Food & drink news: Gusto Manchester opens this Friday on Lloyd Street

Gusto will open its first Manchester city centre restaurant this Friday (5 Dec). Inspired by Europe’s traditional grand cafes, Gusto Manchester will offer traditional and contemporary Italian food and drink in opulent surroundings on Lloyd Street, just off Deansgate. The Grade II-listed site, occupied by Olive until July this year, has been expanded and now features a square bar as its centrepiece, which will offer both a substantial drinks list as well as its full food menu. The a la carte list boasts plenty of Italian staples across its meat, seafood, salad, pizza, pasta and risotto options, with seafood such as deep fried calamari, salmon tartare and sardine fillets making up half of its antipasti menu. Its specials board will feature the likes of rack of ribs with salsa verde, grilled langoustines and whole lobster thermidor, while its lunch menu offers good value with a main such as pizza or risotto and a house drink for £11.95. Drinks come in the form of a large wine list plus an equally extensive cocktail menu, featuring Figs and Honey – made using Monkey Shoulder and tawny port, plus fresh fig and honey – and an Apricot Americano, mixing vodka, apricot liqueur and Cocchi Americano. Gusto already has several restaurants in Didsbury, Alderley Edge, Cheadle Hulme and Knutsford, as well as further afield in Liverpool and Newcastle.

Opens Fri 5 Dec, Gusto Manchester, 4 Lloyd Street, M2 5AB, Tel: 0161 832 2866, gustorestaurants.uk.com