I have always been a fan of San Carlo restaurants. As far as ‘chains’ go, they are up there with the best and each site manages to create its own personality and vibe. It was my first time visiting San Carlo at the Marriot in Hale Barns and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.

My friend and I decided to treat ourselves and we ordered indulgent starters and mains. The standout starter by far was the Arancini Balls with Truffle and Parmesan. They were melt-in-your-mouth good and I personally could’ve eaten about three plates of them and been happy! When I go to an Italian, I like to see how they do with a simple Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s a favourite dish of mine, but it can be difficult to get right. This one was PERFECTION. It was meaty, full of flavour and the perfect portion size (although I did take home a doggy bag).

What a great restaurant this is. After demolishing some Lemon Meringue gorgeousness, we enjoyed drinks on their brand-new terrace. The perfect treat for a week-day night of indulgence.

San Carlo Fiorentina

Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel. Hale Road, Hale Barns WA15 8SQ

0161 904 5043

sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/hale-fiorentina

Fresh produce, local ingredients and beautiful baking is what you’ll find at The Creameries in Chorlton. A very unassuming building set on Wilbraham Road, you’d never know that this quaint little restaurant existed until you’ve been in.

The idea behind The Creameries is small plates, and you order two or three per person. We started with Fresh Sourdough with whipped brown butter, possibly the best butter I have EVER tasted and all made fresh that morning. We also enjoyed a plate of pickles on the side – a great accompaniment and full of flavour.

As one of our main courses, we had Buttermilk Poached Lemon Sole with charred purple sprouting broccoli and verjuice. It was so delicately flavoured and the fish fell apart as soon as I put my fork into it. It was cooked beautifully. As I’m a bit of a cheese fiend, for dessert, I chose three different cheeses accompanied by freshly baked crackers and homemade chutneys. This place really is a treat; a lovely ambience, very attentive staff and a guarantee of trying flavours you won’t have experienced before. Well done to the team!

creameries.co.uk

406 Wilbraham Road, Manchester M21 0SD

0161 312 8328

Set in one of Spring Garden’s most beautiful buildings, Grand Pacific lives up to its name – Grand! It is an absolutely stunning building and you see something new everywhere you look.

I was seated in the opulent dining space behind the very impressive bar. The menu is eclectic and there is plenty to choose from. I started with a Chirashi Sushi Bowl, which was so beautifully presented. The waiter informed me that every dish has been thought about as to how it will look on Instagram. Perfection. I paired my starter with a Bloody Mary – the drink of champions (or those needing a hair of the dog!).

For my main course, I indulged in Beef Tsukamen, Seared Rump Steak, Udon Noodles and Mushroom Dashi. It was divine. An absolute triumph and, again, looked very aesthetically pleasing.

Cocktails are one of the most exciting things at Grand Pacific, and the theatre that comes with some of them is incredible. Think blowtorches, flames and enough fruit to qualify as a week’s worth of your five-a-day!

If you like good food, amazing cocktails and awesome buildings, then visit Grand Pacific. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

grandpacific.uk.com

Grand Pacific, 50 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1EN

0161 839 9365

Altrincham is currently being described as a ‘boom town’ and it’s not difficult to see why. With new bars and restaurants popping up all over the place, it is becoming a real destination for foodies and partygoers alike. A once forgotten about town, we predict that Altrincham will start to position itself as the new Greater Manchester hotspot.

Very close to Altrincham Market lies Blanchflower – a beautifully simple restaurant with about 30 covers. It’s intimate, it’s open and it’s welcoming. The first thing that strikes you about the knowledgeable team is the passion they have for the menu. Everything they serve is made in-house; from the bread to the butter, and you can tell. The flavours are rich and everything tastes delicious. The idea of Blanchflower is to enjoy ‘small plates’. We ordered five small plates, two of our favourites were Charcoal Grilled Bavette Steak with potato gratin and juniper carrots, and the Charcoal-grilled Free-Range Chicken Breast with confit thigh, mushroom veloute, potatoes and king oyster mushrooms. Both had exquisite flavours and, even though they were small plates, they left us full enough to not want to order dessert. We teamed our food with an incredible Combe Rouge Picpoul de Pinet, a really hearty white wine that complemented the food perfectly.

We love Altrincham anyway, but Blanchflower has left us wanting to go again and again. A huge well done to the team for a quirky menu and relaxed atmosphere.

Blanchflower, 2-14 Shaw’s Road, Altrincham, WA14 1QU
blanchflower.co