Review: Flok sherry & tapas bar in the Northern Quarter

Manchester has a new sherry and tapas bar in the Northern Quarter – and it’s one of the most beautiful and well thought out we’ve come across in a long time. Brought to you by the team behind Didsbury’s Folk bar, the vintage cabinets, mahogany-coloured wood, and raised booths bring to mind northern Spain’s finest bars. Food and drink is authentic too. From a comprehensive menu of small plates, the dipping selection includes bread with scorched tomatoes and capers, a cannellini bean and piquillo pepper dip as well as favourites like tomato bread and a ‘bikini’ toasted cheese and ham sandwich (£3-7). Hearty portions of Mahon, Picos Blue and Manchego are ideal sharing food – although you’ll want to keep all the Jamon Iberico Bellota (aka the best ham on earth) with bread, oil, crackers, toasted almonds and chutney for yourself (especially at a remarkable £5). Sharing boards with all the trimmings clock in around £18 (see image) and there are small plates too. We like the sound of honey-glazed chorizo in a red wine and rosemary sauce, or baby octopus, marinated with smoked paprika, chilli and garlic (£6-£6.50). The wine and sherry-by-the-glass list is an actual book, craft beers from the likes of First Chop are on point and the atmosphere is go. Oh yes: there’s a cellar full of sofas, and plenty of tables outside on the sunny side of Stevenson Square too. See you at the bar.

Now open: Flok, 5 Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN. www.facebook.com