My top 10 Manchester restaurants

Hi lovelies,

So, anyone who knows me will know how much I love Manchester as a city. It is such an amazing city and one of the best things about it is the variety of restaurants that it has to offer.

I'm going to share with you 10 of my favourite restaurants in Manchester.

1

BEST FOR: ITALIAN

Don Giovannis

Don Giovannis is by far my favourite Italian in Manchester. This is what I would describe as a 'proper' Italian restaurant serving real Italian food. I think that a lot of Italian restaurants nowadays have more of an 'English Italian' vibe but this is much more authentic and traditional which is why I love it so much.

The menu covers everything - fish, meat, a wide variety of pastas and pizzas and, of course, an amazing dessert menu. I also think that the menu is really reasonably priced, especially for the quality of the food.

I've visited Don Giovannis a number of times now and I've thoroughly enjoyed it every single time I have visited. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and the service is top notch!

My favourite dishes are:

 

1. Gamberoni Grigliati (Prawns on Toast)

2. Ravioli Neri Al Granchio (Crab Ravioli)

3. Tiramisu

To view the a la carte menu, click here.

Don Giovannis is located at:
Peter House, 1-2 Oxford St, M1 5AN

2

BEST FOR: LUXURY

Tattu

I can't explain how much I love this restaurant. Everyone has one or two restaurants on their 'must visit' list and this was definitely mine. I finalllly got the chance to visit Tattu for my birthday this year and it definitely lived up to expectations!

The food was on another level. I opted for the small plates as I wanted to try a variety of dishes and they did not disappoint. Me and my friend shared 6 small plates between us with the Singapore noodles on the side. My other friend ordered the Vegetarian Black Bean Chicken which was amazing.

 

 

The small plates we opted for were:
- Lobster & Prawn Toast
- Spicy Pork Wonton
- Chilli Salt Baby Squid
- Beef Satay
- Sticky Beef Short Rib
- Peking Duck Buns

I can genuinely say that every single dish was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. I would highly recommend the food!

To view the Tattu a la carte menu, click here.

As if the food wasn't good enough already, the decor is out of this world. We were lucky enough to be sat in one of the closed off booths which was amazing and perfect for a girly catch up. I think with some restaurants you can feel like you're practically sat on top of other people so this was the perfect layout!

 

This picture was on the wall in our booth. I was obsessed with the contrast between the bright colours and dark wood. The restaurant was also filled with orchids - one of my favourite flowers!

Also, who can complain about having a blossom tree in the middle of the restaurant?!

Please note that the images of the Blossom tree are property of Tattu.

Although it is quite pricey, I would definitely recommend visiting this restaurant. I will definitely be visiting again ASAP!

Tattu is located at:

72 Gartside Street, M3 3EB

3

BEST FOR: VARIETY

San Carlo Fumo

Over the years, I've definitely become more of a 'small plates' kinda person. I think that variety is good: it allows to get more of a feel of the restaurant and its food. Maybe I am just greedy and want everything but the small plates are definitely doing it for me!

Fumo, part of the San Carlo group, is perfect for this! Although they do serve main plates, their restaurant is very much a 'tapas' style menu with lots of small dishes to choose from. Fumo has a wide variety of plates available, from meat and fish to vegetarian options. The plates are reasonably sized and are not 'small' in the sense of the word.

 
Unfortunately Fumo do not have their full menu on their website. To see a sample menu, click here.

Fumo is located at:
1 St Peters Square, Oxford Road, M1 5AN

4

BEST FOR: ALL YOU CAN EAT

Fazenda

Anyone who knows me will know how much I love meat. If you're the same, Fazenda is the restaurant for you!

I would describe Fazenda as an upper-class Bem Brazil. The waiters/waitresses bring round slabs of cooked meats (including chicken, beef and lamb). You are provided with a green and red card which is used to show whether you would like the food that is coming round. The red card shows that you would not like the waiter/waitress to stop at your table with the meat and the green shows that you would like them to.

The best thing is that you are not limited on how much you can eat. Unlike a usual restaurant where you get one main course, you can ask the waiter/waitress to stop as many times as you want until they close. The staff do not rush you out whatsoever which means that you can take your time and really enjoy the food/atmosphere. I love this because I personally think that going for a meal is a real social thing so being rushed or limited on time ruins it slightly.

They also have an amazing salad bar. I say amazing lightly - I've never seen anything quite like it. They have pasta, sushi, fish, salad, mushrooms - literally everything!



The idea is that you have the salad plate on the side of your meat. Again, you are able to have as much of this as you want (I clearly did). You can eat to your hearts content!

To view their menu/prices, click here.

Fazenda is located at:
The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3AP

5

BEST FOR: OVERALL ATMOSPHERE

Sapporo Tappenyaki

I have now been to Sapporo three times and I absolutely love it. When people say that they get good service at a restaurant, Sapporo takes it to a new level. Not only do the staff look after you but they also entertain you throughout your meal by cooking in front of you.

Sapporo offer a wide variety of menus which all vary price wise. If you are going with a large group, I would highly recommend ordering one menu for the group. I would highly recommend the Samarai set menu - this was divine.

To view the set menus, click here.

Sapporo also offer an 'Early Diner' menu. This operates Monday - Friday between 12pm and 6pm.
To view the menu, click here.

Sapporo is located at:
91 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4JN

6

BEST FOR: BURGERS

SoLita

SoLita is definitely, in my opinion, home to the best burger in Manchester. Most people would claim that Almost Famous wins this all day everyday but I've visited twice now and it just didn't have the same 'wow' factor that SoLita does.

The meat is cooked to perfection and you can tell that it is high quality meat. The service was also really good!

I opted for the Bacon Double Cheese burger which features the bacon candy. I'm not normally a sweet and savoury gal but this did it for me! Although I wouldn't necessarily rate it 10/10 for presentation, the food itself is an entirely different story.

I like that the menu is really varied with a whopping 20 burgers to choose from! If you're not feeling a burger (you'll be missing out), SoLita also offers a wide variety of other dishes including steaks, hot dogs and wings.

To view the SoLita menu, click here.

SoLita is located at:
Turner Street Manchester M4 1DW

7

BEST FOR: SUSHI

Neighbourhood



Neighbourhood is one of my favourite places. I love the vibe in there and of course, the food is also amazing.

If you want good sushi, definitely visit Neighbourhood. I love that they have a varied menu which includes both fish and meat so you can pick and choose as you please.


Me and my friend ordered 4 half rolls between us:
- Teriyaki Beef
- Crispy Duck with Plum Sauce
- Salt & Pepper Cod
- Spider Roll (Crab)

If you order before 8pm (Monday - Thursday), you are able to have any half roll of sushi from the main menu for just £5 as opposed to the main menu price. This was such a good offer as it meant that we got 4 half rolls for just £20 (£10 each!)

To view the Neighbourhood sample menu, click here. This does show a lot of the half rolls that are available so will give you a good idea of what is on offer.

In my opinion, Neighbourhood's sushi is the best in Manchester and is not to be missed!

Neighbourhood is located at:
The Avenue North, Spinningfields, M3 3BZ

8

BEST FOR: BREAKFAST

Frankie & Benny's

Unpopular opinion but Frankie & Benny's breakfast does it for me, all day, everyday.

Firstly, I love that their breakfast is on until 12pm. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a morning person in the slightest so when places stop their breakfast menus at around 10.30am or 11am, this just does not work for me. I mean, how am I supposed to drag myself out of bed, make myself look presentable, travel to the restaurant, arrive and decide what I am going to order before this time?! It just isn't feasible for me on a day off. So Frankie & Benny's wins everyday in this respect.

The next thing I love - the price. For just £5.95 you can get an amazing breakfast and it doesn't break the bank. I'm sorry but unless it's a special occasion or a one off, who wants to spend £15+ just on breakfast when you've also got lunch and dinner. Whereas £5 is much more realistic and you could easily visit here on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for nice places and fancy food but let's face it, it doesn't always live up to the expectations. I've attended several restaurants over the last few months in particular, but also over time, to try different places for breakfast and some of the fanciest, most expensive restaurants have left me feeling deflated and disappointed. I've spent quite a bit of money on a meal that I expected to be top whack and it just wasn't.

One restaurant in particular, I won't name names, left me waiting for 45 minutes for a table. I was then shoved into a cramped area and was left for half an hour before being asked whether I would like a drink. My drink took around 25 minutes to arrive. When I finally ordered my food I was so hungry and hoped it would come fast. It didn't. When my food finallllly arrived, it was stone cold and just unedible. I was so disappointed as I had heard such good things but I haven't been able to bring myself to return after such a terrible first experience.

Moral of the story: sometimes, simplicity is key.

Frankie & Benny's has a wide variety of breakfast dishes, including small plates, main plates and larger portions. This menu really does accommodate for everyone and it is all delicious!



To view their breakfast menu, click here.

There are so many Frankie & Benny's restaurants located in the city centre but a nice one is near St Ann's Square.

This restaurant is located at:
34 St Ann St, Manchester M2 7LE

9

BEST FOR: CHINESE

The Rice Bowl

This is, in my opinion, hands down the best Chinese restaurant in Manchester.

Firstly, I love the decor. As you enter the restaurant, there is a cute little fountain and pond area which initially provides a lovely vibe before you've even entered the restaurant.



The food itself is also amazing. The menu is so varied and is filled with a dish to suit everyone - they have all types of meat, several fish dishes and vegetarian-suitable options.

On Monday - Friday before 6pm, The Rice Bowl have an amazing offer on which includes 2 courses (a starter and a main) for just £13.50! This is such a good offer and includes a wide variety of dishes to choose from.

I opted for:

Starter
Duck Spring Rolls with Hoisin Sauce


Main
Crispy Beef Fillet in Peking Sauce


My friend also opted for the spring rolls but chose the Pork in Honey Sauce with Spring Onion & Ginger for her main.


These dishes come with rice of your choice (egg fried or boiled).

To view the special set menu, click here.
Alternatively, to view the a-la-carte menu, click here.

The Rice Bowl is located at:
33a Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL

I would recommend this restaurant time and time again - it is definitely one to visit!

10

BEST FOR: DESSERT

Creams Cafe



I've visited here a couple of times now since it opened early last year and have really enjoyed the food. If you're after a sweet treat, this is the place for you.

I'm a dessert gal through and through so having a restaurant where you can go just for dessert - perfect!



I opted for the M&M's waffle which was insane - I loved the mix between the sweet waffle, chocolate sauce and M&M's - it was the perfect combo! I would definitely recommend this.

To view the menu, click here. Click on each type of dessert to view the separate options for each.

Overall, I would really recommend this restaurant!

Creams Cafe is located at:

1 Portland St, Manchester M1 3BE

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So there you have my 10 favourite restaurants by category. As I've mentioned before, Manchester is filled with amazing restaurants and it genuinely was hard to pick just 10. I hope to update you as and when I come across new places that I love!

I hope you've enjoyed reading - I would love to hear from you.

Love,