Four of our current favourite places to eat in Manchester and Cheshire
The Anthologist, Manchester
Overlooking St Peter’s Square, The Anthologist showcases an unrivalled setting right in the heart of the city. From quick catch-ups over freshly ground coffee to relaxing after work with cocktails on the gorgeous al fresco terrace, you’re always guaranteed a place to kick back and relax in a truly eclectic setting. The restaurant and bar showcase an extensive and inspiring menu and for our starters, we opted for the selection of skewers for two; chicken koftas, salmon teriyaki skewers and shrimp lollipops. This was followed by crispy duck salad accompanied by Asian vegetables, beansprouts, red onion, wonton, peanuts, sesame and hoisin. An 8oz sirloin steak (a 21-day Himalayan salt-aged piece of succulent British beef) also made an appearance served with chips and watercress. We can also highly recommend the lemon and parsley crusted cod with greens and burnt lemon.
Evuna, Manchester
We visited the venue on Manchester’s most prestigious street, Deansgate, where the Evuna story first began (the franchise is now also located in Knutsford, Northern Quarter and Altrincham) on a bustling Friday night and the lively atmosphere sure does get you in the mood for a good old knees up! Evuna is not only a tapas bar and restaurant serving the finest in Spanish food and drink, but it’s also an award-winning wine merchant, a hidden gem in every sense of the word.
Our fave small plates included filetitos (chilli fillet steak), croquetas de jamón (serrano ham croquets) and gambas al ajillo (chilli and garlic prawns) for the meat and fish lovers, and pimientos de piquillo rellenos (peppers stuffed with rice and vegetables) for the veggies.
Conveniently located for a quick spot of tapas and a glass of wine after work, or a weekend filled with a true Spanish banquet and too many bottles of delicious wine, Evuna is full of Spanish charm, Spanish wine and lots of Spanish cheer!
The Lost & Found, Knutsford
Lose yourself in the whimsical world of mixology and seasonal cuisine at The Lost & Found. This Knutsford restaurant is found in the former town hall – a grand Victorian building with an attention- grabbing interior and an enchanting fairy-lit atmosphere. Its collection of avant-garde cocktails and its mouth-watering menu are sure to satisfy all your drinking and dining needs.
We started with a whole gooey burrata cheese complete with romesco sauce and charred Padrón peppers. To follow, a bowl of rich and creamy black truffle pappardelle topped with mushrooms, plus a juicy fillet steak accompanied by confit tomato, triple-cooked chips and crispy buttermilk onion rings. All of the restaurant’s steaks are sourced from within the British Isles (with the exception of the Argentinian rib-eye, of course) and are aged for a minimum of 21 days on the bone.
To finish, a moreish sticky toffee pudding served with gingerbread ice cream and ginger poached pears – delicious.
PizzaLuxe, Manchester
We enjoyed handmade, thin-crust pizzas and made-to-order cocktails at this Arndale Centre restaurant. The menus combine favourite classics with new and exciting flavour combinations. Do you enjoy a simple yet delicious margarita, an indulgent meaty feast or the sweet sensation of a pizza dolce? Whatever your flavour, PizzaLuxe has it. Plus, they always use the finest and freshest ingredients they can get their hands on – definitely a bonus.
The Manchester menu includes the Palermo (mushroom, oven-baked ham hock, parmesan and sage), the Lardo (bacon, brie and baby spinach), the Pollo (pesto chicken, black olives, artichoke heart and mushroom), the Verdura (cherry tomato, asparagus, artichoke heart, red onion and black olive) and the Quattro Formaggi (mozzarella, gorgonzola, feta, halloumi and thyme). Pizza prices start at a purse-pleasing £5.50.
Alongside gourmet pizzas, there’s also the healthier option of choosing one of the restaurant’s crisp, garden-fresh salads. Veggie, vegan and gluten-free options are available as well.
PizzaLuxe is a day-to-night dining experience in the newly redeveloped Manchester Arndale food quarter.
