Tasting menus are evenings well spent and perfect to try with friends. What better way to test your palette than by indulging in a selection of dishes you might not have tried otherwise? Below, we’ve gathered together a selection of Manchester’s best tasting menu options that are too delicious to miss, even for all those self-proclaimed non-foodies out there. So, what are you waiting for: table reservations anyone?
This Japanese restaurant has a total of four tasting menus to choose from, ranging from £28 – £55. 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 £45, 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.
Dietary requirements can be catered for, just let the restaurant know beforehand and they’ll do the rest. A seven-course lunch menu is available for £75, while evenings see the £105 nine-course menu take over.
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 £37/£67 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.
The award-winning Ancoats restaurant oozes sophistication and elegance with its unique approach to interiors and plate presentation. Here, you’ll find a few of menus to choose from. The reduced lunch offering costs £95, while the full lunch menu is between £185-£195.
Meanwhile, their dinner option will also you back £185-£195 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.
It’s probably fair to call Cottonopolis a Manchester stalwart at this point, and its Taste of Cotton menu is the ideal set menu for anyone after something a little more accessible.
At just £25pp every Sunday evening from 4pm, guests can enjoy an eclectic mix of mouthwatering Japanese staples that span sushi, bao buns and dishes straight from the Robata Grill, all in the alluring setting of the NQ Grade II Listed building.
We can confidently say this will be one of the most fun, exciting and innovative tasting menus you can try in Manchester, and it’s the brainchild of renowned Brazilian chef Caroline Martins.
After taking part in MasterChef Brazil, Caroline built a huge fan base in her home country before moving to London to continue her food studies. From there she spent time at some of the finest restaurants in the world, including Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs, Trenerstube at Hotel Castle, Galive La Chappele and Pied à terre.
Her latest home is a pop-up at Ancoats’ Blossom Street social, where she’s doing a mesmerising job of showcasing the flare and vibrant flavours of South America via a 12-course tasting menu, that ranges from poached oyster and passion fruit sorbet, to a dripping candle made of beef fat. At just £58pp, it needs to be on your list.
- Words:
- Fatima Elmusbahi
- Published on:
- Mon 8 Aug 2022
Available Mon – Fri, James Martin’s tasting menu features a series of five dishes that come at a great value. For just £46, you’ll venture into the cultured and sensual lands of France and Italy – all entwined with a British twist.
Seasonality is at the forefront of the ever-changing menu, so you can expect something different with each visit throughout the year.