The former La Olla restaurant (Spanish and tapas) has now changed to El Boliche (also Spanish and…read moretapas) - so in the interests of, well, satisfying our need for ordering many small plates, we went to check it out. Receiving a warm, smiley welcome was a great start; there were several sets of diners already eating but a few tables available for walk-ins like us. We didn't look through the wine menu, deciding on a beer instead (the likes of San Miguel and Brahma from the Philippines and Brazil respectively) - it would've been great to have seen more Italian beers available, though admittedly they had Peroni (sigh). The food menu was filled with most of what you'd expect: olives, breads, tapas and paella. As we were both ravenous we ordered bread with salsa and then eight tapas dishes between us. It wasn't until after most of them had been brought to our table that the server mentioned they were generous portions! If you're not of abnormal appetite like me I'd say five or six dishes between two would be sufficient. Everything was mostly good - I probably wouldn't bother with the mushrooms or prawn fritter dishes again but the cuts of steak and Albondigas (meatballs) were mighty fine indeed. The bill came to a very reasonable £48 including two beers so you can eat well here for around £20 ish per head.

Went here last night and it was great food. We went for a set menu which was tapas and also paella…read more Not sure about all the names of the tapas dishes but they included meatballs, seafood salad, potatoes with tomatoes/salsa, diced pork, sautéed mushrooms, breaded crabclaws and paprika chorizo. About 12 tapas dishes into total plus the paella. Set menu was £16.50. If you don't want paella, its about £2 cheaper. The only problem with tapas is that there are so many dishes, you always run out of space quickly. You have to quickly eat dishes so you can make room for others. The food came very quickly. Good job as we were all hungry. The paella came about 40 minutes after we ordered - a good sign that it was cooked from scratch. Overall a very good evening. It was very busy and a group were actually sitting on the tables situated in the sort of "lobby" area at the bottom of the stairs near entrance (and near the entrance to toilets). I assume they were given the option if they wanted to sit there. I have heard El Rincon is very popular and you always have to book a table. There is quite a bit of football memorabilia on the walls and, as Emma-Louise H has also mentioned, I have heard that Manchester United have visited in the past. El Rincon is actually not situated on Deansgate as it has been mentioned on some places. Its actually on a small dark street parallel to Deansgate - which you could argue looks a bit dodgy especially when it was all dark and wet last night - typical Manchester rainy weather!! El Rincon is not the easiest place to find and I would imagine doesnt get much passing custom.

The 2014 winner of the 'That's not how I expected it to be inside' award definitely goes to El…read moreRincon. Had it not been for the trusty map app we'd probably have struggled to find it, (it's on the corner of Longworth Street, which is off St Johns Street, which is off Deansgate...). Head through the doors and you descend stairs that resemble a London Tube station's with a central hand rail. At the bottom, a small replica of Picasso's 'Guernica' painting is high above you, with a traditional-looking tiled restaurant sign on the back wall. Turn a corner and you're met with a cavernous space, double height ceilings and a huge bar (where you can sit and eat at as well). I'm certainly glad I booked as it was very busy and throughout our meal there was a constant stream of customers (some 'winged it' and were seated where they could find space, one small group ended up sitting in the entrance area!). We could tell it was a popular place so were looking forward to getting stuck in. As a group of seven we didn't need to trawl through the menu as we had a choice of two set ones (opting for the slightly more expensive, but we got two extra tapas dishes plus a paella; and it was only £2 per person extra). Jug of sangria poured, the first of fifteen dishes started to arrive (I'm not going to list them all so don't worry), but lots of tapas faves were included, as well as some I hadn't heard of before. I thought pretty much everything was delicious (though still not convinced by artichokes...). As I've said a few times now I love shared dinners, so tapas is perfect. We all really enjoyed our time here and I'll certainly be back again for more.

I like this Spanish restaurant, it's definitely got "character" - by that I mean, it allows me to…read moreenjoy a glass of wine and then giggle like a schoolgirl when I try and pronounce the name: Ree-ho-HA! Much to the consternation of my dining partner! Thankfully, aside from the name, there's not much else you can have a go poking fun at. The food is superb and varied - there's the obligatory paella, and yes on one occasion making go-with-what-you-know choice I dined on it (highly recommended!) but there's also a range of chicken, fish and many more typically meaty Spanish dishes to selecy from the menu, that you could may I add spend at least the better part of 20 minutes perusing. Tapas ranges from £1.95 - £4.95 Bare floorboards and intimate dining make you feel part of a tiny world of gastronomic happiness, On a dark winter (or summers) night, mixed with candle light and the aroma of a heady bottle of Alta Rio Reserva, you would need little more to be feel transported to Las Ramblas

This has got to be one of the biggest tapas menus I've seen outside of London...and Spain! It's…read morenice to see they've got the kind of dishes I've been pining after since my return to Blighty. Firm favourites include Costilla (marinated spare ribs), Albondigas (Spanish meatballs) and Mejillones (mussles marinated in wine, lemon and herbs). Apart from the tapas menu, they also have some very traditional dishes on the A la Carte menu including Chuletas de cordero (grilled marinated lamb chops) and Cod catalana (cod fillet suated with garlic, shallots, cream and wine topped with parmesan cheese). Surely this is run by a Spanish family. Delicious.

Hands down most authentic Spanish tapas I have tried in Manchester. This is a tiny place on Beech…read moreroad, close to a bus stop with authentic tiled walls. Inside they have only a handful of tables but the food is worth the wait! On a Sunday evening We were told the wait is 30 Min but in reality it was less than that. The food was simply awesome, can't praise it highly enough. All the tapas we ordered looked great, tasted even better and were reasonably priced by Manchester standards. If you like Spanish food, don't think twice!

Amazing food, sangria and atmosphere. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely be…read morevisiting again.

I really enjoy eating at Juan Sanchez in Chorlton. The tapas there is extremely good and very…read moreauthentic. The place is small so it's wise to book as it can get very busy especially at the weekend. The menu is small but the quality of what you receive more than makes up for it. We ordered the calamari which was delicious, the chilli prawns which were incredibly fresh and tasty, the tortilla which was massive, the mussels which were also massive and the stuffed jalapenos. We washed it all down with a lovely glass on sangria. Definitely worth a visit.

Loved the tapas, great selection, especially enjoyed the chorizo and patatas bravas...coffee with…read morecondensed milk for afters was delicious!!

Ambiente is well worth the trip to Worsley. Nominated by the Manchester Food & Drink Festival as…read morethe best newcomer of 2008, it stands head and shoulders above the other Spanish restaurants in the city for its creative modern approach to traditional favourites. However, don't come here thinking you're going to be paying tapas bar prices as this place is very much a special occasion destination. As you'd figure from the name, the owners have spent some time creating a wonderful ambience here with stunning red drapes hanging low over a very rustic scene. The menu choice is outstanding, with tapas classics taken to a new level of sophistication without disrupting the original flavours too much. Mains (or raciones) include my personal favourites Conejo Basco (braised rabbit) and Pollo Tournado (with paprika and Chorizo fondue, melted Manchego cheese and sherry cream, £15.95). Washed down with a Long Island Iced Tea, I felt like I was floating when I left here. Definitely a great restaurant if you're looking for romance or dressing to impress.

I went to Ambiente a few weeks ago and have to say I really struggled to find it. Whatever you do,…read moredon't follow sat nav systems! Even Google maps wasn't having it but when we did find it, it is well worth it. It's a small restaurant that is quite dark inside. There is a simple yet effective tapas menu with all the usual dishes and a few different ones to tempt you. For me, Spanish food done well is something we are lacking in the City Centre. This is a bit of a trek but well worth a visit. My favourite dishes were the calamari (soft and tender with a light batter), chilli bread (toasted with just the right amount of chilli to heat your mouth without blowing your socks off) and meatballs (soft and juicy with a good amount of sauce for dipping when you have nearly finished). I think it might be my favourite Spanish in this country so far...

Think of bacon. Everybody loves bacon. Now think of a pig. Everybody loves pigs. How come they…read moredon't taste the same? Now think of goat's cheese. I hate goat's cheese. Think of a goat. Everybody feels uneasy about goats. Why do they taste sodding identical? Eating goat's cheese brings me as much joy as sniffing Big Billy Goat Gruff after he's been in the gym, something I first discovered in the restaurant that's so good they named it twice, Tapas Tapas. A combination of agreeable staff and out-of-the-way location make this the ideal place to get gradually sozzled on wine and bask in the warm wooden coziness and brick-walled splendour of a restaurant with enormous amounts of quiet humility. Still, I'd rather shoot a sprout off my dog's head with a flamethrower than try the goat's cheese again.

I have to say that I'm not the biggest fan of Tapas Tapas probably depsite most peoples view that…read moreit's a good restaurant but the last meal I had here was not the best - lacking in seasoning and flavour, even the patatas bravas were a bland! - I have subsequently had freinds and family say the same - and worse which I won't go in to because I didn't experience it first hand. Despite the huge pieces of cured ham leg hangign from the ceiling a la authentic castillian restaurants I can't say that it was the best Spanish food I have tried - not even in Liverpool now that it feels our economy is based on Tapas places! At around £4 - £5 pounds for a plate this is about avaerage for a tapas restaurant, unfortauntely so was the food.

Food: 4.5 Service: 5…read moreAmbience: 5 Food was very good and staff were excellent. We tried the calamari, meatballs, scallops, chilli fillet and pork cheeks. Everything was well flavoured and perfectly cooked. The pork cheeks were stand out delicious. There is an extensive wine selection as well. Tried the chocolate cake and basque cheesecake for dessert. My friend enjoyed the chocolate cake. I found the cheesecake delicious but not like the typical Basque style, its was served cold and lacked the soft center that the Basque cheesecake normally has.

A few weeks ago I went to the Tapas/Spanish restaurant Evuna. Evuna have a few restaurants in…read moreManchester - we went to the one in the Northern Quarter. (They also have another one in city centre on Deansgate and also one in Altrincham and one in Knutsford. I like tapas generally. I like going in a group so you get to try a wide range of different things, and some things you may not have ordered yourself. We picked 3 things each from the menu and then all shared. One of my fav things was the Catalan (style) tomatoes with garlic bread. Not that dis-similar to tomato bruschetta you almost always get when you have tapas. Its basically fined chopped up tomatoes and is more of a sauce compared to bruschetta, and various herbs and garlic probably and some nice bread. Very simple but tasted really good. Other things we had was the pork belly, ham croquettes, a cured meat/cheese platter, patatas bravas, calamari and padron peppers. All overall tasted good. Lovely selection of the meats/cheese, croquettes were tasty, nice salty/juice peppers. Calamari actually was just OK if honest, had better. So overall good food and good service so will be going back again.

De Nada is a nice little bar, with a decent range of beers and a cosy interior. Prices were par for…read morethe course in Chorlton. We got there having already eaten so can't comment on the food, other than that the offerings chalked up behind the bar looked pretty good. The barman was friendly and brought us over a ramekin of wasabi peas to go with our drinks. As mentioned in my check-in, the jukebox is pretty excellent. A nice mix of old and new, with some eclectic choices and some classics, and £1 for five songs. On a Saturday night there wasn't a wealth of atmosphere and it was pretty quiet. Last orders were called shortly after we started our drinks so we called it a night then. I think I'll return to De Nada at some point for a casual drink with friends and perhaps food, just not for a rip-roaring night out.

De Nada is a very decent bar at the extreme top of the Chorlton main road, just before the bridge…read morewhich officially turns everything beyond it into Whalley Range. The food here is always great and about on par with the prices to be expected in Chorlton, the portions are on the smallish side but are priced within that 'tapas order when you feel like it' range so it's reasonably acceptable, you'd probably need to order a couple of things if you were desiring a full meal. They have a decent range of cask beer and the keg on offer is not your average mainstream beers either which is always a pleasant occurence. Because of it's location, it is never packed solid with people so it is a great option in Chorlton if you are after a beer and a bite without contending with the usual Chorlton crowds especially on a Friday/Saturday evening. De Nada has a lunch time special running pretty much constantly where you can grab an empanada and a beer for £5 which is a bargain. There is good outdoor seating on a front deck for the warmer months. In Winter this is relegated primarily to smokers which can be a slight turn off when you are walking up to the bar, but it's fairly common practice around Manchester.

It's pretty new, it's pretty pleasant, it's pretty pretty…read more Bilbao's reputation definitely preceded them, so after having heard a few wax the ol' lyrics about this place, I decided to give them a whirl. I'm all about the tapas eats in general, being the type who likes to choose as much variety of a meal out as possible, so Bilbao was always going to make me happy. I feel as though I'll have to come back to experience the heady heights others had told me about, since my visit was fine (certainly not disappointing -- so I've gone for four instead of three stars) but it didn't wow as much as I expected. Perhaps it's the classic pitfall of having high expectations after hearing such good press?! We went in on Saturday sans booking and managed to grab a seat straight away. (It was the last one, so we were pretty lucky.) One of the waitresses did her best to serve us promptly, although she was pretty rushed off her feet. The only downside to the service was that we spotted another waitress who could have seen to us sooner (and even smiled at us) but chose to natter at the bar -- it was quite some time before we got to order a drink. Every other person who served us was absolutely fantastic, though, which ought to be noted. We picked one dish each for ourselves and then three to share and --with a dessert-- this was plenty of food. We shared the olives (super garlicky, which I liked), the garlic prawns (shelled for us and marinated in ultra delish garlicky butter), and a pork dish. The pork pieces were cooked beautifully and came with these incredible oyster mushrooms. I had the steak, which was tasty and cooked well (how I'd asked) but didn't blow me away -- I think this was simply because I'd had the most amazing steak elsewhere very recently! We also shared a bottle of rioja, which was totally lovely. The desserts were great too: warm gooey brownie and a traditional Spanish dessert with sponge, cream, and torched sugar on top. (Forgive me for forgetting the name!) The overall ambiance is fine, although I'd say next time I'd like to sit at a lower table as the high chairs weren't optimal to sit and eat in. The music was also curious -- it sort of seemed to be so purposefully background it stood out to us, if that makes any sense. Gentle, romantic lighting and a pleasant space make up for that, though -- especially if in a group. I imagine the experience is even better with more friends to share with! Overall, this one merits a second visit. Five dishes and one bottle of wine: £60 odd. On a Monday it's half price, so you'll get a lot more bang for your bunse. Check them out!

Came here on a recommendation and wow did it deliver!! Food was amazing! Service was great and had…read morea lovely chat with the owner and you can tell the passion they put into the food and overall experience! I will be coming back and shouting from the roof tops to anybody who will listen how good this place is !