Alongside Adam Reid at the French, Mr Cooper's is one of the bars and restaurants located at The Midland Hotel in Manchester, Mr Cooper's is the main point where breakfast is served at the hotel, which is generally between 6:30 and 10:30 on weekdays, and similar times on weekends - it is accessed through the hotel lobby and possibly another entrance too. I visited Mr Cooper's after my dreadful stay at The Midland Hotel, hoping there would be one thing to at least salvage the stay and make my stay better, hoping the food would at least try and make up for an awful nights sleep on a pillow which gave me a headache. I'm never afraid to admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong to expect the breakfast to be different to the shambles of a hotel in which Mr Cooper's is located in and run by. I was drawn to the breakfast selection which was so small, which for £20 was dreadful (although it does go down to £13 if you book in advance with the hotel reception if you're staying there), it mainly consisted of scrambled eggs, baked beans, tomatoes, black pudding and sausages in terms of a cooked side, there was also some fruit juices and cereal, and not a great deal of fruit which also was a shame. Another thing which puzzled me was the fact they produced a menu and even were willing to charge for extra, such as £3 for Eggs Benedict. £20 for a breakfast is already much more expensive than rivals and any restauraunt with decency who actually know this is daylight robbery, for example, the Hilton Manchester Deansgate has a much more broad selection (and better quality), with extras provided in the price for £13.95 (£17.95). Extras which were free included poached and fried eggs, but I can't understand why they weren't provided anyway. I love eggs and this is generally all I eat at a hotel buffet but I'm sad to say, the eggs here were far from pleasant, the scrambled eggs just were bland, they were unseasoned which is inexcusable and they were also watery. It didn't stop there, the poached eggs I requested also were too vinegary, and the fried eggs just tasted really basic and low quality, however, this food which was inedible was probably only what was to come compared to my omelette. I ordered a ham and cheese omelette, not only was this omelette far too cheesy but it had a horrible taste I couldn't pick up on, meaning I had no choice but to spit it out. The only other extra I ordered was gluten-free bread, which wasn't bread as I expected, it was a hard, seeded roll which wasn't very enjoyable either. The selection of fruit juice was okay, however the orange juice was confusing, they had a long title for the orange juice which stated it had pulp, therefore I can't understand why they are advertising it has pulp in the title, when the other one does too, as it doesn't give you a selection? Having two of one beverage is boring and unneeded anyway when they could have a much better selection of juice - they do have the space and equiptment so they don't have an excuse. The staff at the breakfast service seemed nice enough and that is probably the nicest thing I can say about Mr Cooper's, which provides The Midland's hotel breakfast at a very premium price, for items which are so far from premium, you could find them in Poundland if they sold food, and perhaps the chefs should be working there too until they can learn how to make omelettes without an omelette maker and how to season an egg, sadly like The Midland hotel, I strongly feel Mr Cooper's deserves a single one-star rating. read more

Manchester isn't the kind of place where you can plan on enjoying outdoor restaurant dining on a regular basis. That's one of the many reasons that Mr. Cooper's is an exceptional venue - they've built a lovely indoor garden area where patrons can enjoy their wonderful food. Mr. Cooper's has lovely ambiance, delicious food, and an attentive, friendly staff. We were greeted warmly when we arrived, and didn't lack for anything throughout the course of our meal. Tip: The cocktail menu here is quite diverse and it contains some excellent choices. I tried the Beehive, and was very impressed! We dined at a nice table in a beautiful spot under a tree. The service we received was excellent, and the food was nothing short of amazing. We started with the ham hock, poached egg and brown sauce. This dish was pure poetry! Next we shared the lamb. It was cooked to a tender pink perfection; wonderfully flavorful as well. We also had several sides. All of them were excellent, but my hands-down favorite was the cauliflower gratin. I very much enjoyed visiting this lovely restaurant, and look forward to returning when next I'm in Manchester. read more

Mr Cooper's - Interesting Egg-shaped Light on our table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

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This is probably the first quite fancy place I have been in Manchester and it is an excellent choice for visiting friends, birthday lunches, parents etc. It is actually pretty good value for money, I think, with set lunches at £15 for two courses and £19 for three (bear in mind you will need side dishes which are around £4 each). It's a beautiful space, the huge old windows of the Midland are particularly attractive and the indoor garden decor, including little trees and a table with an umbrella, comes across as whimsical and tasteful rather than gimmicky or tacky. Service was very good - very attentive and swift. Food wise, the duck starter my friend had was absolutely outstanding - one of the more delicious things I have had in a while. I also really like my comforting poached egg and smoked salmon dish, especially the extraordinarily delicious filo pastry it was served in. I don't know how something so thin could be so flavourful, although perhaps the answer is butter. I was a bit disappointed by the choice of mains which was either ox cheek or white fish unless you went for what was seemingly the vegetarian option - tortilla parcels (the menu didn't actually explain what was in them) because I felt that it was a choice between two extremes - fish being so light and ox cheek being so rich. In fact, the ox cheek was not overpowering, it was very good. I made the mistake (I guess being used to places where everything is basically served to you in a giant bowl or burger) of eating bits of the fish dish separately at first - but of course the reason a shallot was involved was because eaten together you get a lot more flavour. I shall know for again! I didn't absolutely love the dish, I'm never really a fan of things which come with beans (except refried beans, obviously, bring me all the refried beans), but it was still very decent. Desserts were again of a good standard, they didn't blow me away but I appreciate the involvement of rose water in creme brulee. Some of the desserts on the a la carte menu looked incredible. All in all, a great spot on Manchester's dining scene. read more

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Been wanting to come here for a long time, finally popped in, even though it was only for a couple of quiet drinks the atmosphere was lovely and I can't wait to come back for food. The service is impeccable and I couldn't recommend the popcorn on the bar more :) read more

Mr Cooper's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

Well what a culinary treat we had in store this week as for my wife's birthday we decided to do the big 'Simon Rogan double header' of Mr Coopers for lunch on Tuesday, followed by the French on Wednesday. There's no way you could compare these 2 restaurants as the experiences are like chalk and cheese, but throughout both visits the service was exceptional, the food fantastic and the overall agreement that we in Manchester are lucky to have these 2 relatively new kids on the block. Mr Coopers food is Modern British, with the emphasis being based on good seasonal and local ingredients where possible, all served up in a setting that was grand but relaxed, classy yet informal and a menu with so much variety that it will keep us coming back time and time again. I went for the 3 course set lunch menu (£19.00) while my wife went "off map" by choosing from the a la carte selection (although we do tend to share a lot between each others plates) which was also reasonably priced. Between us we ate the starters of homemade corn bread with chicken livers and the crispy pork belly followed by mains of spiced monkfish with spinach and mash and a rib steak with truffle pudding that was simply divine. Now I love my food but I know my limitations so won't be trying to come up with some sort of faux-food critic description of each dish. All I'll say is that the food was damn good! In fact I'll say it was so good that you should bookmark Mr Coopers now and make it your next port of call if you haven't been. We finished all this off with a slice of seasonal pumpkin pie and a couple of espressos. With the mains my wife had a cocktail of "take me back to the summertime" which was very refreshing and I had a pint of the Tatton Blonde (which I'm led to believe is the only place in the world to have it on tap) Which brings me on to the beers. Now you'll see that I've given Mr Coopers 4 out of 5 and while I thought it was excellent, I can't bring myself to award it 5 stars while the elephant in the room is still here. The beer selection is absolutely dreadful and fully seems to be blind to the fact that we're in the middle of a craft beer revolution in the UK at the moment. Where is the Thornbridge, Red Willow and Marble? - all fairly local breweries which would tie in really well with the concept of Mr Coopers, but instead the selection is reminiscent of a night down Deansgate Locks (shudder...) lager, lager, in fact make that crap lager and having a lunchtime Desperados with my perfectly cooked monkfish wasn't exactly high on the agenda for me. But I'm sure that they're aware of this... and maybe the Midland is tied into a contract to stock these beers for a little longer... maybe...hopefully... Overall you're talking £60 including service for all this at lunch time - I would say money well spent. We'll be back very soon - now just sort out those beers! read more

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I find Mr Coopers House and Garden to be one of the best restaurants in Manchester for excellent food at very reasonable prices. Part of Manchester's Midland Hotel, Mr Coopers is a British restaurant serving some of the most interesting dishes around. When I visited I most certainly wasn't stuck for options! But after much thought I decided on the cream of celery root soup with crispy kale and roast chicken ravioli for starter. It was excellent. I haven't had a celery soup as amazing as this since my grandma used to make it, circa 1995. We also ordered some Pork scratchings with an apple gel to snack on. These were great. So light and fluffy and melt-in-the-mouth! For my main course I opted for Plaice with chorizo and cumin potatoes in a clam chowder sauce. Delicious!! And the plaice was cooked perfectly. The sides of creamed kale, spinach and bacon and the cauliflower cheese topped off the dishes so well that I couldn't handle dessert. The meal was faultless and it has an excellent bar area and outstanding cocktails! I'm a huge fan. read more

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Finally....finally there is a dining place worth contemplating spending a little more than usual to have a truly genuine quality dining experience. The staff were very helpful, knowledgeable, attentive and respectful. No more intervention than you need to yet always aware of your every needs. We arrived early so sat in the comfy bar area, ordered a beer and a cocktail. Cocktails seem to be where the team want to take it to. Very well crafted and ingenious. The beer selection scares a bit with a very long list of disappointingly industrial lagers and a couple of big Belgium names in there too. They have Tatton blonde on tap as their only ale. I guess this is what their customers will expect but changing the red stripe for a local British craft ale would not go amiss IMO. Anyway. The wine list looked well designed too. Nothing too adventurous there but decent bottles available. We tried 3 whites and 4 reds and the whites have delivered much better. The reds were on the flat side and too warm. When it comes to food however.... I do not know of an equivalent in Manchester at this price point. Everything was just spot on. Combination of true flavours and great cooking skills. None of that Michelin star nonsense, just clever recipes expertly executed. Starters between £4 and £8, mains around £14 to £18 and desserts for £6-7. Very fair pricing really. As a wine and beer snob I would tweak a few things on this front but we have had a top notch evening and we were very well looked after at all time. Thanks guys. read more

Mr Cooper's - Eel and bacon torte, whatever the green things were, it was all really good - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

Prior to our recent holiday, we both booked an extra day off work for packing - and squeezing in a fancy lunch at cut price! Having been to the Abode together previously, we opted for Mr Cooper's. It was much more inviting than on my previous trip, especially as I knew where the 'reception' desk was on this occasion. We were seated quickly on a good table, in a corner which made it feel like a nook. It was fairly busy, with the usual mix of important looking business meetings and ladies/gentlemen who lunch. Food wise, I ate from the set menu, whereas the other half went a la carte. Aubergine fritters followed by the pork chop with a sage crust, finished with the caramel tart for me, goosnargh chicken with dill cream for him. The aubergine fritters were the best bit of our meal (other than the wine, in my opinion) as they had a perfectly crunchy outside and you could actually taste some aubergine flavour. The dressing of ginger, coriander and green onion added an almost Asian flavour, which was subtle and much appreciated. The pork chop was okay but not what I expected; the crust was soggy on top and even more so underneath, where it was sat on whipped potato and creamy tofu. The latter element was interesting and I always like trying something new, but the softness of this paired with the soft crust became a bit cloying. Green beans were a welcome crunch to the dish. Chicken was well cooked but the dill cream overpowering for my taste, meaning there was little chicken to enjoy without it swimming in the cream. A dish of chips were also ordered - we couldn't resist - and these were good, with plenty of salt. The caramel tart took a while to decide upon and was a good balance for us; although a sweet finish, it had some savoury notes, so the other half also enjoyed. The crack of the caramelised sugar was especially pleasing, and the marscapone ice cream on the side ensured the caramel didn't become too much while eating. Service was friendly throughout the meal and the atmosphere nice and relaxed - we didn't feel under-dressed at any point, and there's no being sniffed at for ordering from the set menu! It's a three stars this time as I didn't walk away raving about the meal. It taking two weeks for me to put on Yelp is sign enough that it's A-OK. I'm sure I'll be back as it's a nice addition to the Manchester food scene, but perhaps I'll wait for another menu change.... read more

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I've heard nothing but good things about this new bar and restaurant in the Midland Hotel but we had an experience that very much made it feel like they were still in the soft opening period. The bar and restaurant has been done out beautifully and is lovely inside. The bar has a good number of tables so you won't struggle to get a seat. The menu is very good and has a lot of unusual options not just a list of the same old cocktails you see everywhere else. My only concern was that we waited a very long time for our drinks, bearing in mind there were only 3 tables of couples in there including us. When they finally arrived they were excellent however and presented really well. The service was the low point of this experience but it was also tainted by warm white wine, a shard of sharp bone in the chicken starter which was supposed to be boneless and what should have been a ball of ice cream that had melted into liquid over one dessert. Basic elements of a meal that would be understandable if not ideal at a new restaurant at the entry level of the market but not what I expected from somewhere with Simon Rogan's name on it. The mains were delicious if a little on the luke warm side. Overall I was hugely disappointed but due to the number of great things I've heard from others, would give this place another go sometime. I just hope they manage to convince me they have what it takes on our next visit. read more

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Went to Mr Cooper's for a friend's birthday and really enjoyed it. We were seated at the bar while we waited for our whole party to arrive. They then took our orders for drinks and moved our drinks to our table after. The waitress knew which glass belonged to who which was impressive. They let us take our time to order and did not rush us at all. Overall the service was very good. The decor was beautiful - the bar was different from the main restaurant. Everything about the restaurant made it feel like we were in someone's backyard or garden which was very unique. It's nice for a restaurant like this to offer that relaxed ambience. The food was delish! We had the oysters, spinach rolls and the scallops. Not of a fan of the fried oysters but the scallops were well-seasoned and well-cooked. The Yubu spinach rolls were the best out of the three starters we ordered. We ordered the steak for the main course which was cooked perfectly. The serving was larger than expected! Please see the pic uploaded. I salivate just thinking about it. The TRUFFLE PUDDING served with it was diviiiiiiiiiiiine! Had the pineapple tart for dessert served with spiced ice cream and caramel. The tart was crispy and freshly baked and the pineapple slightly sour but there was a good balance with all the flavours and textures of the dish. I really enjoyed Mr Cooper's House and Garden and would definitely return multiple times! I haven't given it five stars as I've had similar food in other restaurants and the menu wasn't mind-blowing. Nevertheless, great quality food and excellent service! read more

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The newer of Simon Rogan's Manchester outposts housed in the Midland hotel, Mr Cooper's is the more casual of the two and moves away somewhat from Rogan's signature style of modern British served in the tasting menu format to a more inclusive a la carte style, contrasting well to the fining dining French. We were eating there at lunchtime and alongside the a la carte menu they also offer a good value two or three course set lunch menu priced at £15 and £19 respectively. My husband opted for this, choosing pork belly to start followed by monkfish with a parsnip purée, both excellent. I'd been recommended the rib steak with truffle pudding and latke potato by a Twitter friend which sounded right up my street so had decided on that before I'd even sat down. The steak was so meltingly tender I could have cut it with a spoon and the truffle pudding was buttery and light with the earthy depth of the truffles. I thought the latkes were slightly over seasoned but that was just a small thing and overall the dish was well worth the £19. My starter of corned bread with chicken livers and mango chutney was simple but well executed and a real bargain at £4. By this point in the meal we were both pretty full so chose to share a dessert, going for the pumpkin pie with treacle ice cream and chocolate granola (I think!) from the set menu. The pie was light and tasty with a subtle spicing but the winner for me was the ice cream which was absolutely delicious. Drinks wise I had my heart set on a cocktail and eventually managed to choose one from the amazing list of classic and signature drinks whilst my husband went for the fairly local Tatton Blonde beer. This was the only good option in a list of poor to mediocre beers which really didn't fit in with the rest of their image and was quite disappointing. Despite that one blip we both loved the food, the friendly and knowledgable service and relaxed atmosphere and is without a doubt a very welcome addition to the Manchester dining scene. read more

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I love it here a classy hotel bar. They have a lovely long gin list and all the good tonics you could want. The cocktail menu is dreamy, you must try them. They can also make you all the classic cocktails you want. I also pop in here are a pot of pepper mint tea now and again. The staff are very nice and helpful. The loos are clean. When I get round to eating here I'll up date the review. read more

Mr Cooper's - Good little wine list! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

Ambitious, but very lacking in execution. The borlotti casseroule was ketchupy and must have been loaded with tomato paste. The buttered chicken was good, but the dish was too sweet and the chorizo filled peppers tasted like Sainsburys. My side of bread was still frozen in the middle and the dessert had a weird topping of toasted rice that looked exactly like dry frozen maggots. I guess the head chef let go of the reins a bit too early or he may not have had it right in the first place. On the good side was the service, ambience and a great wine selection with a very nice Shiraz sold by the glass. read more

Mr Cooper's - What is that topping?? - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

Holy cr@p! At last a restaurant that finally lived up to it's reputation and my expectations. This place provided me with one of the best meals I have ever had. I'm already looking for excuses to go back. The staff were absolutely superb, from the bar staff helping our group pick the best cocktails for our tastes to the waiters making sure everything was to our liking. We went along with another foodie couple, and had been looking forward to it for a while, so needless to say we went to town on the menu. I started with the raw beef with pickled paw paw which literally melted in the mouth and was beautifully presented (as was everything we were served). Following this was the BBQ salmon, cooked to perfection and so moreish. Finally, I opted for the white chocolate torte which was the perfect delicate end to a truly superb meal. Genuinely, there was not a bad plate of food served. Some of the favourites from the rest of the group were the fried oysters, the sea bass and the caramel tart. If you're in the mood for a cocktail, I can highly recommend the Ruckus Juice. Being perfectly honest, I flirted very briefly with 4 stars, and here's why... We arrived 40 minutes before our reservation and told the host we'd get a drink at the bar, and to let us know when our table was ready (hoping soon as it was quite quiet). Sadly we were overlooked until I returned to the host as we reached our reservation time. He was deeply apologetic. Of the snacks we tried, the pork scratchings were very bland - more of a vehicle for the amazing apple sauce. One drink ordered during the meal was forgotten about. When questioned, we changed our mind and switched the cocktail order to a glass of wine. The waitress again apologised profusely and promised us both the wine and cocktail. Sadly the cocktail never arrived. So, not quite perfect, but definitely close enough that these tiny blips were so insignificant in the grand scheme of how impressed we all were that it still thoroughly deserves 5 stars. read more

A...MAZ.....ING. End of review. Not really, I have too many great things to say about this restaurant. It is by far the top restaurant in Manchester (not including fine dining ones). The food is gorgeous everytime and portion sizes are just right i think. If you do go try the cheese puffs for nibbles...so tasty. The food never needs seasoning and the drinks arrive quickly, the service is friendly and quick...everything is quick!! ha! The decor is pretty cool looking and your not squashed in so tightly you can hear other diners conversations word for word..I hate that. We have been twice now and each time we were very well looked after. All the staff look happy and it comes across in their service. There is no clever gadgets or distractions from the food, it's just great tasting food. I recommend the beef with truffle potatoes. I could eat it everyday!! Me and the bf will be back many more times I imagine as each time we are never disappointed. Everyone needs to go! read more

Treating myself to Mr Cooper Cocktail bar before dinner. This is a spacious elegant and classy venue attached to the iconic Midland Hotel and lives up to the standard. A nice range of pre and post dinner cocktails and an extensive list of quality spirits. I went for the Northside Garden Fizz - pink peppercorn, strawberry, mint, cucumber, lime, gin and soda. Spectacular and reassuringly affordable. Think I'll have another. Great looking restaurant too, but I'll save that for another visit read more

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Wow. Loved it in here. Took my nephew for a treat for his 21st. We had a special evening here. The service was good and the food was great. Chicken liver salad to start was tasty and the livers were cooked to perfection. My nephew had Thai crab cakes. These were too spicy for me but he tucked in. My main was a bavette steak which was divine. Full of deep, meaty flavour and oozing with meat juices. It was lip-smacking. For pud, my nephew had sticky toffee pudding and said it was the best he'd ever had. It was all treacly and unctuous! My pud by contrast tasted light and summery. It was creme brûlée with lavender. Served with melt in the mouth shortbread and raspberries. It's s long time since I've enjoyed a pudding so much. Can fully recommend. Food was £110 for three of us. read more

Superb experience with 'Mr Cooper' on Friday evening just gone. Really lovely restaurant, and I think better than the pictures on their website suggests. The food is equally good - if not better ! My dining companion was delayed by about 20 minutes, and this did not cause any problems at all, and I felt that the meal had a lovely rhythm - neither rushed or long waits between courses - or indeed the bill ! Highlights of the meal include a specially made cocktail for my dining companion - for who it was a belated birthday treat, and main courses of skate wings and the cumbrian lamb chops. Can also recommend the dessert of caramelised white chocolate, milk mousse and espresso. Our waiter was also excellent (and I think this added to the overall experience) being able to answers any queries we had, with great knowledge of the menu, and also make great recommendations. read more

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A very good place for fish and drink. Great context for friends chat. The bread with butter and salt is nice. I like the cold here. read more

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Friends have been for food and highly recommended that we go. We just went for cocktails which were fantastic and just as good was the service. We will certainly going back for a meal!!! read more

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Mr Coopers House and Gardens is an excellent addition to the Midland Hotel. The bar and restaurant has a smart but relaxed feel and has been done out to a high standard. We went last week for cocktails and weren't disappointed. We were shown to one of the comfy booths in the bar by a very friendly waitress and studied the interesting cocktail menu. I ordered the Millionaire which was very good. I enjoyed the mix of sloe gun and Summer berries. Next I went for Just a Splash, a delicious combination of aperol, prosecco, rose water and soda. Loved the edible flowers that adorned it a rather pretentious but unusual touch. The service was efficient and pleasant throughout. Think I'll be back soon. read more

Mr Cooper's - Rhubarb and apple pie cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Manchester, LAN

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Ate at Mr Coopers tonight for the third time and a can't help but be enormously impressed with the food and the service. Had the superb meatballs with tzatziki to start, simply outstanding. Followed with the lamb rump which was also top class. My wife was unfortunately ill during the meal which meant that we had to leave fairly quickly, however the maître'd was excellent and rushed our bill followed by removing some items just to show the restaurants concern. Faultless service which will bring us back again and again. Ian read more

Unexpected treasure in the gorgeous Midland Hotel. Esoteric decor to say the least but I found it amusing. Service superb, new small plates menu fantastic with some vege classics -- this is where you go to lose your fear of vegan eating -- then devour a lamb tagine and gunshot chorizos.. Wine list is great - ( any list with Orange Republic Godello needs a standing ovation) Good choice to bring them Londoners to I'd say read more

This is the 2nd restaurant from Simon Rogan in The French and has been getting rave reviews so I had to go and a birthday celebration (Sept 2013) seemed a good excuse... admittedly I had to take somebody and pay but as you can see from the below it's very reasonably priced for the quality of the cooking. 5 starters, 3 main courses and 2 desserts (between 2) along with 4 cocktails, water and tip was less than £130. If you weren't greedy like me you'd easily get 3 courses and a bottle of wine for less than £100. Millet bread, manchego, quince and pickled chillies (£4) - I love manchego so was always going to like this... a few more chillies wouldn't have gone amiss though - 7/10 Corned bread, chicken livers, mango chutney and watercress (£4) - Perfectly cooked livers (relatively tricky to do) was complemented well by the chutney - 8/10 Parmesan patties, mushroom ketchup and baby leaves (£4) - These were ok but I don't really like mushrooms so were never going to be my favourite course of the night - 6/10 Mexican gazpacho, wasabi and avocado (£6) - This looked pretty and tasted fresh, although I'd have liked a bit more wasabi. For once here's a bowl of food that's healthy, good for you and tasty - 9/10 Smoked eel torte, lovage and pork belly (£7.50) - This has also been known as Eel Cheesecake. The pork belly and eel went very well together and whilst initially a bit strange the torte base grew on me - 8.5/10 Cumbrian rib steak, truffle pudding and purple potato latkes (£19) - I only got one bite of this but it was excellent with the truffle pudding not overwhelming the steak. The sauce that wasn't mentioned on the menu was a highlight - next time I go I'll probably have this - 9/10 Minted chargrilled courgettes, lamb rumps and spiced lentils (£16) - Brilliant lamb which went well with the lentils and courgettes but I'd have liked a bit more mint. Like with the steak the sauce was a highlight - 8.5/10 Sweet potato casserole, spiced duck breast and sesame (£16) - After finishing my first main course I was still feeling hungry and having almost ordered this as my actual main I decided to go for it... after the first bite I thought it was a mistake but it was a definite grower and I was sad to finish in the end. The addition of sesame was inspired - 8/10 Caramel tart with mascarpone ice cream (£6) - Very rich, very unhealthy but tasty and the lemon rind was an inspired addition - it was a bit too sickly by the end though. 7/10 read more

Only 3 stars as the overall food experience was not value for money. Let me explain. Starters: Angie had an excellent poached egg with a spicy couscous and it was top notch (but small), I had scallops and a chilli like vinegared cucumber (but small). Although tasty it was too costly for the portion size. Mains: hake and a spicy chorizo sauce was excellent and my cumin rubbed lamb was very good. We were told portions are small so we took creamed kale and bacon and chips. It was plenty. Tasty very very tasty. Pudding/ dessert: salted caramel tart for Angie and I had some cheese. Perfect. We had 3 drinks each so we didn't overdo it. Service was ok and it should have been better. Things were whisked away without asking. We then had a 10% service charge. Not good. Has the cost been around 20% cheaper it would have been good value. Well cooked food but overcharged. read more

I was invited to try the lunch here at fairly short notice, in fact it happened on 11 January. It was an invitation that I would not refuse. So it was that three days later I hopped on a mid morning plane from Dublin to Manchester. I advance booked a taxi to take me from the airport to the Midland hotel where this restaurant is situated for noon and back to the airport mid afternoon for a 6pm return flight home. Everything was going smoothly, no ice, no snow, just a bitterly cold wind, even the taxi guy had food and drink ready in the taxi for my arrival. Now one thing about negotiating Manchester city centre in a taxi, these days it seems to be permanently under construction, which can be tedious, so briefly delayed I arrived just after noon. My three wonderful guests were waiting patiently for me. The restaurant staff were welcoming and friendly. We were seated without fuss or delay. Our drinks order was quickly taken and delivered with a smile. Our seats were cosy and our table, comfortably high. The dining room area is large, with plenty of natural light and it was a pleasantly warm haven on a winters day in steely cold, wind blown Manchester. The lunch menu here had just recently changed so abandoning what I'd mused about from the lunch menu on their website, I cheerfully ordered the lambs liver as a starter and the mutton as my main. The liver had been milk soaked resulting in a delicate tasty liver. It arrived on a hot plate, perfectly cooked to my request with a skilfully made crisp outside and purple rare inside. Full of great flavour and fresh. Excellent. The accompaniments too were perfectly cooked and just perfect to go with a flavour as punchy as liver; the potatoes, onions, light gravy and parsley were tasty and added different textures and great flavour. The mutton too was a meaty delicious dish. A sort of upmarket Sunday roast lunch with sophisticated flavours from all the elements on the plate, really tasty vegetables and a light delicate gravy. The herb crust and the minced lamb croquette were real stars. We also had a cauliflower cheese side dish. A really generous portion, again perfectly cooked with a tasty light topping. I'd order this again. My hosts declared satisfaction with their meals too. One of them ordered the parsnip torte which she declared divine. It looked a mini art work too. I've had many rubbish two course lunches around Manchester at or close to the lunch price here (£16 for 2 courses) so it's cracking value for money and it proves its possible to produce great food at a fair price. I've no doubt this place is well on its way to a Michelin star if that's their goal but the seasoning needs to be more bravely added. The food portions were fairly ok, not an abundance of food but I'm not the best judge as I'm a real pig at the best of times, but I didn't leave hungry just happy. Next time I go I know I'm going it will be a pleasure that awaits and if I'm having a poor lunch elsewhere in greater Manchester my mind will turn to just how good it can be. Skipped dessert here and regretted it not just to try it but it would have extended my stay with my company. read more

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I agree with some other reviewers- I am on the fence between a three and four stars rating. I won't extensively pore over the food I ordered since that has been well reviewed already. The atmosphere was nice, clean, elegant, the overall experience was okay. I think my expectations simply weren't met here. The place and experience just fell short for me. Maybe I will try again and see if I have a better reaction, but this time - meh. read more

We visited for lunch on Saturday to kick off a day of anniversary celebrations. To put our visit into context, I had tried to get a table at Manchester House or The French first but couldn't get in so this was our third choice. The service, on the whole, was very good but when we had to ask for our side dish and waited whilst our main was going cold, I did feel a tad annoyed (considering how much we were paying as well). You would also think that if bread was offered it would not be an addition to the bill either - £3.50 for four slices of not very special bread either! Bad stuff out of the way and onto the good: The room - the part we were sat in, at least - was large, airy and very relaxing. Each course was tasty and beautifully presented although very small portions and the cocktails were delicious. A nice venue for a special occasion but not mind-blowing. Next time I'll get my act together and book well ahead to get the restaurant of my choice. read more

Feels like a Michelin Star'd restaurant for a reasonable price. The staff were friendly, the presentation of the food was impeccable, and it tasted great too. All in all a wonderful experience and I'd love to go again. read more

Booked this restaurant from the United States for dinner after the Manchester United football match. Upon arrival, they refused seating us because we had United shirts on. We told them we had come directly from the match, but after checking with the manager, they turned us away. Maybe they could have served us from the bar? Just not accommodating . . . read more