Stepped into this charming bistro and instantly felt at home. The warm welcome from the staff set the tone for a delightful evening. The menu boasts a fantastic array of options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Each dish was a masterpiece, leaving us eager for a return visit. The pistachio dessert was a divine
Joe
So this restaurant has some great element and some not so great elements, which makes for an interesting review. I called up ahead of time to say we were running 10 minutes late and the person I spoke to was fairly rude and hung up on me half way through our conversation.Either way, the starter of pistachio arancini was fantastic, delicate and a great sharer.The main of tagliatelle with braised beef ragu was just okay and not huge - also hardly any meat in the ragu, fairly disappointing for £18.For desert, the tiramisu was great and the pistachio ice cream was to die for.We were seated at the bar which was ridiculously cramped, sat shoulder to shoulder with the couple next to us. If you think Wagamama's is intimate you want to try eating here.The cocktails are great, the gin and tonic was pretty good and the long island was the best I've had for a while.In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant is cosy and has a nice ambience. The music pretty much ruined this as they played the most random assortment of tunes I've ever heard. Once Party Rock Anthem played for the second time in 30 minutes, I took that as our cue to leave.All in all, a memorable evening out.
Sophie Jones
There were some good and bad points to our experience hence 3/5 stars.Good Points- The cocktail I had was delicious and the bartender was incredibly friendly- The pasta dishes my husband and I had were very tasty- The pistachio cannoli my husband had was delicious-Food and drinks arrived in a good time (not too long/not too short)Bad Points- Booked a table in advance and we were sat the end of the bar where the cutlery and dirty dishes were put, I understand the restaurant is small but where we were sat shouldn't really have been classed as a 'table', we just felt like we were in the way and it was generally uncomfortable (not because of the chair just where we were positioned in the restaurant). We probably could have said something about this at the time but the restaurant was full so I don't really think much could have been done.- The starters/desserts are reasonably priced but our pasta (no meat) mains were pretty expensive, both were £17 and albeit were tasty but still a bit pricey.- I ordered pistachio cake for dessert, which arrived partially frozen, I did send it back with no trouble and had some gelato instead which was nice. However, the cake was still on our bill and I had to ask for it to be removed.- Front of house staff I think does needs approving, the bartender was very friendly. However, the 2 members of staff mainly running the food/drinks and taking orders could maybe do with being slightly more welcoming, the restaurant was busy though so maybe it's just because of that. I didn't feel the most welcome in all honesty and where we were sat I did feel in the way.-The Arancino we had were quite nice, bit bland though and did taste like they had just been warmed up, the outside wasn't particularly crispy and the rice inside was just warm.All in all, I probably wouldn't go back, however the entire experience wasn't so bad, the pasta and desserts were really nice.
Lizzie Kelly
Best arancini I’ve had and I’ve been to Sicily.Great cocktail and wine options.Very busy on a Friday night so you have to book but good atmosphere
Dave
Cute little place with decent food. Disappointing that so many options not available however what was available was very nice.
Shareef Z
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the drinks were incredibly well-crafted. I highly recommend this hidden gem in Manchester for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner for two.
Simon Opiyo O
From their freshly-made wood-fired pizzas to their mouth-watering pasta dishes, every bite is packed with authentic Italian flavors. The cozy bistro setting and friendly staff make for a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience. Don't miss out on their extensive wine list and delectable desserts. My complaint is that the portions could have been a bit bigger for the price. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
sabrinatQ4957EK
The food was incredible but totally let down by the service. With food like this if they changed the front of house staff they would be super successful. We had arancini, anchovies, spaghetti and parmigiana and everything was really tasty, the closest to Sicilian food as I’ve had in the UK. There were two people working on the floor and their attitude was appalling. Took 15 minutes to order drinks and another 15 for them to arrive. There was only 2 other couples at this point. The French woman got really moody when we weren’t ready to order and was consistently rude throughout the visit. She clearly didn’t want to be there. The music which was reggaeton and RnB wasn’t what we were expecting from this place, didn’t add to the atmosphere at all. We would definitely order takeaway again as the food really was top notch but I would never eat in. Honestly, the owners have a hidden gem, they just need staff who care and are nice!
Ashley B
Appalling customer service. Booked our table two months in advance and confirmed 48hrs before but they still managed to give it away. If you have an important occasion do not book here. No empathy displayed at all.
Luke M
We booked for a late Sunday morning breakfast and had the truffled eggs and 'full italian'. Both were excellent in the quality of produce and cooking, and - as someone with a large appetite - were also impressively large (by modern restaurant standards) in terms of portion size. This is good value. We accompanied these with 2 mocktails. The pina colada mix had not been made up yet so the staff made something with strawberry for my wife instead. Both that and one I had with raspberry were really good. The place was so nice we returned for a bowl of gelato later in the day. Again I could not believe given the value and quality of the food that it was I first discovered this small restaurant in Manchester's Northern Quarter through a TikTok video talking about how they serve scoops of gelato in a brioche bun! But it turns out there is a lot more to it. But judging from the footfall, this is still a true hidden gem in a sea of independent restaurants in NQ. It is not to be missed.
Very good quality food, clean and cosy place, very friendly staff. We enjoyed many of their dishes. The pasta with ricotta cheese Sicilian style was exceptional, but so were the rest of the other delicacies we had the pleasure of tasting. Highly recommended! Absolutely not to be missed.
Keshav Murthy
We dined at this venue on our first day in Manchester. The ambience is very nice, the service was attentive and courteous right from the start. We started well with a Sunshine board and continued with some absolutely excellent dishes. I tried the parmigiana and Mr Mount Etna.
Woo2cat
we decided to book on a recommendation from a work colleague and l am so pleased we did! Food was exquisite and service was warm and friendly. would highly recommend.
LilMissTiny
Food served quickly, good portion sizes. Quality ok. Waitress fairly attentive but could have been better. Toilet flush broken, not the nicest bathroom to use and right next to tables also.Vegetarian options: Some vegetarian options available
nikkiparks
I decided to pop in here after seeing a post about it on Instagram - I was glad I did! The quality of the gelato was immeasurable, with a beautifully creamy texture and significant depth to the chocolate flavour. There are a limited number of gelato flavours but worth having for certain. The tiramisu was quite dense but had a rich flavour from the mascarpone that wasn't watered down with heavy cream like in most restaurants.
Stepped into this charming bistro and instantly felt at home. The warm welcome from the staff set the tone for a delightful evening. The menu boasts a fantastic array of options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Each dish was a masterpiece, leaving us eager for a return visit. The pistachio dessert was a divine
So this restaurant has some great element and some not so great elements, which makes for an interesting review. I called up ahead of time to say we were running 10 minutes late and the person I spoke to was fairly rude and hung up on me half way through our conversation.Either way, the starter of pistachio arancini was fantastic, delicate and a great sharer.The main of tagliatelle with braised beef ragu was just okay and not huge - also hardly any meat in the ragu, fairly disappointing for £18.For desert, the tiramisu was great and the pistachio ice cream was to die for.We were seated at the bar which was ridiculously cramped, sat shoulder to shoulder with the couple next to us. If you think Wagamama's is intimate you want to try eating here.The cocktails are great, the gin and tonic was pretty good and the long island was the best I've had for a while.In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant is cosy and has a nice ambience. The music pretty much ruined this as they played the most random assortment of tunes I've ever heard. Once Party Rock Anthem played for the second time in 30 minutes, I took that as our cue to leave.All in all, a memorable evening out.
There were some good and bad points to our experience hence 3/5 stars.Good Points- The cocktail I had was delicious and the bartender was incredibly friendly- The pasta dishes my husband and I had were very tasty- The pistachio cannoli my husband had was delicious-Food and drinks arrived in a good time (not too long/not too short)Bad Points- Booked a table in advance and we were sat the end of the bar where the cutlery and dirty dishes were put, I understand the restaurant is small but where we were sat shouldn't really have been classed as a 'table', we just felt like we were in the way and it was generally uncomfortable (not because of the chair just where we were positioned in the restaurant). We probably could have said something about this at the time but the restaurant was full so I don't really think much could have been done.- The starters/desserts are reasonably priced but our pasta (no meat) mains were pretty expensive, both were £17 and albeit were tasty but still a bit pricey.- I ordered pistachio cake for dessert, which arrived partially frozen, I did send it back with no trouble and had some gelato instead which was nice. However, the cake was still on our bill and I had to ask for it to be removed.- Front of house staff I think does needs approving, the bartender was very friendly. However, the 2 members of staff mainly running the food/drinks and taking orders could maybe do with being slightly more welcoming, the restaurant was busy though so maybe it's just because of that. I didn't feel the most welcome in all honesty and where we were sat I did feel in the way.-The Arancino we had were quite nice, bit bland though and did taste like they had just been warmed up, the outside wasn't particularly crispy and the rice inside was just warm.All in all, I probably wouldn't go back, however the entire experience wasn't so bad, the pasta and desserts were really nice.
Best arancini I’ve had and I’ve been to Sicily.Great cocktail and wine options.Very busy on a Friday night so you have to book but good atmosphere
Cute little place with decent food. Disappointing that so many options not available however what was available was very nice.
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the drinks were incredibly well-crafted. I highly recommend this hidden gem in Manchester for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner for two.
From their freshly-made wood-fired pizzas to their mouth-watering pasta dishes, every bite is packed with authentic Italian flavors. The cozy bistro setting and friendly staff make for a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience. Don't miss out on their extensive wine list and delectable desserts. My complaint is that the portions could have been a bit bigger for the price. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
The food was incredible but totally let down by the service. With food like this if they changed the front of house staff they would be super successful. We had arancini, anchovies, spaghetti and parmigiana and everything was really tasty, the closest to Sicilian food as I’ve had in the UK. There were two people working on the floor and their attitude was appalling. Took 15 minutes to order drinks and another 15 for them to arrive. There was only 2 other couples at this point. The French woman got really moody when we weren’t ready to order and was consistently rude throughout the visit. She clearly didn’t want to be there. The music which was reggaeton and RnB wasn’t what we were expecting from this place, didn’t add to the atmosphere at all. We would definitely order takeaway again as the food really was top notch but I would never eat in. Honestly, the owners have a hidden gem, they just need staff who care and are nice!
Appalling customer service. Booked our table two months in advance and confirmed 48hrs before but they still managed to give it away. If you have an important occasion do not book here. No empathy displayed at all.
We booked for a late Sunday morning breakfast and had the truffled eggs and 'full italian'. Both were excellent in the quality of produce and cooking, and - as someone with a large appetite - were also impressively large (by modern restaurant standards) in terms of portion size. This is good value. We accompanied these with 2 mocktails. The pina colada mix had not been made up yet so the staff made something with strawberry for my wife instead. Both that and one I had with raspberry were really good. The place was so nice we returned for a bowl of gelato later in the day. Again I could not believe given the value and quality of the food that it was I first discovered this small restaurant in Manchester's Northern Quarter through a TikTok video talking about how they serve scoops of gelato in a brioche bun! But it turns out there is a lot more to it. But judging from the footfall, this is still a true hidden gem in a sea of independent restaurants in NQ. It is not to be missed.
Restaurantji Recommends
Very good quality food, clean and cosy place, very friendly staff. We enjoyed many of their dishes. The pasta with ricotta cheese Sicilian style was exceptional, but so were the rest of the other delicacies we had the pleasure of tasting. Highly recommended! Absolutely not to be missed.
We dined at this venue on our first day in Manchester. The ambience is very nice, the service was attentive and courteous right from the start. We started well with a Sunshine board and continued with some absolutely excellent dishes. I tried the parmigiana and Mr Mount Etna.
we decided to book on a recommendation from a work colleague and l am so pleased we did! Food was exquisite and service was warm and friendly. would highly recommend.
Food served quickly, good portion sizes. Quality ok. Waitress fairly attentive but could have been better. Toilet flush broken, not the nicest bathroom to use and right next to tables also.Vegetarian options: Some vegetarian options available
I decided to pop in here after seeing a post about it on Instagram - I was glad I did! The quality of the gelato was immeasurable, with a beautifully creamy texture and significant depth to the chocolate flavour. There are a limited number of gelato flavours but worth having for certain. The tiramisu was quite dense but had a rich flavour from the mascarpone that wasn't watered down with heavy cream like in most restaurants.