Where to eat in central Manchester?

[Dontreadtoomuchintothis]

Having a very rare night out in Manchester next week with DH but am very out of touch with the city centre. If anyone can suggest a low/medium priced, not very formal place to eat in central Manchester that would be much appreciated. If it could be a teeny bit romantic too that'd be the jackpot! Thanks

Chain or independent, what sort of food, what's your budget? Last time I was there I saw quite a few restaurants!

I'd head to the Northern Quarter but Manchester Confidential have great recommendations

@Ifailed

Chain or independent, what sort of food, what's your budget? Last time I was there I saw quite a few restaurants!

Not fussy about type of cuisine and budget as per op. I too am aware there are lots of restaurants- that's why I'm trying to narrow it down was just hoping that someone who eats out in Manchester more often than me would share their favourite ...

@LolaandTim

I'd head to the Northern Quarter but Manchester Confidential have great recommendations

Thanks- will look up some places in the Northern Quarter

El Gato Negro

@Hoppinggreen

El Gato Negro

That menu looks amazing, thanks for sharing

Posh - The Ivy or 20 Stories in Spinningfields, Hawksmoor for steaks, Bull & Bear (Tom Kerridge)

Or there's:

Dishoom - Indian
Dimitri's - Greek
Top Kapi Palace - Turkish
San Carlo - Italian
Fazenda - all you can eat meat (also Bem Brasil)
Bill's - normal fare

Chains:

Wagamama
Las Iguanas
Gusto

@iklboo

Posh - The Ivy or 20 Stories in Spinningfields, Hawksmoor for steaks, Bull & Bear (Tom Kerridge)

Or there's:

Dishoom - Indian
Dimitri's - Greek
Top Kapi Palace - Turkish
San Carlo - Italian
Fazenda - all you can eat meat (also Bem Brasil)
Bill's - normal fare

Chains:

Wagamama
Las Iguanas
Gusto

That's a great list, love Turkish and Greek food. I knew Mumsnet wouldn't let me down

DH & I had our first proper 'date' at Dimitri's ☺️

The old wellington . Look it up it’s a very interesting historic building . Very central just near the cathedral

Scene Indian Street Kitchen on Spinning fields is reasonable and romantic.

Cosmo world Buffet eat all you want on Deansgate wide range of great world food, great value.

Buffet city (Chinese eat all you want) great food and value.

Thanks everyone, am looking forward to our child-free evening and have lots of restaurants/reasons to go out together more often

Try Thai in Chinatown is lovely!

@Hoppinggreen

El Gato Negro

Seconded - love the food there 😍😍

The Wharf Castlefield. Lovely atmosphere, canal views and tasty, reasonably priced, food.

I love El Gato Negro (Tast Catala on the same street is also good, but I don’t find the restaurant as inviting), but I wouldn’t put it in the low/medium price category. We tend to spend @£100 on a meal for two with drinks there. It is possible to go and have bar snacks only more cheaply, of course.

Agree with the Try Thai recommendation, although I haven’t been lately, and checking out Manchester Confidential. There is a thorough restaurant guide on there that is reliable and includes a price guide. You can search by area.

Turtle bay in the northern quarter- amazing food!

Hawksmoor also have a set price express menu before 6.30, which was absolutely delicious

Another vote for el gato negro. Also australiasia though that isn’t cheap.

I went yesterday to Canto - Portuguese tapas. Good prices three tapas for £15. Amazing food and service.

It’s next to Rudys in Ancoats the new bit near wing yip

Bundobust! Amazing Indian street food.

Evuna

The Marble Arch near shudehill.
Mackie Mayor's in the Northern Quarter.

I went to a Chinese restaurant called (I think) The Rice Bowl which was really good

Agree that Bundobust is amazing and cheap - the newer branch on Oxford Steet avoids the worst of Piccadilly gardens.

Scene is great, the Manchurian cauliflower starter is amazing.

Rudy’s pizza is my favourite pizza anywhere.