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Recently checked out the Modern for a 'working' lunch with a friend, who suggested the venue to me as she'd heard rumours that we would be in for a real good treat, mmm. And I wasn't disappointed.
It was fairly quiet when we arrived and we were allocated (in my view) the best table which presented a 360 degree view of the wintry Manchester skyline, rotating big wheel and all. The decor was formal yet cosy, sophisticated but not intimidating - the dark solid wooden tables and chairs contrasting nicely with the floor-to-ceiling frosted windows, with a nice clear panel you could see out of to admire the view, thank you very much.
Being a huge soup fan, particularly in the winter months (and there's nothing I enjoy more than knocking my own up at home) for starter I opted for the Jerusalem artichoke and rosemary soup with chanterelles. It was delicious, smooth, creamy, satisfying and tasted surprisingly healthy too (although I'm sure it wasn't). My friend forwent the starter and straight on to the main course. Pollock, smoked haddock and Loch Duart salmon fish pie, with wilted spinach and of course a side order of fat chips. A suprisingly generous portion, (she struggled to finish) the pie was dominated to her delight by the salmon (all that omega 3) which was perfectly pink and a wonderful texture. I opted for grilled Goosnargh maize-fed chicken,
braised leeks and Cheshire smoked bacon & a grain mustard sauce.
The chicken was tender with a crunchy jacket, complemented wonderfully by the bacon and the mustard sauce gave it a bit of added va va voom. Resisted desert (but of course tried 'just a taste') of my friend's caramelised quince tart and vanilla ice cream, which outshone event the artichoke soup. A beautiful combination of sweet and sour, the caramel gave it an added twist that was very moreish. The ice cream tasted home-made - which I didn't expect - and had a creamy, custardy texture, which was perfect.
With two diet cokes each to wash it down (it was a 'working' lunch after all) it came to just over £30, astoundingly reasonable for something quite so thoroughly posh. Marks out of 10 - 8.9 and with the starter and desert both scoring a winning 9.9.
Floors 5 & 6
Urbis, Manchester
0161 605 8282
www.themodernmcr.co.uk
Tasty and healthy Lebanese food from a restaurant often overlooked despite its great position in the Northern Quarter. Better still, if operates a bring-your-own-booze policy, meaning an already cheap meal works out even cheaper. Well worth considering, both by travellers on a budget and locals out to try something new.
69 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1LQ
+44 161 834 5016
An Indian restaurant, the best curry I ever had. A great name in Stockport.
An award-winning Nepalese restaurant that I just can't get enough of. In a city of myriad curry restaurants, many of them very mediocre, this cosy little hidden gem sits on a road that also houses two other Nepalese restaurants - but it is undoubtedly the best.
I know people who travel miles to visit this place, as does Peter Crouch, apparently. I find it very difficult walking past on my way back from work, as the smells are to die for. Try the chicken makhanwala.
140 Burton Road, West Didsbury. On the 111 bus route from Manchester town centre. 0161 445 2145
I've only ever had great meals and service in this restaurant over the last 20 years. Mr. Khandoker is a bit of a local institution largely because of the amazing amount of charity work he does. Go.
812 Kingsway, East Didsbury, Manchester
Smashing local curry house specialising in delicious Nepalese food - definitely a big step above the usual Rusholme fare. It's been a while since I last visited, but I loved it before I moved from Levenshulme to Brazil a year ago. Top grub, nice atmosphere, good value - can't be beaten.
945 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 tel: 0161 248 8883
This is worth the trip out of town and out of Didsbury or Chorlton. Amazing, healthy (well, as healthy as a curry could be) and good value. Great service, always willing to give advice on what's best and wine to go with it. A real gem!
I agree that curry mile isn't worth it unless you're very inebriated and after the experience of the location, rather than the taste of the curry.
Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton.
First stop on the Curry Mile from the City Centre, and no need to go further - excellent service, from the complimentary poppadoms and pickles -tasty, well-prepared and presented curries and high tolerance for families. They have two other branches in Didsbury and Heald Green, but Rusholme works for me.
Oxford Road, Rusholme
Been twice to this restaurant and the second visit was disappointing. The service was slow at times, although the place was not full. The staff did not appear happy and seemed to be apathetic. The wines were quite pricey and I thought the meals were no better than the average 'chain' Italian restautrants.
Avoid this place like the plague. Claimed on the phone they catered for vegans, on arrival one dish on the main menu was vegan, so they said, but when it arrived it smelt strongly of Guinness. They confirmed this and whilst I pointed out Guinness was not even a vegetarian product (due to its isinglass fining) they just shrugged. Also had no vegan desserts and no knowledge of whether wine was either vegetarian or vegan. This is NOT a true vegetarian restaurant, rather a place for meat-eaters who want a taste of 'meat-less' meals.
43 Lapwing Lane
West Didsbury
Manchester
www.greensrestaurant.net
0161 4344259
One of the best Chinese restaurants in the city. It occupies the ground floor and lower ground floor.
The upper restaurant is the main one with a huge menu and very friendly and efficient service to your table. The food quality is superb and the place is extremely popular with a wide range of customers. The downstairs restaurant is my personal favourite. Ever since they established the all you can eat oriental buffet there, I have been going on a regular basis.
The choice is huge, especially in the evenings (Monday to Saturday) and all day Sunday. The price level varies depending on what time you go. But if you want a good value buffet-style meal anytime before 4.45pm Monday to Saturday, then this place is very hard to beat. Currently the cheapest price is £4.95.
The more expensive times (after 5pm Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday) are also good value because the food variety expands with a lot more seafood options, for example. I tend to go there before concerts or theatre evenings, because you know you can just walk in and be seated straight away and start helping yourself as soon as you are shown to your table.
Its location near the Palace Theatre and also the Bridgewater Hall is extremely convenient for pre-event dining.
44 Oxford road, near Portland Street and Central Library and Palace Theatre.
www.tai-wu.co.uk
Lovely little pocket of restaurants and bars in a happy, well looked-after area of Manchester.
The parks are very enjoyable when hungover the morning after, before a bacon sandwich in one of the many coffee shops.
M20 area 15 mins from Manchester city centre
Don't be fooled by the name, it's not actually a wine bar, it's more of a restaurant. Great selection of food and reasonable prices in a laid back atmosphere make it one of my fave restaurants in town. Try the pizzas they're ace, and I hear that the fried chicken (no it doesn't come in a bucket) is meant to be top notch.
You can just go in for a drink downstairs, try the cocktails - they’re lovely.
You can go early doors (5-7pm) and get a pizza for £6 and a bottle of wine for £10, bargain!
5-7 Chapel Walks
Manchester
M2 1HN
www.grinch.co.uk/
A cool restaurant and bar tucked down an alley. Lovely laid back atmosphere, fantastic burgers, and really on-the-ball, friendly staff. They also have a lobster tank if you fancy something a bit upmarket!
5 Ridgefield, Manchester, M2 6EG
Its above Sam's Chop House on Chapel Walks - absolutely wonderful place. Gorgeous bar and marvellous restaurant upstairs. The staff were wonderful and the food was real top drawer stuff. (and I know my Thai food)
Very impressed. My new favourite place.
Chapel Walks (above Sam's Chop House)
www.chaophraya.co.uk
Tel: 0161 832 8342
Other read posts directed me to Yang Sing in Manchester, where I had the worst Chinese meal I've ever eaten yesterday.
Food was barely edible, service was slow and unfriendly. If you want great Asian food, go to London, New York, Paris or Hong Kong.
Great for those who always want what everyone else has orderd, this Italian 'tapas' restaurant offers a tasty selection of small bites. Plates are priced around the £2/£3 mark, so you can easily get carried away. Best to go in a large group to make the most of the spicy meatballs, calamari and miniature pasta dishes.
115 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2NW
0161 831 9930
After years of experimenting all over town with other Asian restaurants, this is the restaurant our 'swimming club' has settled on. Fusion may be pushing it slightly (trendy lilac and silver interior) but the food is vastly more modern than most Asian restaurants and we have had puy lentils as dhal. Superb. Fish tikka with chilli sauce like a salsa and the kahari bindi gost (lamb and okra) are a couple of favourites. Excellent vegetarian dishes. The portions are huge and often there is an extra dish to try. No lurid colours, plenty of spice and garlic. The owner has said he would like to do proper Pakistani food and we would like to see a specials board.
489-491 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21
Tel: 0161 881 7200
Classiest décor? Reputation? Food? For the Chinese, it is only the food that counts, with a serious nod to value for money. A recent meal at the Kwok Man showcased cooking of rare quality in decor that was the opposite. Eating off the handwritten Cantonese menu, a dish of steamed minced pork with salted fish was sublime. We also ordered earthy deep fried pigs intestine stuffed with minced prawn meat and dau mui (tender mange tout leaves) stir fried with crushed garlic. Both were very fine indeed. Good Chinese food, real Chinese food - a class act in Manchester.
28 Princess Street, Chinatown
Telephone: 0161 228 2620
Has been tucked away in the Northern Quarter for years now and is still by far the best in Manchester. Small but well considered menu, great wine list and puddings to die for. Last time I was there Ainsley Harriot was at the next table (only down point).
Off High Street. Behind Market buildings.
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