Where is really nice to eat in the Manchester area or city centre?

[ivykaty44]

For lunch, not dinner or tea
please can I have suggestions of somewhere, happy to pay up to £100 for two

If you're in Didsbury definitely Hispi. Absolutely fabulous www.hispi.net/ about one minute from the tram (and if you're not veggie go for the featherblade which melts in your mouth)

Any of the Elite Bistros (I see a couple mentioned above). I'm so jealous of people who live in that area and can go to them easily. I planned my return journey from Scotland to the midlands around a stop off at Pinion (as it was the closest to the M6), and it was well worth it.

Sugo pasta kitchen.

I had to be stopped from going back to Hispi every day we were in Manchester, @Igmum - everyone else insisted variety is the spice of life, so we tried other places, but I just love it there. Would be happy alternating between it and Greens, now I think about it! Ooh, think I'll look at booking flights for when the weather is better!

Australasia is amazing

I know what you mean @Jaichangecentfoisdenom - I have a work colleague who visits regularly and in theory we go round various Didsbury restaurants, but the first one I took him to was Hispi, he tasted the featherblade and that was it

yy to TNQ, especially for lunch as they have a great value prix fixee. Tast Bar and Terrace (tapas) also has a good weekday lunch deal.
And Indian Tiffin room is great.

I remember when Hispi used to be Jem & I <pulls aged face>

If you want spectacular surroundings, the Kimpton Clocktower hotel.

Highly recommend TNQ. Also if you Google they often have a 50% off food code for the lunch menu Monday to Friday. I also love, Dishoom (gorgeous building as well as food), Mowgli, Hawskmoor and Fazenda (as long as there are no veggies).

thanks for all the repliers, still looking through each place

Its certainly looking like Hispi will be the place. The menu is certainly very enticing...

If you like it, the same group have an 'at home' business, which is great for a special occasion/meal (they cook and send a delicious meal in its component parts, chilled, with all the instructions for re-heating and serving). We had food from them twice in lockdown and it was AMAZING.

I love the way Gary Usher (owner) champions hospitality on twitter too. And tells it exactly how it is. He's well worth a follow.

Ooh I remember Jem & I - lovely. Not tried Hispi.

Really happy that as a non-Mancunian, soft southern Jessie who hasn't lived in the UK for over 30 years, I have suggested a place you may have decided to go to, @ivykaty44! Enjoy!

San Carlo gets my vote!!

Love this list. My thoughts on the ones I’ve been to:

Hawksmoor - fabulous, but they’re all over the country so not unique to Manchester. Better to try somewhere that is.

Climat - my favourite view/roof terrace in Manchester and really tasteful decor. But the food wasn’t up to standard for the price. So 5/5 setting and 3.5/5 food. Oh and they served champagne in a wine glass - pet hate!

The Ivy - it’s all about the roof garden for me. The bar menu is actually decent so I wouldn’t bother sitting down in the restaurant and just eat in the bar (and like Hawksmoor, it’s a chain so you can try the food anywhere)

Australasia - beautiful, a bit OTT decor. Food and cocktails were both great but it’s not really my vibe (too insta-friendly)

El Gato Negro - perfection! Nothing more to add 😝

I’m in Manchester for the weekend atm and I’m trying 10 Tib Lane tonight and Sparrows tomorrow, on the back of this thread, so thanks for the suggestions (and to OP for starting the thread ofc!) I’ll report back 😊

Id forgotten about this post.

We went to Didsbury to Greens and had the most wonderfully delicious meal and service was great. The menu was enticing for my dd1 and also easy to get to and get in - her being pg at the time. Less than 48 later she gave birth to a baby girl

Congratulations and glad you both had a great lunch.

Coming back to update this thread for anyone searching Manchester restaurants in the future.

Sparrows - 10/10, honestly faultless. I want to book another trip to MCR soon just to go back to it. Dishes are simple but cooked to perfection. Great ambience. Unpretentious. Just so… my kind of place. 💜

10 Tib Lane - similar to Climat, this has all the right ingredients but just didn’t quite hit the spot. The food wasn’t delicious enough and the atmosphere was non-existent when I was there. Staff were a bit clueless too.

We keep going back to Annie's. Staff have been faultless every time. 💯

https://www.anniesmanchester.co.uk/