The Anthologist in Manchester

Staff not reactive to who waiting to be served. Very ageist. Too busy serving people they knew. Lots of staff roaming around doing nothing instead of serving. Won't be going back. Overpriced crap! It's just lucky it's beside the tram stop. Good for rainy days n that's about it

The cocktails were not good enough and overpriced

We did Taste Film here. Drinks on pricey side. But service was excellent and venue was nicely decorated. Would visit again.

Been to this restaurant several times (pre theatre/pre Bridgewater Hall) been when it has been standing room only. However, this was the worst experience I’ve ever had. Quiet on arrival Menu attached specials, then informed ‘no specials’ - Mac and Marmite chosen - 5 minutes later informed they didn’t have any Food and drink served - no issue Finished - tried to order another drink - didn’t happen Then managed to order - waited 10 minutes (no drinks) - asked again - waited another 15 mins - just going to get up and get the bill and the drinks arrived The barman brought them and apologised for the delay - a large party had arrived (I actually observed this - it was a party of 10/12 men and they had all been served) it does not take 25 minute! I said to the barman I wasn’t happy with the wait and it was poor service ! He said - well they are busy and he was dealing with the large party! And he dismissed me instantly and turned his back and went back to the bar ! Really quite rude ! The bill then arrived and they charged £9.90 for 2 bottles of water and we’d only had one - poor service leaving a reluctance to return !! It was definitely not busy !

Great drinks, and lovely terrace over looking St Peter’s square. We had small plates and wine in the sun with a group of friend ls

i walked in unknown to me they were rounding up to close and I wanted to used the rest room i am pregnant and was extremely press as i needed to pee due to my current state and am guessing i spoke to the female manager , which she bluntly refused , and acted racist toward me because i am black and told me i should go use the public toilet even after explaining to her about my pregnancy and needed to pee as i couldn’t walk properly. please such people don’t deserve to serve people in a restaurant or any other public place. may the authority deal with this issue the right way ….

Overpriced. Weak cocktails. I had an aperol spritz which was mostly soda water. I watched the waiter make it and over half of the glass was filled with soda water. Disappointing and tasteless

Extremely overpriced. Ordered the full English breakfast, I was amazed by how expensive it was (£15.50) so I was expecting something good, unfortunately I got a plate of food with salty cold bacon, 1 sausage so small I had to look for it, in fact the portions were so small the only thing covering the place were the 2 slices of toast- so cold they couldn't melt the butter.

Excellent service, warm, friendly and efficient staff. We shared crispy duck flatbread starter - unusual and delicious. Good and diverse choice of mains - something for everyone. Enjoyed a gorgeous Provence rose wine. Place has a nice vibe, even though it was Tuesday lunchtime and it’s a huge place to fill. Restaurant very clean, pleasing contemporary decor. Not the cheapest place for a Tuesday lunch but excellent quality; you get what you pay for. Will definitely go back.

Very disappointing Pre theatre meal We ordered fish & chips, a fish finger sandwich and 2 waters. The fish was overcooked, dry & still had the dark skin on underneath the batter. The fish finger sandwich came on toasted bread and again was overcooked, dry & still had the dark skin on underneath the batter. I queried with the waitress why the dark skin was on both our meals as I would certainly not expect it on fish fingers? Her response was, “They are all like that” I suggested this should be made more obvious on the menu as we would not have ordered the fish if we had known we would have to pick the skin off from underneath the batter. She wasn’t interested that the fish was dry & overcooked. We expected more from The Anthologist & we were very underwhelmed with both the food & the response from our concerns.

Great place, the service was excellent, the food I tried was great and the atmosphere was exactly what I needed to start my stay in Manchester. Will be back for sure!

Fantastic bar. We usually stay near St Peter’s Square when in Manchester and always make a point of coming in. The decor is fantastic, tables are so comfy and stay are really friendly. Brilliant drinks especially the cocktails. It’s also family friendly our 9 year old loves it and feels really comfy. Just a really great bar.

Nice friendly eateries. Good service and food

Everything was good, apart from the service

Just don't. Service and food average. Long wait for food, when we complained, server said several times it wasn't her responsibility. Nice. Waited continually picked his nose. Was advised he was the "Manager". Just avoid folks.

Went here for some cocktails. Cocktails are good, large selection and the atmosphere is lovely. Only thing I don’t think is great, when you order via the QR code it automatically adds a 12.5% service charge to it.

We visited for my partner’s 30th birthday and the team helped to make it a very special day. The food was also incredible. Thanks guys!

Enjoyed a good lunch time. Staff was very friendly. Food was very tasty.

Enjoyed a good lunch time. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Menu had many different options. Our Food was very tasty. Cocktails were nice too.

Nice atmosphere service and menue

An ideally situated venue. We had a fantastic table with great sunshine and view of the road. Plenty of people watching and good cocktails.

My own fault for getting seduced by the nice decor. Probably the worst breakfast I’ve paid for in a while…totally overpriced for two scrambled eggs and a tiny bit of smoked salmon…but on the plus side you get more cold un-toasted “toast” than you know what to do with. Avoid

Had a wonderful evening for my daughter's hen do. Cocktail masterclass and dinner. We were very well looked after and it was a really relaxing and enjoyable evening . Highly recommended for a classy but fun evening

The crispy duck salad was terrible. The duck was more cremated than crispy and there was way too much plum sauce all over everything My wife had a poached egg which was also terribly over cooked

I visited this place while travelling for business in Manchester. The atmosphere was really great, busy but comfortable. I met some friends for dinner and was blown away by the service of Nick. He really made us feel welcome and helped navigate the menu. His recommendations for both food and drink delivered! One of the best dinners and service I have had in Manchester!

Thoroughly disappointed this morning. Last day in Manchester and my breakfast was not one to remember. For £15.50 you expect a hearty full English ... you will not receive this here. 1 mini sausage, 2 egg (one wont be runny), 2 anemic bacon, 1 mushroom and some cold beans. Do not go here for breakfast !

Dined with friends midweek. Bar is very nice, modern, well staffed with a good atmosphere. I had fish and chips which I found a bit underwhelming for the price. A small piece of fish in a tasteless batter. Chips were more like fries, overcooked and cold. Service was erratic. Meals came out quite some time apart and no-one checked on us during the visit. Would be happy to visit again for drinks but not for food.

We went as a family for an early lunch before my graduation ceremony at Bridgewater Hall. We had a lovely welcome, the staff were really helpful and attentive. The food was amazing. I had chalk steam trout and substituted the greens for new potatoes, it was delicious. My daughter had a beautiful fish pie, husband fish and chips and my son had chicken skewers and a mountain of onion rings. All were generous portions and delicious flavours. Food and drink prices were very reasonable. The surroundings were light and airy and they accommodated my sons wheelchair as the tables are well spaced out.

It is always nice to go there for a brunch or beautiful drinks! Thanks so much

I especially liked the desserts and the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Nice looking venue. Visited late Friday afternoon just for drinks which were served by not the most enthusiastic of barmen. The drinks were on the expensive side, not that well made and presented with a main decorative ingredient missing from 3 of the cocktails. Considering its a chain was expecting a happy hour. Original plan was to stay for a few drinks but decided to wander elsewhere where we served with a smile, better made cocktails and cheaper!

Always a nice cocktail or pint here.

Lovely cocktail bar. Staff were friendly and helpful. Live music was on when we were there which made a nice atmosphere. Didn't eat there so can't review the food. Would certainly recommend if you wanted a higher class place.

The food was average. We had burgers and a curry. Both mediocre. The chips were a disgrace- we got the scraps and most were inedible. We did complain and got one portion of chips removed from the bill. The service charge added was unacceptable. Cocktails were nice but I wouldn't go back for the food. Very disappointing and expensive.

Excellent location and atmosphere

Decided to call in for a pre theatre meal as there were spaces in the the dining area. Restaurant is nicely decorated with varied food choices and friendly staff. Quality of food was satisfactory as was the service. However, I really don't like random charity contribution or the frankly outrageous 12.5% 'optional service charge' being added to the bill. This practice needs to stop. For this reason alone it is highly unlikely we will visit again.

This is a brilliantly located bar that is done out really nicely inside and has a great outdoor seating area right on Saint Peters Square. As a result of this we decided to pay our first visit there but didn't really take to the place. There's a couple of reasons for this. First of all it is a card only bar which is not unusual. What was unusual is when I asked if I could pay cash the bar man told me only if I had the exact amount. The drinks were expensive and 2 pints were £13.40 and he suggested I could give him £14 if I wanted to pay cash! Needless to say he didn't get it. we ordered two standard pints of lager and both were a little on the warm side and also quite flat. You expect better when you are paying the most I've ever paid in Manchester for a pint. It does have a lot going for it but there's so much competition around I think it will be awhile before we are back .

I had the pleasure of being taken here as a treat pre-mothers day, by my son and daughter-in-law. Loved it gorgeous food, great staff, highly recommend. My dish was cornish cod with a lemon and herb crust, winter greens, lemon and wine sauce. Also a side if roman fries. Just delicious!

Great atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff, lovely food and a really fun cocktail making experience. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

A couple of us had fish and chips and it was rubbish tasteless and watery (frozen and cheap). Won’t be going there again

This is the second time booking a large group after visiting in September. What can I say the team are absolutely amazing! Nia, Jo and Lucy take care of your booking needs, the responses are prompt, full of information and so friendly. They are so flexible and work with you to accommodate your needs and make booking seamless. Having a large group order means you need to pre book your meal ahead of time, but that’s not an issue and makes it easier for them as well as the group as you know what you will be expecting and they can get your food order straight away. The booking portal you use to send over your order is so simple and easy, makes the whole thing fun and enjoyable to do. Upon arrival my table was set up and they add a wonderful touch by printing name cards with the pre ordered food on it which is great as it acts a reminder but also makes it helpful if you want to create a seating plan which I always do! Despite the restaurant always being absolutely heaving the team are so attentive! The team continually go around asking for your drink order, refilling the water and providing you drinks. The food comes out without hesitation and is always hot and so tasty! I would definitely recommend the steak as well as the plethora of deserts and the cocktails are to die for! Shout out to Claudia who was our server on visiting the restaurant on the 7th March. She did such an amazing job coping with such a large team and is an absolute sweetheart! The Anthologist will always be my restaurant/bar of choice everytime I go to Manchester! Highly recommended and reasonably priced too!

Pleasant friendly bar with nice decoration. Recommended.

Enjoyed this place a lot. Beautiful decor and food was delicious. I had the rainbow bowl and daughter had chicken satay. My cocktail choice of a Negroni did not disappoint - the perfectly clear giant ice cube and beautiful glass were spot on!

Great menu, great food, lovely staff, a really comfortable restaurant. The only downside was we were told we couldn't have coffee because the coffee machine was switched off at 9pm...!!! Our booking was at 8.30pm. Very strange and left a bad impression to be honest

Really nice place with good atmosphere. Stopped for lunch and the food and cocktails were all very good. The staff were accommodating when we made changes to meals and all came out just as ordered. Lively atmosphere and good music. Only annoyance which seems to be everywhere now is the set 12.5% service charge added to the bill. We paid it as the staff were very good but it should be optional for people.

Great meeting place for drinks and lunch

Lovely atmosphere, polite, helpful and professional staff and services. The food is really fresh and high quality but not as delicious as we expected.

A cocktail class as a family Christmas event. We chose The Anthologist unlike other establishments they don't ask for a minimum of 6 people. We made two cocktails expertly presented by Kalan. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Average noisy bar, serving up bang average food. We thought our meals were poor quality and lacked flavour and the ingredients, especially the fish, were not fresh. Grey and insipid. Chicken in the burgers was dry. Bottle of white wine ordered arrived at the table at room temperature and was sent back. Fortunately, the price of the food was reasonable but nevertheless we expected more from a place that promotes itself as a great place to eat. Our waiter was very helpful though and his customer service was good. Sadly what he had to serve us was not. Overall we were left very disappointed and won’t go back. There are far better places to go in Manchester than the Anthologist

Went in for cocktails, which were fab. Lovely atmosphere, and they are dog friendly!

If you want to pay £16.50 for a fish finger sandwich, you'll love this place! It's a nice bar but way overpriced for what you get.

The place looks lovely and the drinks are nice, especially the seven brothers, however, be warned it often shuts earlier than stated and takes forever to get served even when not busy.

The buttermilk chicken burger tasted like something you’d get from a fast food chain, and on top of that, the bun was burnt. It was plain and average; I cannot believe I paid £17.50 for it (wish I had gone to McDonald’s). Not to mention that it took ages for the staff to take our orders, and bring our bill.

Had drinks with friends before we parted ways at the nearby tram stop.

Went here for a pleasant works do They were only accepting cash as the card machines weren’t working. I’ve noted a couple of other reviews that mention this. The gluten free options were insufficient to allow me to eat with my colleagues. Other than that, it’s well located and clean

Food good the place is too big for me and noisy but it's great for young and people who enjoy a noisy night out. Drinks where too expensive for me

Such a shame this place does not accept cash. It's in a great location with a lovely vibe and great staff and selection of drinks. I only started recently visiting and it just so happened on the first recent visit they told me their card machines were down so it was cash only, great, the second visit my friend paid, the third visit I was told card only. This ruined our night and am disappointed management has taken this decision as it would've been our local. Hopefully they'll start accepting cash and they'll see more custom. Please reconsider!

A wonderful place. The staff were amazing when we called in the other day with our dog. They couldn't do enough for us, and the food was great as well.

Nice decor. Badly made cocktails with not enough alcohol in (we watched him as he did a terrible, half-arsed job of it). The guy is NOT good at his job.

Called in on a Sunday early afternoon a large family group with children. Told it was cash only.. we went to a cash machine and when we got back was told we couldn’t have any change with our cash purchases. Very confusing so we left and went somewhere else. Spoke to the manager and she said there must of been some mix up as we would of been given change. I can assure you we were told we wouldn’t. I really think we weren’t welcome and it was an excuse to say goodbye. There loss so no I wouldn’t recommend and wouldn’t return ever … rude 😕

Bartender called Leo is an absolute legend, great service and fantastic cocktails!!!

Great place for a girlie night out!

Walked in here on remembrance Sunday 10 adults and 5 children wanting food and drinks. We hadn’t even sat down and was told it was cash only. So off we trotted 3 adults in the rain looking for a cash machine. On returning we were told that no Change could be given🤔….if we pay with cash surly you should get change🤔 🤔. Someone having coffee was paying by card ,Very confusing, we left and went to Duttons for food / drinks and paid cash and card.

Food was good but the music in the place was far too loud.Handy place to eat as next door to our hotel and a 2 min walk from The Bridgewater Hall where we were seeing a concert.

VERY disappointed, as a female member of staff said (when I phoned on Saturday) to check that we could arrive at 11:30 today. We duly arrived, only to discover that's wrong - once someone (eventually) came to the door. I clearly said Monday in my call.

Refused to accept cash and bar service was really slow

Absolutelly overwhelmed by athmosphere. Food top of class well coocked and with just rite mix of herbs and unique half a grilled chicken special was brilliant. Service was excellent with outstanding attitude from our waitress.

The food tasted so good, loved the flavours of the chicken waffles! However, it's worth noting that the portion sizes are quite small for the price point. The interior of the restaurant gave it a nice ambiance and staff were friendly

Popped in for a bite and a cocktail ahead of a show at the nearby Albert Hall (Shed Seven + Keyside). Buzzy atmosphere, swift service, interesting cocktail list (and great margaritas). Our server was sweet and professional, accommodating requests with charm (eg. sugar free espresso martini, no cucumber in the salad). The menu is really varied with plenty of lighter options, vegetables and salads. We eventually selected and enjoyed a fab crispy duck salad and mushroom risotto. Quick and convenient, will def come back.

Really poor customer service by young, snotty, passive aggressive maitre dit. Our whole group commented on what a bad attitude she has. This is generally a nice place, but oh my word, give the young blonde girl a wide birth, unless you want a side order sneering with your over priced drinks!

A lovely place, very friendly and sophisticated. Had a lovely lunch with my mum-thank you.

Top place but there's no need for the expensive prices standered chefs no wow with the food

Food was unbelievable and the service was great

Thank you very much to all the staff, In particular Lucy and her team for helping to make our small babyshower perfect! Food was lovely, service was brillant, and we all had a great time!

Met here for lunch to enjoy our regular reunion.As always lovely staff,prompt and attentive service and good food.Special thanks to theovely Tom for taking great care of us..Sue B ..the 4 Queens..xxxx

I came here for a cocktail making session on a weekday afternoon and I was very happy with the service. When we arrived everything we needed for our session was already laid out and ready for us. We made a total of 3 cocktails and the session was very informative and great fun. Special thanks to Leo who was our mixologist for the day, he was very patient with us and great and showing us how to make the perfect cocktails and explained each step along the way.

We had a lovely time, very relaxed atmosphere.

Really enjoyed our family Sunday lunch - nice food, good menu and excellent ambiance. Pet friendly as well for our 4 legged family member!

Atmosphere and service very good. Food is not good though unfortunately.

So I am always looking for great food with tasty flavours especially at lunch time around St Peters Square so that when I am back in the office ~ my food induced coma will make me smile for the rest of the day. I am happy to say I have found it in here! I don’t ever have a reservation as its a quick dash out for lunch during busy work days but management are always accommodating. Whether its a watermelon & feta or a crispy peanut salad, whether its a scrumptious pie or scampi starter, or padron peppers with a mouth watering drink, I have never come away disappointed. The food is delicious - credit to the chefs, the staff are friendly & if something isn’t right, they see to it straight away. The service is great in here ~ a lovely treat or a regular go to - you won’t be disappointed!

Supposed to close at 11pm. Told about last orders for 9.30pm. Watched them turn away 5 customer's. Poor show

Overpriced very average food, been twice for brunch / lunch and both times simply bad value and below average food, wouldn’t recommend

This restaraunt was a very pleasant environment, very nice but chilled vibes inside where you could even go for just drinks near the bar or even for dinner which we did. The staff were friendly and we were very happy with the food and service....

We visited The Anthologist for a quick bite for lunch on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. We ordered the cheeseburger and the fish finger sandwich, both were nicely cooked and presented. A slight gripe for me was that the fish hadn’t been fully skinned before being...

A lovely restaurant. Myself and my brother called in for lunch. We ordered five small plates to share and both agreed that the food was delicious. We got seated straight away without having a reservation. The two waitresses were very quick to find a table and bring menus. We had a moment to view the menu and both ordered the homemade lemonade. Mine being raspberry flavour and my brother ordering the passion fruit flavour. These came to our table quickly and tasted devine. We ordered and the food came quickly. Everything was delicious. The waitresses who served us did an amazing job and hats off to the chefs who cooked us an exceptional lunch. I will definitely be back again.

Awesome bar, cocktails are great, staff are always polite

I agreed with another reviewer regarding the quality of the food and drink . I ordered a glass of champagne as the wine list was non descript and unrecognisable. The food looked insipid and I could tell instantly these were cooks not chefs providing the...

I had taken my niece to this bar a few times in the past , when she comes to visit she always likes to go. we had been in the bar for nearly two hours sat next to the front of house desk, we had...

Had a business lunch here with clients and really enjoyed the experience. Good food, prompt service and a pleasant environment on St Peter's Square close to tram stop. Recommended.

Really appealing entrance - stood out from many others. Staff gave exceptional service. Good variety of food to suit all tastes, service was not rushed. We loved it for a ‘girls’ lunch out and will return .

Manager not worthy of title. Smirked when wanted to use cash!!!!!!! Took drinks off us

Top quality food, great atmosphere late afternoon on a Saturday Not a cheap lunch but a good experience overall Service charge is automatically added to the bill which I'm not a fan of

Always nice drinks here but if you want the sunshine make sure you go after about 4pm otherwise the outside is shaded. When it does get the sun its a suntrap and gorgeous

Pricey, but pretty nice spritzers. Few too many flies for my taste in somewhere like that.

Worth a visit. Been twice and can't get enough. 100% would recommend

99% staff here are fantastic. The 1% knows who she/he is - which is a crying shame. I love this establishment and the staff are friendly, hospitable, courteous and more than helpful. With regard to the person who is part of the 1% club as mentioned above, you really do need to let bygones be bygones - I'm prepared to go cap in hand, but meet me half way. Cheers 🍻

Lovely atmosphere, great chicken dish. Expensive drinks but would go again

Good for drinks and a bit of live music. Nice atmosphere.

Booked this restaurant online, 4pm-6pm, specified I would be bringing my dog with us, I arrived around 3:30, to see if we could be seated slightly earlier. Guy was walking around outside, didn’t acknowledge us at all, then a girl came out serving food, again...

Great place to meet off St Peter's sqaure, staff so friendly and always ensuring tables cleaned, this place gets really busy so book a table in advance even for drinks.