Elnecot Photos
Recommended Reviews - Elnecot
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
2017 was a comparatively uneventful year in Manchester's recently explosive restaurant scene and there's only a handful of places that really made a mark. Number one among these must be Elnecot, which is expanding the city's offering of small plates from popular places such as El Gato Negro, Cottonopolis and Refuge, while setting itself apart as somewhere where there really is substance as well as style. We'd planned to visit in December but a mix up meant our booking clashed with a private event . Elnecot made us the very generous offer of a free meal and bottle of wine on another night and came over again on our return to say sorry. We really felt they went above and beyond to rectify an honest mistake and it says a lot about the kind of place this is. The atmosphere is welcoming (love the squashy orange booths!) and they play great music at a level which was comfortable for talking as a group. We enjoyed the sauvignon blanc and it was interesting to see how its crisp apple flavour changed a few mouthfuls into the food. The food was great overall. There was no dish we didn't like and a lot I would return for again. My highlights were the sumptuous lamb ribs, ox cheek (almost San Sebastian level!) and pork belly and I went nuts for the sexy veg (in fact all the veg was noticeably good, e.g. the carrots both as a stand alone dish and with the pork belly, and the cauliflower disco - basically roasted cauliflower with spices - I think!). Also, the meatballs really exceeded my expectations - they are something I often order as a nice comforting dish but don't find mindblowing, but the taste was absolutely fantastic - rich and punchy. I'd also recommend the decadent burrata and the outstanding crispy roast potatoes (definitely take those over the fries). The arancini and pig head croquettes were nice too but the latter I think could do with a more liquid and piquant dip. The confit chicken wings were exceptionally well cooked although of course I wished the rather delicate spicy plum sauce and chive creme fraiche were buffalo sauce and blue cheese dip, but such are my heathen ways. Service was very efficient - I was particularly impressed that everything came out pretty close together so you don't have the tedious 20 minutes between tiny portions you get in some small plates restaurants, where they try to sell disorganization as some sort of avant garde way of serving food. Desserts wise, I went for the cheese and enjoyed what I assumed was a cheddar and maybe some Lancashire, plus an extremely good blue. Andy had a chocolate fondant that was INCROYABLE. It was massive, smelt heavenly and gooed everywhere seductively. I cleared his plate. The price point here is definitely better value than El Gato and Cottonopolis, both of which are overpriced in my opinion. You could get a great meal for 2 here for £60 - 70 with a decent bottle a wine and basically should do so immediately.
It's actually quite rare to go to a small plates/tapas place where every dish stands up on its own. We ordered a high percentage of the menu (between six) and every single dish was really enjoyable. As Natalie W mentioned in her review, we were offered a free meal after a scheduling snafu in December. They really went above and beyond to make things right, and I can safely say I would have happily paid full price for everything and will no doubt be back again to do so. It's clear that they're focusing on local ingredients while also doing something really special with it. As I mentioned nothing we ordered was a dud, but the dishes I wouldn't hesitate to order again were: * Burrata - because I can't not order burrata if it's on a menu tbh. The squash puree with this made it even more luxurious, even if I initially thought it was egg yolk * Pig head croquettes - I love a croquette and these were a great example of them. I agree with Nat that a dipping sauce might have been preferable, though I did love the piccalilli regardless * Pork belly with carrots four ways - the different 'ways' of doing carrots brought to mind a similar dish at the nearby and also very excellent Squid Ink, and the pork belly was incredible * Sticky lamb ribs - unusual without being try-hard, this was really a standout dish for me All of the sides we ordered are worth a special mention: lemon and thyme roast potatoes were awesome with a great prominent lemon hit; sexy greens involved roasted broccoli and pomegranate seeds which are both winners in my eyes; thyme and sea salt fries were crispy and salty which is all I really want from fries, though in a fight between fries and roasties they wouldn't stand a chance; and carrots with pine nuts, goat's cheese curd and coriander shoots was very luxurious for a veg side dish. For a dessert I was tempted by pretty much everything but opted for cheese as I'd had a very sugary snack attack earlier that day. I assume the cheeses were all local and there was a cheddar, a Lancashire and a very good blue. You get a LOT of cheese and biscuits for the price, I'd even suggest sharing between two if you're not starving. As mentioned the food was comped but I can genuinely say that I'd have paid full price very happily, and I hope to be able to update this review soon after another great meal here.
Went to the restaurant Elnecot about a few months ago with friends and OMG the food is so good. We were supposed to visit just before Christmas but there was an unfortunately mix up in bookings but Elnecot sorted it all out and were very good about it all. Elnecot is a relatively new bar/restaurant which opened in September 2017 in the Ancoats area of Manchester in Cutting Room Square (which over the last year or so has transformed with new restaurants and bars opening including the excellent Rudy's). Also there are loads of new apartment blocks popping in the Ancoats area - very much an up and coming area. The interior design of Elnecot has a sort of minimalist, industrial feel. The food will focus on locally sourced, seasonal produce. The restaurant is sort of one big "room" with a long 44ft concrete "bar" on the left as you enter. There is the actual bar and then there is an open kitchen behind this bar. The seating is a mix of tables, benches by the bar and then large benches. As seems to be the trend in restaurants in Manchester (and probably elsewhere) is that the menu consists at many small plates, tapas style. I assume the idea is that its good for sharing if in a big group. I generally like this as I like to try as many different things as possible. On to the actual food: Every single dish delicious. Every dish. The photos I took, admittedly not my best, don't do it justice! There was 6 of us in the group and we ended up ordering pretty much everything of the menu. Need to visit again to try the other things - some were sold out. Trying to think what my favourite plate/dish was. The best of the best: Pearl barley arancini, pork belly, lamb ribs. But as I said, all dishes were delicious. Highly recommend going. I know people who have been again and food is still good, including the Sunday roast.
I LOVE Ancoats, and I love cutting room square. Whenever I come up to Manchester, 9 times out of 10 I will find myself in ancoats and just walking around and trying the bars and restaurants there. It's amazing. So when it came to a December trip, I knew I wanted to treat myself and go somewhere new and somewhere in Ancoats, and Elnecot popped up on my feed. Ive walked passed this place so many times and never been in and decided to change it. I booked a time and it was in-between lunch and dinner services so they still served lunch and was before the workers finished so it was quiet. Walking in, it was a lovely place. Looks upscale, looks trendy, looks cozy and it really was. The length of the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows sou can still see the beautiful buildings and people walking passed, and they had a curtain light in the window next to me so it added to the ambiance. As it was the festive period, and I wanted to be a bit fancy with a wine, I chose the Mulled wine from the festive specials menu. Then went for the welsh cheeseburger and fries and the chocolate lava cake thingy for desert. The service was nice and super quick, and the food was delicious. The mulled wine, was better than at the Christmas markets and nice and warning and warm. The burger was delicious and chips were epic. Then the desert came and OMG .. I shall let the pictures do all the talking. read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
2017 was a comparatively uneventful year in Manchester's recently explosive restaurant scene and there's only a handful of places that really made a mark. Number one among these must be Elnecot, which is expanding the city's offering of small plates from popular places such as El Gato Negro, Cottonopolis and Refuge, while setting itself apart as somewhere where there really is substance as well as style. We'd planned to visit in December but a mix up meant our booking clashed with a private event . Elnecot made us the very generous offer of a free meal and bottle of wine on another night and came over again on our return to say sorry. We really felt they went above and beyond to rectify an honest mistake and it says a lot about the kind of place this is. The atmosphere is welcoming (love the squashy orange booths!) and they play great music at a level which was comfortable for talking as a group. We enjoyed the sauvignon blanc and it was interesting to see how its crisp apple flavour changed a few mouthfuls into the food. The food was great overall. There was no dish we didn't like and a lot I would return for again. My highlights were the sumptuous lamb ribs, ox cheek (almost San Sebastian level!) and pork belly and I went nuts for the sexy veg (in fact all the veg was noticeably good, e.g. the carrots both as a stand alone dish and with the pork belly, and the cauliflower disco - basically roasted cauliflower with spices - I think!). Also, the meatballs really exceeded my expectations - they are something I often order as a nice comforting dish but don't find mindblowing, but the taste was absolutely fantastic - rich and punchy. I'd also recommend the decadent burrata and the outstanding crispy roast potatoes (definitely take those over the fries). The arancini and pig head croquettes were nice too but the latter I think could do with a more liquid and piquant dip. The confit chicken wings were exceptionally well cooked although of course I wished the rather delicate spicy plum sauce and chive creme fraiche were buffalo sauce and blue cheese dip, but such are my heathen ways. Service was very efficient - I was particularly impressed that everything came out pretty close together so you don't have the tedious 20 minutes between tiny portions you get in some small plates restaurants, where they try to sell disorganization as some sort of avant garde way of serving food. Desserts wise, I went for the cheese and enjoyed what I assumed was a cheddar and maybe some Lancashire, plus an extremely good blue. Andy had a chocolate fondant that was INCROYABLE. It was massive, smelt heavenly and gooed everywhere seductively. I cleared his plate. The price point here is definitely better value than El Gato and Cottonopolis, both of which are overpriced in my opinion. You could get a great meal for 2 here for £60 - 70 with a decent bottle a wine and basically should do so immediately. read more
It's actually quite rare to go to a small plates/tapas place where every dish stands up on its own. We ordered a high percentage of the menu (between six) and every single dish was really enjoyable. As Natalie W mentioned in her review, we were offered a free meal after a scheduling snafu in December. They really went above and beyond to make things right, and I can safely say I would have happily paid full price for everything and will no doubt be back again to do so. It's clear that they're focusing on local ingredients while also doing something really special with it. As I mentioned nothing we ordered was a dud, but the dishes I wouldn't hesitate to order again were: * Burrata - because I can't not order burrata if it's on a menu tbh. The squash puree with this made it even more luxurious, even if I initially thought it was egg yolk * Pig head croquettes - I love a croquette and these were a great example of them. I agree with Nat that a dipping sauce might have been preferable, though I did love the piccalilli regardless * Pork belly with carrots four ways - the different 'ways' of doing carrots brought to mind a similar dish at the nearby and also very excellent Squid Ink, and the pork belly was incredible * Sticky lamb ribs - unusual without being try-hard, this was really a standout dish for me All of the sides we ordered are worth a special mention: lemon and thyme roast potatoes were awesome with a great prominent lemon hit; sexy greens involved roasted broccoli and pomegranate seeds which are both winners in my eyes; thyme and sea salt fries were crispy and salty which is all I really want from fries, though in a fight between fries and roasties they wouldn't stand a chance; and carrots with pine nuts, goat's cheese curd and coriander shoots was very luxurious for a veg side dish. For a dessert I was tempted by pretty much everything but opted for cheese as I'd had a very sugary snack attack earlier that day. I assume the cheeses were all local and there was a cheddar, a Lancashire and a very good blue. You get a LOT of cheese and biscuits for the price, I'd even suggest sharing between two if you're not starving. As mentioned the food was comped but I can genuinely say that I'd have paid full price very happily, and I hope to be able to update this review soon after another great meal here. read more
Went to the restaurant Elnecot about a few months ago with friends and OMG the food is so good. We were supposed to visit just before Christmas but there was an unfortunately mix up in bookings but Elnecot sorted it all out and were very good about it all. Elnecot is a relatively new bar/restaurant which opened in September 2017 in the Ancoats area of Manchester in Cutting Room Square (which over the last year or so has transformed with new restaurants and bars opening including the excellent Rudy's). Also there are loads of new apartment blocks popping in the Ancoats area - very much an up and coming area. The interior design of Elnecot has a sort of minimalist, industrial feel. The food will focus on locally sourced, seasonal produce. The restaurant is sort of one big "room" with a long 44ft concrete "bar" on the left as you enter. There is the actual bar and then there is an open kitchen behind this bar. The seating is a mix of tables, benches by the bar and then large benches. As seems to be the trend in restaurants in Manchester (and probably elsewhere) is that the menu consists at many small plates, tapas style. I assume the idea is that its good for sharing if in a big group. I generally like this as I like to try as many different things as possible. On to the actual food: Every single dish delicious. Every dish. The photos I took, admittedly not my best, don't do it justice! There was 6 of us in the group and we ended up ordering pretty much everything of the menu. Need to visit again to try the other things - some were sold out. Trying to think what my favourite plate/dish was. The best of the best: Pearl barley arancini, pork belly, lamb ribs. But as I said, all dishes were delicious. Highly recommend going. I know people who have been again and food is still good, including the Sunday roast. read more
6 years ago
Sunday roast review. One of the best Sunday roast options in Manchester. Perfect sunny afternoon sitting outside day drinking (COVID 19 period when street is closed). The entire wait staff are A+. read more
7 years ago
More info about Elnecot
Review Highlights - Elnecot
Elnecot - wine_bars - Updated May 2026
Browse Brands
Browse Articles
People who viewed Elnecot also viewed
Fress
9 reviews
Northern Quarter
££
Evelyn's Cafe Bar
46 reviews
Northern Quarter
££
Cosy Club
25 reviews
City Centre
££
Expo Lounge
16 reviews
Didsbury Village
££
CraftBrew
7 reviews
Salford Quays
££
Mr Cooper's
30 reviews
£££
The Refuge
25 reviews
Oxford Road Corridor
££
Don Giovanni
61 reviews
££
The Albert Square Chop House
22 reviews
££
Mr Thomas's Chop House
61 reviews
City Centre
££