Will be back.

We’ve been to Mason’s a few times before and have never been disappointed with the food. Today’s Mother’s Day Sunday lunch was no exception. Spot on attentive service and good quality food, well presented and at a decent price (for a town centre). It’s a tight menu with four alternatives for both starters, mains and desserts. The roast beef was served pink (with well done as an alternative) and delicious, two of our party had skate which they both loved. My main criticism is that the price of drinks is too high. £6 for a small Peroni is a bit steep. And if you have a small appetite, a mains would do, but you’ll be charged for a minimum of 2 courses (£24). A take away service for our spare dessert was welcomed.

Really nice place fantastic food food throughly enjoyed with my partner

Stayed at Manchester Hall hotel in February, having attended a wedding in August. We dined at Masons Restaurant for dinner and breakfast. The staff were so helpful and friendly.,nothing was to much trouble. The food was delicious. Both the manager and chef took the time to ask if we were enjoying the meal. The best thing was being able to bring my little dog with me. I am unable to go away as often due to not wanting to board my dog in kennels. Therefore finding a lovely hotel with excellent food Win Win 🏆

Decadent restaurant and bar with a charm of a bygone era. Service was impeccable, you will be well looked after. The only negative I had was that there were some dishes that were unavailable. I shared a monumental whipped feta and bread, it was actually enough for 4, then the glazed salmon. Everything was delicious. There were 4 of us, we has one bottle of wine, starters and mains and it came to £40 each.

Had Valentine’s Day here off seeing the reviews on here and were utterly disappointed. Partners Food came out cold and took 10 minutes to come back out- by then I had already finished. The manager came over and said the food was meant to be served warm when it was cold which was very rude- he also knocked out bottle of water over which went everywhere. The manager came over very aggressively and stated that the food that was served his wife would eat so he doesn’t know what was wrong with our opinions which was ridiculous even though the food was cold and nothing on the menu states the food should be cold. The manager continued to not be apologetic for us having a terrible valentines meal and told my partner and I off for having a problem with the food. He went at us for 5 minutes. Valentine’s Day ruined. I wouldn’t go near this place with a 10 foot barge pole- rude service- underwhelming food- paying fine dining prices and getting below par food

Popped in for lunch. Service was excellent. Food very good, nice presentation and high quality ingredients. Staff all very attentive and accommodating. Will definitely be returning soon. Rui and staff hit the mark.

Had Valentine’s Day here off seeing the reviews on here and were utterly disappointed. Partners Food came out cold and took 10 minutes to come back out- by then I had already finished. The manager came over and said the food was meant to be served warm when it was cold which was very rude- he also knocked out bottle of water over which went everywhere. The manager came over very aggressively and stated that the food that was served his wife would eat so he doesn’t know what was wrong with our opinions which was ridiculous even though the food was cold and nothing on the menu states the food should be cold. The manager continued to not be apologetic for us having a terrible valentines meal and told my partner and I off for having a problem with the food. He went at us for 5 minutes. Valentine’s Day ruined. I wouldn’t go near this place with a 10 foot barge pole- rude service- underwhelming food- paying fine dining prices and getting below par food

Food is tasty, staff are very pleasant and the atmosphere is cosy with low light and chilled music.

Though the staff were nice the atmosphere was quite boring. The portion size was small, and the food was overpriced. It wasnt great value for money.

Really enjoyed our Sunday lunch here. Had a cocktail to start and my Negroni was the best I have had in Manchester. They use Antica Formula Vermouth, it makes the best Negroni. We shared bread and then had Dill Gravadlax and Ham Hock Terrine as starters followed by Roast Sirloin of beef. Two thick slices of beef, a massive quenelle of creamy mash, good roast potatoes, savoy cabbage and carrots. The Yorkshire pudding was great, not all puff and wind. Crispy up top and soft at the base just as it should be. We added a side of truffled cauliflower cheese. It was worth it! We mopped the plates clean with some of the bread at the end, we don't like wasting gravy. A truly scrumptious meal. Service was excellent, from reception, the bar and the efficient and helpful Maitre d'. Very friendly and professional. I have already recommended to friends.

Perfect food,perfect place,perfect service we will be back,what a secret gem

Had the chateaubriand for two. I must say that it was absolutely delightful. A bottle of fizz was a more than suitable bedfellow for the meal. I have not been in this building for many years (not a mason) but I can say that the refurbishment is both tasteful and contemporary. The waiting staff were first class and very polite. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus pandemonium that has gripped the nation the restaurant was almost empty for the most part. Hey ho, made our experience even more remarkable. Well done Masons. PS. There are some great pictures on the stair wall on the way to the toilet. How Old Trafford has changed in the last 120 years... Wow. Update March 2023; First things first; the food was very good and deserving of its price point - especially the Camembert. The menu has changed with the Chateaubriand being axed, a shame really as this was the pièce de résistance. Tucked away in a corner away from the atmosphere. Update April 2024; After a last minute change to our itinerary we dropped in at Masons. In a few words; delicious food, great service and lush desserts. The pictures speak for themselves.

Came for Sunday lunch and was not disappointed, food was incredible, staff were super attentive but not over bearing! Couldn’t decide on a drink so the bar tender made us one up that was amazing! Everything was perfect

Fabulous place. Can't recommend highly enough.

I never wrote reviews, however, came for a quick meal before New Year’s Eve and was exceptionally disappointed. Mash was cold, but no one checked on us so just left it. Not a great selection on the menu. I also got the chicken supreme and came with 3 pieces of chicken, in total about half a chicken breast. Nice place, but for £125 I expected a bit better! Sorry! :)

Not bad. But be sure to ask for terms and conditions 1st before booking.

Our first time here and certainly won’t be our last! The restaurant was very modern & had a lovely atmosphere. The staff were very pleasant and couldn’t do enough for us. Our food was really tasty and well presented and we thought very reasonably priced.

Really nice food, great place to eat and drink, and the staff are the best

Really rather disappointed. We booked for my son's 17 th birthday. Reading reviews we thought it would be a special treat however, despite the cost, it sadly fell short. Our order from the 'while you wait' section of the menu never arrived. The head waiter was attentive at table but we observed him being shockingly dismissive away from it with a 'f~'*king hell' response when advised of waiting guests. Clearly we were keeping him away from something far more important. The waitress ( we will say 'newly trained' to give her the benefit of the doubt) was not at all sure of which sauces she had provided us with mistaking peppercorn for gravy and later she also set down cutlery for pudding incorrectly. Small mistakes which I wouldn't expect from a restaurant of this calbre. At 9.50pm we were told that the bar was about to shut - I thought this only happened in pubs at 11.00 pm and have never had this experience at restaurant! We then asked for our bill and, although the 'newly trained' waitress did her best to assure us this would happen, she clearly had no idea how to achieve this and had to wait for the indifferent head waiter to assist several minutes later. Finally, as if being disantized off the premises, we were suddenly enveloped with a quite overpowering and very unpleasant smell of disinfectant. We mentioned this but our discomfort didn't seem to register. I am sad to say with many other restaurants to choose from in the city, we will not be returning to or recommending Masons.

Fantastic place! Really glad we found this restaurant on a recent visit to Manchester. Traffic was hell getting there (apparently now the norm due to the one way system) but they held our table for us and explained they would try to serve us quickly due to another booking. The food was excellent. I enjoyed the pie which had a lovely pastry casing (not soggy). Desserts were small but very good. Service was friendly but at times too much - we were asked by 4 staff if our mains were OK which made it look like they didn't know who was doing the check backs. Grateful to have been asked though as some places don't bother. Would return.

Really great conversation of this famous old Manchester Building, fabulous decor, amazing food at reasonable prices and fantastic service, will definitely be back.

Went to Mason for Sunday lunch whilst visiting family. The restaurant was lovely and the staff attentive during our meal. The food was great and nice and hot, would definately recommened the sticky toffee pudding. We will be returning when visiting again.

Like many recent reviewers found the service to be very slow - we didn’t want a starter but had to wait 40 minutes for our food. My chicken was average but my husbands sirloin was described as ‘pink’ but was much rarer than that and largely indigestible. Everyone around us was having a starter so we were puzzled as to why our main course took so long. When I queried this on paying I was told that the kitchen is small,only two chefs and ‘everyone turned up’ ! The logistics are not my concern but this restaurant is providing a service that should be much better than this..

the building is pretty. the staff is nice but, the food took 1 hour to arrive, slow service, and the food was bad. the ribeye was burnt and dry and the burger was and i’m generous, average. the burger’s bun was really dry.

This restaurant has a beautiful aesthetic and lovely food, without being pretentious or overpriced. The waiters were attentive but not overbearing. Found it to be a nice quiet spot for lunch and the round tables were great for being able to get to know one another as a small group, which is really important for a business meet. Great location too.

I’ve had amazing meal with family. Staff was very attentive and welcoming. Customer service on point. Food and drink was excellent.

What an absolutly stunning building and decor, even down to the ladies toilets which us ladies will agree is very important when spending a penny. Such a lovely friendly and calm setting. Staff are so friendly welcoming and very attentive. Great service guys really makes a difference to perfect meal. Food, just wow, well done chef you did yourself proud. We were a group of 3 and ordered a variety of meals, starters, mains and desserts. My only gripe would be that my wasteline has increased but I guess I can live with that as a trade for amazing food. Absolutely nothing negative to say about the service, setting or food by any of my party. Cannot wait to go again and will be sharing with friends and family as a place to visit.

Staff friendly but unfortunately food not memorable, there are so many other Manchester restaurants offering modern British food that do it so much better.

Having been stuck on the motorway we called to ask if we could move the table a little later and this was done, no problem. On arrival they has seen the meal was for our tenth wedding anniversary and brought over complimentary Prosecco. Our server...

Booked for large family outing to celebrate a birthday. Food was as good as you can get for a Sunday lunch. Between us we ordered the starters, mains and desserts. Super impressed with quality of food and presentation. Service was 5 star also. Made a...

We came here on a Saturday for my girlfriends birthday. She received a free glass of prosecco when we sat down. We shared the Camabert for starters and each had a Rib Eye with the peppercorn sauce for our mains. Both steaks were cooked to...

Went in the afternoon, food was delicious, nice cocktails. the only downside was pesky fruit flies which were in abundance

Very disappointing. Very slow service even when it was less than half full. Food is overpriced cold lumpy mash potatoes with a microwaved steak pie. The chicken was processed and tasted like cold tea bags. I would never go back. They also put a 10%...

Firstly I would like to thank all the staff at Manchester hall masons hotel absolutely excellent service very polite and shown tremendous hospitality. I only stayed the one night and I was treated like a Royal lol. I would like to commend Oliver for his...

Very attractive venue. As a mid-sized group of a dozen people we opted for a set menu ordered in advance that was great value for the quality of the food on offer. It was served after unhurried pre meal-drinks very professionally which made for a...

Nice atmosphere walking in and complimentary birthday Prosecco. Both ordered steak and it was cooked to perfection, however waited over an hour for just steak and chips but this seemed to be a long wait for everyone else too. Waiters were attentive in the mean...

Beautifully presented tasty food. Me and my partner went for our anniversary and when we mentioned this, they brought us two flutes of champagne which was lovely. We’d definitely go again.

I dont know where to start !!! We booked an overnight stay with a deal that included a meal dessert and drink for £25 each . We tried to ask if the deal included anything on the menu or specific options but were told that...

Restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, all team members very friendly, Olivia was our server who was great. It was an anniversary booking so they treated us extra special. Baked Camembert to start was amazing. Both had fillet steak which was great, I forgot to order...

Filet mignon, mash potato and roasted carrots were ok. For the price you would expect better. The fries were pretty gross, white truffle just did not work. Portions were very small and slow service. Typical "Posh" restaurant that charges more for less. Drinks selection again...

I was abit dubious going to Masons because of the mixed reviews but I thought let's give it a try while it's 50% off. I had to say the food was delicious, my mum and I shared the bread selection with 3 different types of...

Beautiful venue, amazing food and a great maitre d who had great banter with our 10 year old who loves a mocktail. We be back when we are next in Manchester

How can sprouts be unavailable? They grow in Britain and there’s a Sainsburys and Co Op nearby.Plaice was also off the menu and when my husband asked for an olive for his martini he was told they only had marinated olives. This is a city...

Had high expectations of this place from the reviews,these were from 2020 sadly looking at the 2023 reviews things have gone down hill. The starters and the main were very tasty albeit small, the desert I ordered was a crème bulee but was given something...

We booked this restaurant only to be told that about half the choices were not available. The menu is quite limited at the best of times. Everything we wanted was not available so we left.

What a shame. I took my partner for our Christmas meal as we read the reviews and looked at the menu however to say we were disapointed is an understatement. We first arrived and the table wasnt ready so we had a drink at the...

A group of 6 of us travelled to Manchester for a weekend enjoying the Xmas Markets, we booked into the Masons expecting a good quality evening meal, boy were we disappointed. The building is fantastic, the serving staff very good but that's where it ended,...

Made a reservation here while in Manchester with a friend. Food was very good, waitress was friendly. I am not sure if we happened to be there at an odd time but we were the only ones in the entire area of the restaurant -...

Amazing Sunday lunch today at Masons. The service was so good. The servers were all friendly and lovely, always on hand if needed extra drinks or extra gravy. Fabulous meal, cannot believe it was £19 for 2 courses! Amazing. Food arrived and was stunning, beef...

The Sunday lunch Food was good value for money very tasty and good portion but drinks very expensive even for central mcr

Wow! Myself and my husband came for our 7th anniversary, we were greeted with 2 free glasses of bubbles. The waitress who served us was so lovely I never caught her name. We both had scallop starters and shared the chateaubriand which was insane!! From...

Went with my girls and husband for a celebratory Sunday Lunch. The set menu was great value for money, we were completely stuffed! I had the roast beef for mains. It was the best roast dinner we have had for years. All the starters and...

Five of us had the Sunday set menu, & it was up there with one of the most enjoyable meals we’ve had in Manchester. The food was great, the service spot on, & it is a lovely venue - highly recommended & we’ll definitely be...

The restaurant is beautifully designed, located within the former Freemasons Hall. Service was lovely - very friendly & helpful. The menu is fairly concise & food good, though not memorable. It’s a great place just for drinks too, with an extensive cocktail list.

Excellent service staff are very good, refilled water without asking cleared tables promptly in time for next course. Excellent food Three course Sunday lunch £23.99, cocktails £10 will definitly be back.

Had the Sunday lunch, roast beef was stunning, my wife had sea bass which was fab also. Staff were very welcoming and efficient. We got a complimentary glass of fizz as it was our wedding anniversary . All in all a great dining experience, very...

We went to the Mason's Restaurant Bar in July to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We got a glass of champagne at arrival, thanks! We had to change our plans a bit and our teenage son joined us as well. They added him without a problem....

Impeccable service, great food,. With great regret I complained about something trivial, without prior consideration as to how I might make the waitress feel, for which I sincerely apologise. Sometimes we have to remember that waiting on staff are just trying to do their job...

What can I say, Impeccable service (and I mean truly impeccable) from the moment we walked in through reception to the attentive yet unobtrusive waiting staff. We eat at very good restaurants on a regular basis but this place blew us away. A varied but...

Dined at lunchtime. Had the tuna Nicoise for £10. I honestly expected tinned tuna for the price - so I was amazed when it turned out to be ‘the real deal’! The piece of tuna was quite substantial, beautifully cooked. Perfect poached egg on top,...

I wish the score at the top was in 2 parts as I’d give the food 5 out of 5 but the experience certainly was not. Visiting family in Manchester so left it to them to book somewhere as they know the restaurant scene very...

Amazing Sunday lunch ! This place is a hidden gem ! Absolutely under sold. We had the Sunday lunch menu, it’s one of the best in Manchester and the staff are amazing !

First time visiting and sadly wouldn't return, in general it is okay but not worth the price. I ordered the salmon with pasta which was extremely bland and oily, to add to it the pasta was all stuck together as if it had been pre...

Masons is our favourite restaurant in Manchester but this visit was extra special as it was a treat from our daughter. The staff are just the best, food amazing as always and such a beautiful restaurant & building. Masons is very reasonable priced for such...

Visited on 9th March 2022 after a full days shopping, did not want to venture too far. Found this super restaurant, lovely intimate setting with super comfortable seats, could not fault the service or delicious food. I had the fish pie which came with mussels,...

Not been here for over two years. Can only be described as poor quality pub food. My choice of starter and main not available. I had arancini to start, they were dry and tasteless. Main course was duck breast, it was dry and tasteless, served...

Lovely restaurant located in Manchester Hall. Staff are welcoming and attentive and decor is bright and inviting with comfortable seating. We went for the Sunday lunch of which you can have a choice of starters, main roast and desserts. We both chose the Parmesan Arancini...

Fantastic food and service. The building itself was well kept and the restaurant was clean and not over crowded. Very reasonable price for great quality food. I will definitely be coming back!

Masons is a beautiful restaurant. We were sat in a lovely private booth and were looked after very well by attentive waiters. The food is good value for the quality of it, the Chicken Supreme was particularly good. Wonderful drinks and a generally lovely experience

Had a lovely meal when staying locally for work, starters and mains both delicious and attentive service from the young waiter as well!

Fantastic service and food. We had a birthday dinner for two and they made the birthday girl feel special. Ambiance was modern and luxurious. We had starters of arancini and croquettes that were delicious. Mains we opted for steaks that were perfect with a cherry...

Came with four others for my son’s birthday treat. You get what you pay for, I suppose (£40 pp, only two of us drinking), but we were disappointed. Food was ludicrously over salted. My scampi had clearly been battered a long time ago and far,...

Excellent food and service Would have been good value at full price Will visit again Lovely waitress

What a lovely place!! Beautiful surroundings and exceptional food and service. Highly recommended and I’ll definitely be back.

Wow, this should be the benchmark for restaurants, fantastic food, great service and sensible prices. Had a great night on our annual visit to Manchester, thank you.

I would highly recommend this restaurant. We went to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. The food was really good. They gave me a glass if fizz and wished me happy birthday when we arrived. Staff were lovely. We will definitely visit again

In January every year Restaurants in Manchester do 50% for January. We searched the list and just had to come to Masons. I am so glad we did. The place is very smart, swanky and had a great atmosphere. Good mix of both young and...

Fabulous food, excellent service and atmosphere. Beautiful starters. The fillet was melt in the mouth, my duck with cherry sauce was simply sublime. Puddings were amazing too. A lovely birthday lunch with my Hubby 🥂🍾🎂

New year eve, six of us had a fantastic meal here every course was sublime and beautifully presented, we had bread with olive tapenade and butter real good, starters crispy duck egg, squid and prawns, mains Duck, chicken , monkfish, for desserts baked Alaska, cherry...

I can highly recommend the Masons Restaurant in Manchester. This was our first experience dining at the restaurant and I can honestly say that everything was perfect. Kat and Alexandra who made our booking were excellent, they responded efficiently to my queries and were very...

Have nothing but good things to say, our waitress was very polite and chatty, the inside is beautifully decorated. The food is well presented and comes in reasonable time. Would recommend

Visited with a friend during a very busy night. I hadn't made a reservation, however the host told us to sit at the bar and in case there was a no show she could accommodate us. Luckily enough there was an empty table and we...

The place is fantastic, amazing dining room with great history. Menu is limited. My starter of chilli prawns arrived and they were cold and soggy. The replacement was perfect. We had steak for our entree. Filet was amazing. Ribeye 10oz was too thin. It would...