Manchester Food
Gastronomes may not immediately think of Manchester when considering cities that can offer a great eating experience, but they should and one day they no doubt will.
Of late, Manchester has grown into a truly cosmopolitan city, rivalling London in the scope, vivacity and magnetism of its cultural scene. No theme reflects the arrival of Manchester as a world-class city more than the culinary goings on of the north western metropolis.
Deansgate is undoubtedly the main drag of Manchester and boasts some of the best eating in the city. The Living Room is the first restaurant of any note that you hit when strolling down Deansgate and despite its undoubted pretension can be relied upon to serve good quality, well made food without breaking the bank. And odds are you'll spot a celebrity of some sort, especially if you are lucky enough to be allowed into the inner sanctum sanctorum of their VIP lounge.
Less hoity-toity but offering just as good food is the La Tasca, located right next door, which provides some of the best Spanish cuisine in the city, in a cool, quiet, tastefully done atmosphere. Much further down Deansgate you'll find the unassuming Dimitri's Tapas Taverna, undoubtedly one of the most relaxing, well designed and comfortable establishments the city has to offer.
But undoubtedly the king of Manchester restaurants, albeit somewhere that will break the bank if you're not careful, is the Establishment, located on Upper King street. Smart, expensive and respected amongst culinary snobs, the Establishment opened in 2004 and was voted Manchester's Restaurant of the Year 2006 by the Which? guide.
However, for those in search of a good steak, which can be hard to find in some English cities, the place to go is unequivocally the Gaucho Grill; located on St Mary's Street. It has its steaks specially flown in from Pampas, Argentina.
Though the world's tenderest steaks and expensive dining may have their place, such things will come and go, while in Manchester, one institution will always remain – the "Curry Mile". Famous throughout the UK, this stretch located in Rushholme, is a garish, eye-popping, overload of the senses. About 40 restaurants are crammed into this neighbourhood, along with almost as many take-aways, all offering a myriad of treats for the taste buds.
The Darbar is one of the best restaurants on the mile, offering more variety than most, but never stinting on the quality.
One of the most famous restaurants in Manchester, the Shere Khan, has been around since the early 90's and is thought by most to have the best ambience and some good food, with portions bigger than most.
For a more casual experience, the Caspian is the best takeaway in the area and offers a few tables for those who wish to sit down to eat.
A few miles away from Rusholme, in both style and geography, the Manchester suburb of Didsbury has quietly established some of the best restaurants in the city, one of which is the Jem and I restaurant which serves modern European food out of a former bank and has been recognised by Michelin with the award of a Bib Gourmand.
A brash newcomer on the culinary scene, Manchester's eating experience may not quite rival that of London and is a long way from Paris, but it is growing at a phenomenal rate and already has something for everybody.
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Eating & Drinking
