Available Mon – Fri, James Martin’s tasting menu features a series of five dishes that come at a great value. For just £30, you’ll venture into the cultured and sensual lands of France and Italy – all entwined with a British twist. The Seabream Ceviche entices and awakens your appetite with a subtle hint of mint, while the Roast Cauliflower, Steamed Wagyu Beef and Salt Aged Duck are bound to go down a treat. Your taste buds will find no rest with a serving of delicious Lancashire Strawberries with clotted cream for dessert, guaranteed to pick you right up again with sharp hit of sweet goodness. After all these treats, a food coma will definitely be on the cards. 

Restaurant MCR have a variety of tasting menus on offer, each available from Wed to Sat. All dietary requirements are catered for here: Vegan or vegetarian? Don’t worry: they’ve got something to suit your needs. There’s lots on offer – but we’ve focused on Menu 9 which costs £85 and features a selection of light and varied treats like raw scallops with apple, vanilla, yuzu and jasmine, and Cepe mushroom with Jerusalem artichoke and truffle. Meanwhile their vegetarian edition of Menu 9 (also £85) features tasty meat-free options like cauliflower cheese croquettes with truffle mayonnaise, compressed apple, tapioca and jasmine – all topped off with a traditional Manchester tart. This selection of tasting menus runs at a slightly finer dining price but is definitely worth sampling.  

This Japanese restaurant has a total of four tasting menus to choose from, ranging from £23 – £42. All meals come with green tea which is to be taken after each dish, traditionally to clean your taste buds in preparation for the next course. If you were to select the middle range Samurai menu at £39, you’ll find tangy and zesty flavours teasing your tongue from the miso soup, readying you for the next course: crispy and crunchy prawn tempura. This partnership of flavours works well and doesn’t stretch your stomach ahead of the sirloin steak, which is gently spiced with traditional southern eastern seasoning. Anyone for dessert? Why not try the savoury sweet chocolate spring rolls, cheesecake or a selection of Asian inspired sorbets for the win?

A name that has earned recognition within culinary Manchester, Wood is being spoken about for all the right reasons; like its crafts and artisan creations that are served hot out of the kitchen. What do they serve? Well, the answer is we don’t actually know… and that’s what makes this tasting menu so special. On arrival, you will be asked of your dietary requirements and based on the type of tasting menu you choose: lunch & early evening, dinner or every Friday and Saturday evening – a selection of surprise courses will be served up. They say the unknown gets the adrenaline going and this spot is sure to have you on the edge of your seat. The prices are as follows for the order of the tasting menus mentioned above: £49, £69 and £99 respectively.

The brainchild of Chef Nico Simone, the very first Six by Nico restaurant was opened in Glasgow with a unique offering: every six weeks, Nico and his team will dish up a new and affordable tasting menu (six courses for £26/£29 with wine pairing) focusing on a different corner of culinary delights. Whether they’re taking inspiration from the bustling streets of New York City or the humble chippy tea – Six By Nico aims to present customers with a tantalising – and different – selection of small plates. With this in mind, it’s hard to tempt you with details of what this hugely popular new restaurant can offer, as by the time you visit it could very well be long gone. Once a menu has left Six by Nico’s plates, it’s never to return – so be sure to check their website ahead booking to find out what your next visit has in store. 

We may have left the best till last – although following Mana’s recent Michelin Star win, you may struggle finding a free table anytime soon. Chef Simon Martin’s award-winning Ancoats restaurant oozes sophistication and elegance with its unique approach to interiors and plate presentation. Here, you’ll find two tasting menus to try. The lunch offering costs £65 and features an eclectic line up including preserved tomato, broad beans and caviar and salt aged duck, hung over burning charcoal with bread sauce – all topped off with rose ice cream, caramelised barley water and milk chocolate. Meanwhile their dinner option will set you back £105 and features over fifteen courses, including sea urchin chawanmushi, mangalitza broth and barley miso and British and French cheeses, nettles and roscoff. Mana’s tasting menus are definitely an acquired taste and don’t come cheap – but they’ll do wonders in refreshing your palette and providing you with something to mull over during a post-meal wine.