Manchester City Center

[thom]

Not strictly city cengtre I know but I'm stunned no one has yet flagged up the (old) news that Juniper has finally been sold and that a new "michelin-starred chef" is coming to Manchester?

Crain's news story

Shame on you RDB!

And shame on Crains actually, as although the restaurant where the chef is from has a Michelin star I don't think said chef was at the helm when it was obtained and nor has he retained it.

He's pretty young, and it'll be a stretch to maintain quality across two restaurants as far away as Penzance and Manchester.

None the less I shall watch with interest.

Cheers

Thom

[RDB]

Oh the shame!!!! I actually thought that would be it for Juniper, due to location etc, this is very interesting news and exciting. Its actually refreshing for someone to criticise Manchester's lack of 'fine dining' with the motivation to do something about it.

[Gary Marshall]

a very confident or 'heading for an almighty fall' chef that boasts of a 'full restaurant ever day' in this environment.

there must be easier ways to part with your time and money than trying to run two restaurants the country apart, especially given the mixed response to 'fine dining' in manchester.

[Stephen B]

The explanation of the buffet thing makes sense (isnt the Greek/Turkish/Cypriot place on Princess Street now buffet?).  I'm in Stockport fairly often at lunch time and the general town centre offerings are dire - I usually end up at a Chinese buffet just near the station.

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Ah, Stockport. How is the Arden Arms for lunch these days? I used to go there fairly often for Sunday lunch, but not recently, alas.

[Harters]

A goodly while since I was last in the Arden as well. IIRC, the food offerings were nothing special.

Just looked at their website to see that they are now mainly focussed on sandwiches with the odd "special" of real food.

However, on a Stockport-ish theme, we were at Seven Spices in Cheadle Hulme the other night. A newish Indian (in the premises of a previously mediocre Italian) which got a mention in last Saturday's Guardian's "A little place I know" section. Wasnt bad at all - a "proper menu" sort of Indian not the usual Bangla curry house menu. Worth a stop if in the area but not worth too much of a drive.

[Harters]

Do you have any reasonably priced lunch recs. for Chinatown or immediate area? I'm starting a research project in the autumn that's going to see me spending a lot of time at Central Library and I like to get out for a proper lunchbreak but one that isnt going to take too long.

Started my project; went for a wander round Chinatown.

Being fairly skint this month, popped into China City (one of the basement places on Faulkner Street) for the set lunch. Spring roll which was OK; char siu/satay sauce/rice which was nicely zingy and a coffee. Absolute bargain at £4.50 - my days of the buffet places are over.

J

[Nayan Gowda]

However, on a Stockport-ish theme, we were at Seven Spices in Cheadle Hulme the other night. A newish Indian (in the premises of a previously mediocre Italian) which got a mention in last Saturday's Guardian's "A little place I know" section. Wasnt bad at all - a "proper menu" sort of Indian not the usual Bangla curry house menu. Worth a stop if in the area but not worth too much of a drive.

←

Ate there earlier this year and quite enjoyed it too.

Same team that used to run Gaylords in Manchester IIRC.

(no connection etc,)

[howardlong]

On Saturday we did the Selfridges stint where you buy a bottle from their entire selection on off licence display and pay a tenner to drink it at the bar. Very civilised if you ask me, and it was quite fun as it went. We had a 1999 Beaune at £65. I like the idea of knowing you're not going to be pumped silly money on the gouge. But it got better...

A welcome if rather alternative find at the weekend was stumbling into (but mostly stumbling out of) the Hanging Ditch wine merchants where you can buy anything from their substantial list and they charge £6 corkage to drink it on site.

The down side is that on the food about all they have is olives. But I sneaked across the road to Harvey Nicks, purchased some matzos, Epoisses, Beaufort and a Brie de Nangis, they helpfully plated it up for us and away we went. The place was pretty much full when we left last night at about 7:30pm: we'd been munching away from 4pm. Super keen staff there, all with plenty of knowledge who made every effort to welcome everyone in, wine geek or not. It turned into a very convivial early evening drink up.

http://www.hangingditch.com/. Forget the closing times by the way - if there's people in there and the tills are ringing, they stay open.

BTW, my favourite wine of the day: Petaluma Tiers 2002 chard (£60). We also had a go at Leeuwin Art Series chard 2005 (£40) and Chocolate Block 2007 shiraz blend (£20). Not the cheapest for off sales, but certainly the cheapest for the privilege of sitting in licensed premises by a long chalk.

Cheers, H

[BertieWooster]

Just to note...I know the Angel has got a mention a couple of times as Robert Owen-Brown is cooking there. Just thought its worth mentioning the food at the Marble up the road too. Had our xmas do there; as a relaxed pub, wasn't expecting much food-wise, happy with warming pies. But they were really rather good--the chef cooking for us had worked for the Carriage WOrks in Liverpool. It all seems a bit spit n'sawdust, but in the 'real pub' stakes, about as good as one can get. And the ginger beer is bloody marvellous.

I know, there's a potential entendre there.

[apshelbourne]

...We had a 1999 Beaune at £65... BTW, my favourite wine of the day: Petaluma Tiers 2002 chard (£60)...

Heck, Howard, why not push the boat out? Don't you know it's Christmas?

[howardlong]

...We had a 1999 Beaune at £65... BTW, my favourite wine of the day: Petaluma Tiers 2002 chard (£60)...

Heck, Howard, why not push the boat out? Don't you know it's Christmas?

←

Unfortunately the Batard Montrachet and the Richebourg were off.

H

[spanielking]

Had an average lunch in Ithaca yesterday. Went to see what all the fuss was about. SAt in a small dining room dowstairs on level with John Dalton Street, would be about 20 people or so in. I went for the lunch menu, 3 courses £19 if I remember. Miso soup to start, grilled squid, which was rubbery and cold, then seabass. The seabass was tasty, but thats all I got, its one of thoses places everything is an extra, which they helpfully pointed out when my seabass arrived "Would you like any rice with that or another side?" Bit fecking late now, didnt point that out when I ordered. Service was a bit slow. Very glamorous place, very wag-ish. Would be good place for a drink, the food was'nt all that. The a la carte prices are quite sharp, wagyu steaks at £50. My bill came to £22, which included my glass of champagne at £9, so god only knows how they worked that out, but I'm not complaining! Not going to rush back. I was thinking of going to Abode for lunch, any recent feedback on that?

[BertieWooster]

On Abode, recent experience says food stil good to very-good, service still awful to appalling. Oh and the lunch set dishes are small. BUt then I'm not.

[poppalarge]

You should all try Petra, just near the eye hospital for great Syrian food.

Cheap as chips!

I live in stockport, and I'd love to open a place there and its totally devoid of anywhere serving good quality Bistro food.

Edited January 9, 2009 by poppalarge (log)

[Harters]

Petra is a great find (on Upper Brook Street). Between it and the Cedar Tree (Thomas St in the city centre), you've probably got the area's best middle eastern food. They knock spots off the two Good Food Guide's listed places (Hanni's and Heddy's).

And I second poppalarge's Stockport comment - the town centre remains devoid of anything good - not even a decent chippy.

[Harters]

And while we're on the subject of "cheap as chips", my current favourite cheap lunch is Jaffa at the southern end of the Wilmslow Road "curry mile".

Looks like just another kebab takeaway with a few seats to "eat in". But very good shawama and a plentiful portion at that. Comes with bread, salad, chili sauce and a dollop of hummus. They also do good plates of mixed veggie meze. And usually a daily special (chicken and okra seems to a regular). Well worth a try if you're passing.

(Reason for edit: typos)

Edited January 9, 2009 by Harters (log)

[Infrasonic]

Actually there is one decent cheap option in Stockport that is a bit of an odd one...

36 casino does a mean steak/potatoes (chips, boiled etc.)/veg for £6.95.

They do other options, but I've always had the steak.

All bar drinks a pound as well. (At least they were a few months a go)

Need photo ID to join (DL, passport etc.), but there's no obligation to gamble (so I don't!).

[Mrs Woman]

I'm off out into Manchester this Friday night and have no idea where to go. Living in Chester, I've not been out in Manc at night for well over a year so don't know what's going on in terms of decent new places to eat and drink. I'm going out with two girly mates, we're in our early to mid 30s. We intend to start civilised (cocktails, good meal) and get less so as the night goes on

I know most Manc posters are blokes but you must surely know some lady-friendly places? I don't really like the sound of Panacea, it sounds a bit WAG territory. We're not orange and we're not after Ronaldo (horrid greasy little man). We all like a good feed but not really after anything too heavy like a curry or Chinese. At the other end of the scale, we're not looking for anything too 'fine' or stuffy/pretentious.

Thom, Bapi et al - I eagerly await your suggestions. I'm sure you're all in touch with your feminine sides (and Thom, please don't suggest RBG!)

[SaladFingers]

When you wake up, I suggest Antonio's for breakfast, just down from Piccadilly station. I love their fry up.

[Harters]

Mrs W

If Thai fitted the bill, I'd suggest Chaophyra. Lots of lighter stuff amongst the fish and salads, so long as you avoid the "Chinese" type of dishes. Staff are very good at advising what's what. Restaurant's on the first floor then you can move to the downstairs bar to start getting ratted.

Say a starter of Yam Nua Yang Saranae - rare beef & salad which, interestingly, has a quite a lot of mint. Then , perhaps, a main of Plapao – chargrilled sea bass, stuffed with Thai herbs. Heavy on the basil and with a dipping sauce comprised mainly of fish sauce. This was a spankingly fresh piece of fish and easily the best dish of the evening (last April). And the simplest. Have that with a classic Som Tum salad and some sticky rice.

[RDB]

Thom only has a feminine side!

Cocktails and good meal? Either Harvey Nic's or The Modern. Both are up high, do good cocktails ( so I am told by any female I have been there with) and food is consistent.

Or you could do both as they are in close prox, one for cocktails and one for food.

[BertieWooster]

Thom only has a feminine side!

Cocktails and good meal? Either Harvey Nic's or The Modern. Both are up high, do good cocktails ( so I am told by any female I have been there with) and food is consistent.

Or you could do both as they are in close prox, one for cocktails and one for food.

←

We did a staggering number of Sex and the City parties when the film was on at the Printworks, so we must be relatively xx-chromosome friendly. And we host the women in business networkers too. Its probably all the glass.

[Mrs Woman]

Are you suggesting the fairer sex is vainer, Bertie? Thanks guys, I'll look into all those options. I did think of Harvey Nics for cocktails but didn't realise the Modern also did them.

Harters, cheers for the Thai rec. We're not on any kind of stupid health-kick new year diet, so we don't necessarily want 'light' as in healthy, just don't want to be overly stuffed. However, this might not stop us having three courses! It does sound lovely though.

SaladFingers, is Antonios the one that looks a bit like a diner? I used to walk down Piccadilly to work and always fancied popping in (never had time, always late!).

[BertieWooster]

Are you suggesting the fairer sex is vainer, Bertie?    Thanks guys, I'll look into all those options. I did think of Harvey Nics for cocktails but didn't realise the Modern also did them.

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Actually I wasn't being sexist. At least not in quite that way. When specifically 'women-friendly bars' were introduced a couple of decades ago (principally All Bar One) they were deliberately designed to have very large windows. Research demonstrated that women preferred to be able to see into somewhere they were going, and likewise to look out at the streets whilst drinking. While men like dank, dark caves obviously.

Yeah, we do cocktails and beat Harvey Nicks' into a cock(tail)-ed hat. I'm almost more proud of the cocktail list (all from pre-1960 and including some very obscure and beautiful ones) than I am of the food.

[Harters]

is Antonios the one that looks a bit like a diner?

Yep. Review at eggbaconchipsandbeans

And, if you were fancying the Thai, just up the number of dishes. Mrs H & I shared three starters, two mains plus the salad and both sticky & ordinary rice. A really good feed, without waddling away feeling stuffed.

Edited January 25, 2009 by Harters (log)