Zadie’s: Medlock Square’s flagship restaurant opens its doors

Zadie’s, the new flagship restaurant that sits atop Manchester’s new entertainment hub, Medlock Square, has officially opened its doors.

Set high above the square, the 258-cover restaurant offers panoramic views of the South Pennines through vast windows, as well as the neighbouring Etihad Stadium. The Japanese tradition of Itameshi inspires the menu, combining umami-rich Japanese ingredients and flavours with Italian techniques and presentations.

Head Chef Paolo Bianchi, whose career includes Zuma, Alain Ducasse, Lucky Cat and Les Grandes Alpes Courchevel 1850, leads the kitchen operation. Early menu items include Burrata with Nashi pear compote, Veal Tonnato with bonito dressing, Tortelloni Cacio e Pepe with furikake and Roast Lobster with tomato ponzu or yuzu kosho, sitting alongside Zadie’s 1.3kg British Wagyu Tomahawk to share.

Head of Bars Cressida Lawlor has developed an exciting drinks menu. Highlights include the Pandan Grasshopper, Champagne Problem – combining plum wine, yuzu, jasmine and Champagne – and the Purple Old Fashioned, made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, taro butter, ube and vanilla.

Zadie’s has been developed by Director of Restaurants Laura Montana, whose background in hospitality spans senior positions at The Ivy and Sexy Fish, stints at Monkey Bar in New York and launches from Switzerland to LA, alongside global hospitality specialists Gorgeous Group, led by Manchester-born Robbie Bargh.

The space is also home to a major collection of contemporary work, curated with Manchester artist and curator Meg Saoirse Williams. The opening collection features work from a mix of breakthrough artists including Fern O’Carolan, Danny Davidson, Pat Flynn, Jamie Holman, Sondra Meszaros, Trackie McLeod, Magdalena Wysocka, Claudio Pogo, Shaun Peckham, James Tailor, Alistair Woods, Matthew Wood and Williams herself.

Paolo Bianchi, Head Chef at Zadie’s, said: “As a chef, it’s important not to set limits. Being Italian, Italian cuisine is naturally a big part of who I am, but I’ve also spent a lot of my career working with Japanese cuisine. Itameshi gives us the freedom to bring those two worlds together and explore something new, and I wanted to be the first to bring that to Manchester. That’s what makes it exciting for me — it’s fun, there are no rules, and there’s always something more to discover.”

Laura Montana, Director of Restaurants at Medlock Square, adds: “Zadie’s has been a long time in the making, and we’ve been really intentional about how we’ve brought this space to life. Manchester is a city observed globally for its ability to make a statement, create a moment and celebrate the sheer joy of hospitality. We’ve brought all of that together in this beautiful, big, seriously entertaining restaurant.”

Reservations at Zadie’s are open now. Book your spot below.