This place was packed, which is to me a good sign. There is patio seating available, but for faster service we sat inside. There is a full, authentic Italian menu. The table next to us had folks speaking Italian, another good sign. Staff were reasonably attentive though we never did get the water we asked for three times. It was a very noisy Saturday and the ambience was pretty fun. As for food, I had the best caprese salad I've ever had (I want to mimic it at home) and 'pasta normale'. read more

San Carlo has a few restaurants around the city centre, this is their main and larger one, on King Street West, just off Deansgate and Bridge Street, opposite the House of Fraser. Being one of the first restaurants to reopen for dine-in, I decided to give this place a chance despite my bad experience at their sister restauraunt, Fumo on New Years Day 2020. The Reservations system is awful, due to the ongoing NHS Track and Trace programme, everywhere from pubs to restaurants must, of course, record their diners information with table bookings wherever possible however the online booking system wouldn't accept either one of my emails, with an off-brand Yahoo email or Protonmail, this meant I had to enter a fake email so I didn't receive any confirmation to my booking, which was concerning. The restauraunt is accessed by a couple of steps but there is a disabled entrance which appears to be unsafe as they place a ramp on a very narrow side-street where there is a curb, meaning it can be very difficult for a disabled person to safely use it. They should speak to Manchester City Council regarding extending the pavement or dropping the curb for customer safety. Big changes to the usual dining experience due to the pandemic included protective screens, similar to buses and supermarkets to separate tables and they used disposable menus. Unlike other restaurants, they still had table service without the need to order on an app. My first disappointment was, of course, the reservations system, and the next a violation of UK law which warranted a complaint to the licensing department at Manchester City Council. They refused to serve me tap water. Under UK law, any place which serves alcohol must also serve tap water. Instead, I had to buy a beverage which I didn't want, an orange juice advertised at fresh (which wasn't) for £3.60. This is serious on its' own as it is a breach of the business' alcohol license. The staff also seemed pretty rude, I was originally told they didn't have gluten-free pasta, only to be told they did (bad communication). They also seemed disgusted with the fact I'd ask for tap water (I don't like drinking with standard lunch meals on my own and prefer water), I also had to ask on three occasions to remove the service charge which is optional (It wasn't stated anywhere), I mean I ordered one course and a drink I didn't want for one person, a service charge is a little much? Interestingly, as soon as I sent an item back and denied the service charge at their sister restauraunt, the staff turned on me and turned "toxic" and it seemed to happen again, the staff member seemed openly angry when I denied the service charge, he sighed and tutted very loudly which made me feel uncomfortable. This is after he pretended not to hear me when I asked to remove it the first two times. The restauraunt was surprisingly busy, I don't think the staff were controlling alcohol intake either, this is supposed to be a classy and high-end restauraunt, with the clientele often including footballers, Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City was spotted here recently. Considering this, the fact they let customers openly walk around shouting very loudly made what was supposed to be a high-end experience, seemed cheap in everything but the price. My Gluten-Free Carbonara, unlike Fumo, came out rather quickly and was hot, however, the pasta just didn't taste fresh and the sauce was so bad, it tasted like dishwater and bleach combined. Gross. I've made much better fresh pasta myself which really shocks me considering the reputation this place has made, I'm not sure if they're trying to cut back on the experience due to revenue lost in the pandemic but that is no excuse for subpar food, rude staff and a breach of the law of the land. Multiple breaches here which means I no longer feel sorry for the business from breaches to customer safety, their alcohol license while serving subpar foods at premium costs. I have no intentions to return to any San Carlo location based on today, propped up by my bad experience at San Carlo Fumo earlier this year. 1* read more

San Carlo - GF Carbonara £12.95 - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Food was excellent. If you do not speak Italian, BEWARE!! We were on a business dinner and ordered 2 bottles of wine along with multiple courses. The waiter approached after we were eating and drinking and attempted to explain they had given us the wrong wine--one with a similar name, but the one we received was more expensive. It was not clear what he wanted me to do. In my experience, if the restaurant makes a mistake, they take responsibility. He sent over someone else whose English was better but still they could not convey what the ask was. A third person came over and said it made no sense for them to take the open bottle back and we agreed they would give it to us at the price of the bottle we ordered. Mind you, we are talking about 7 euros difference--not a big mistake on their part. In the end, they billed the higher price, never taking responsibility for their mistake and took advantage of our quick need to exit as the taxi was waiting and they were slow to bring the bill. I tried to contact them twice to make it right and they did not respond so that is why I am posting this review. This was very awkward for me as the hostess in front of business colleagues to be dealing with this so visibly (they had to speak to me across the table due to inside booth seating). For such a good food experience, it's unfortunate, they did not own up to their mistake and made such a big deal over 7 euros! read more

I've been wanting to try San Carlo Cicchetti for a while now, so on New Years Day I popped in with my parents for a late lunch. Upon entering I could see that the interior was sophisticated and quite upmarket, yet still managed to have a welcoming feel to it, and the host who greeted us was very polite and instantly showed us to a table. Our authentic Italian waiter explained all about the Venetian culinary custom of cicchetti - which are small to medium sized dishes to share or eat alone, similar to the Spanish tapas. He recommended about 6-7 dishes for the three of us, took our drinks order and left us for some time so we could choose our dishes. He also explained that the dishes are served to the table as soon as they are made, to keep the food fresh and hot - so the food may arrive in 'stages'. We ordered olives and tapenade to nibble firstly, followed by bruschetta and the crab and avocado salad (that I didn't manage to get a photo of because mum scoffed it too quickly!) These dishes were all lovely. The Pigeon Breast pate was very rich, but outstanding! Next followed a Lasagne Al Forno, Ravioli with spinach and ricotta, Queen Scallops and prawns in chilli and garlic. All of these, again, were delicious. My dad also tried a Pizza Fritta - much to his delight was pretty much a cheese and ham doughnut. It wasn't for me, I found it odd but dad seemed to like it. Overall it was a great meal. It doesn't quite have the relaxed atmosphere that Spanish tapas has - it seemed a bit formal to be sharing plates and reaching over tables etc.. But still, it was lovely and I would recommend this place to anyone. As always, the cost mounts up the more you order so if you're really hungry then you'll spend a fortune here. read more

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Ah, San Carlo. It's been a long time since I've visited the Mac Daddy itself, curled up in splendid opulence behind Kendals, a place I'd often bring visitors to as a means to impress them, to prove that Manchester could do high price sophisticated dining with the added spectacle of waiters shouting at each other in Italian. Well, these visitors, my friends, were very rich, and one once gave a homeless man on Deansgate a 10 bob note after a good fee glugs of wine here, despite my protestations. See, these people knew very little about city living. I've yet to have been back to San Carlo for this very reason, as most of my visits here were during a time in my life where I was making massively unwise decisions. Shame it's tarnished a restaurant (as it has a few, ugh) but that didn't stop me checking out THIS San Carlo offering. When Jamie B informed me that they're open for breakfast from 9am, I couldn't resist. Especially after scoping out their menu. Yelp Breakfast Club, here we come! Apologies if anyone rocked up after 10.20am, but I'd scurried off to pick up my new phone. I already knew what I wanted to order before I arrived! For once I made the decision instead of my other half - rare, seriously - and opted for the full breakfast to share, with some blueberry pancakes and syrup. Now as soon as you enter this place you're instantly aware of how different it is to its big brother. Pale colours and silver granite patterns play off the decorative splashes of yellow, and the gold fairy lights add something unique too. It's far quieter, relaxed and more sophisticated - people come here for a completely different ambience, and it provides that in spades. I've only had the breakfast so I can't comment on their small plates, but I'll definitely be back to try them at some stage. We encountered a few moments of confusion upon our visit... One involved the coffee. The full breakfast is served with your choice of a pot of tea or coffee, so we ordered 'the full breakfast with the coffee, and the blueberry pancakes'. After the order had been taken we were asked what kind of coffee we wanted, Americano, cappuccino, latte... We responded that we just wanted the coffee that, er, comes with the full breakfast. 'So regular coffee,' we were asked. I got the feeling we might end up with the wrong coffee. When our breakfasts did arrive, we were handed two black coffees. This was a bit odd - it definitely says you get a pot of tea or coffee with the full breakfast, but perhaps they're used to folks ordering it separately? Anyway it was nice coffee, and the orange juice was great too. Of the full breakfast the stand-out stars were the sausages, the bacon for me (Chris didn't like the way it was cooked but I just loved how salty it was, and other than that, it was all about the pancakes. The poached eggs have left us with a hilarious future story... My husband to be Googling 'are eggs with dark orange yolks safe'. Yes, they are. It's to do with the hen's diet, apparently. The poached eggs were perfect in texture, but little else on the plate excited us. The pancakes were exciting. Reasonably priced and definitely something I'd order again. Despite being called blueberry pancakes they were simple, plain pancakes topped with blueberries and strawberries, and I'd have been interested to see blueberries strewn through the pancake batter to burst upon frying, but really they are good. They're done in a similar way to the ones at Gabriel's Grocery, and we all know how much I love those. I love them unhealthily. Obsessively. Dangerously. It's nice to find ones almost on par this central in Manchester. Wait, is it actually? So a few snags, but overall I'll be back for sure. The pancakes and the intrigue of the small plates, plus indeed brilliantly entertaining toddlers (well, that was just that morning, but still), have all been strong enough to warrant a return. Uenerry read more

San Carlo - Breakfast pancakes at 10am. Syrupy and delicious! - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

San Carlo is well known as being amazing. Even if you book you normally have to wait a little while to be seated. There are quite a few tables crammed in to a relatively small space to it feel quite full. Going at lunch time, there's less atmosphere than in the evening For an evening meal, be prepared for some C-list celebrity spotting - Kym Marsh and the like, maybe some footballers if you're lucky so that's quiet entertaining. The cocktails are incredible so sit at the bar for a drink before going for your meal. If it's not too busy, build a rapor with the one that serves you and they'll treat you really well. Check the blackboard for the constantly changing drinks specials. The seafood is really good - get the Mixed Fish Mediteranneo to share. King prawns, sea bass, salmon, tuna steak, mussels.. cooked in a tomato and wine sauce and served with bread to mop up any extra. However, as steaks go it's fairly standard and I can say I've had better. Also, a friend of mine had a mussel starter where half the mussels were dead and therefore would have been dangerous to eat and would have made her incredibly ill. Fortunately she spotted it. I think San Carlo is more of a destination restaurant because it's a celebrity haunt and has built up its reputation well. It is a great restaurant and totally worth a visit or three but be aware there are other great restaurants in Manchester. read more

San Carlo - Courtesy of www.sancarlo.co.uk - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

This is the review for the main San Carlo Manchester restaurant. Not the the one inside House of Fraser - which is actually called San Carlo Cicchetti. Been here 3 times. Gradually getting worst unfortunately (several years between 1st and 3rd visit). First time was shortly after going to Milan so I had a taste of what proper Italian food should taste like. I had a seafood spaghetti (same as what I had a couple times in Milan) and it was delicious. Not quite as good as Milan but still really good. From what I remember, the service was good too. Another time I went I came I think was with my parents and brother. Once again I went for the seafood spaghetti. Maybe it was because I had such a good one the previous time but it was "pretty good". Certainly would go back again and nothing particular wrong. However, the latest time I went was about a week ago for a friends birthday meal. It was a Saturday lunch at about 1pm and not too busy when we arrived. Its a big restaurant and there was maybe about 10 tables occupied. One thing I did notice was lots of staff. I counted about 15 front of service staff - so more staff than tables occupied. Even though this was the case, it didn't feel like they were 100% attentive. On at least a couple occasions we tried to get someones attention but they all seems to be talking to one another. As for the food, for starter I had the calamari fritti. When I arrived I was a bit disappointed how it looked. Very pale. Taste wise it didn't have that much flavour. Also, it came with a loud of green chills which seems a bit odd. Strangely the chillies didn't give any kick to the calamari itself, even though the chillies were spicy - when I tried one. For main I had, once again, a seafood spaghetti - I do love my seafood. It was a slightly different one to last time. I think previously its been a mixture of seafood - some prawns, clams, mussels, squid etc. This . This time I had the Spaghetti Alle Vongole e gamberoni - basically clams and prawns spaghetti. Tasted OK - nothing special at all unfortunately. Another issue was with my friends meal - the birthday girl - who had the whole sea bass. When it arrived, she found it it had not been de-scaled. She questioned this and they ended up just removing the skin - which wasn't ideal since she wanted the skin. We asked about the fish and the de-scaling and apparently they don't bother de-scaling fish when its a whole fish! Its well known that San Carlo is a place lots of celebs go, it seems especially footballers. If you go to the toilets, you will pass lots of photos of all the celebs who have been here. So my rating of 3/5 takes all 3 visits here into account. read more

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Always love San Carlo for special occasions and surprised there aren't more reviews since it's one of the most well known restaurants in Manchester. This is the original and best of the San Carlo chain, located on King Street West opposite its little sister restaurant San Carlo Cicchetti. Went there for my mum's 60th and as usual in December, it was packed to the brim with rather inebriated people and decked in fairy lights. Great atmosphere, dress code is dressy. By dressy I mean girls in sparkly dresses that barely cover their underwear and heels that make them walk like bambi. There's a bar near the door where you can grab a drink before your meal and you'll see photos of celebrities and footballers who've visited San Carlo all over the walls. It's highly likely you actually will see someone recognisable in there. Venue is big and rather noisy- lots of people watching to be done. The food is always of a high quality and authentic- typical Italian dishes including pastas, bruschetta etc. I had the tuna carpaccio off the specials menu, followed by the spaghetti bolognese and the panna cotta for dessert. My mum had the melon and Parma ham followed by the Saltimbocca A La Romana. Portions are pretty big and filling, I could have happily had a starter portion of the pasta. Thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The restaurant is on the pricier side- total for 3 people with two glasses of wine came to £117. But with San Carlo it's always a bit of a treat and you get the atmosphere. All the waiters and staff in there are Italian and the food comes rapidly- can't complain about the service. Have been here a few times and would always go back. read more

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Pleasantly surprised to find this caliber Italian in Manchester. I've enjoyed the personal and prompt service at San Carlo many times as a member of small and large groups on week nights and weekends and the quality of service and food remains strong in this always packed restaurant. Start off with a glass of prosecco and carpaccio then shift into a bottle of Barolo that complements the risotto, lobster ravioli or my favorite, the monk fish on the bone. It will melt in your mouth. San Carlo is refreshing and a must visit on any trip to Manchester. I look forward to my next visit. read more

The San Carlo name never lets you down. I tried the bolognese tagliatelle and spaghetti carbonara and its as good of an italian food as it gets in Manchester. The portions were very decent for about £6 per plate. It is even cheaper than Zizzi and it is so much more delicious. Can't believe I haven't been here while living so close to it. Will definitely be back soon to try other food. read more

San Carlo - Tagliatelle bolognese - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Simply the best restaurant in Manchester! I've never been a massive fan of the original San Carlo mainly due to the service, prices and my fellow diners. However, Cicchetti is perfect on each of these scores, the service is relaxed but attentive, the prices are fair for the quality of the food and there aren't as many WAGs and scallies as across the road. So, to the food, I love the fact that everything is small it means that I can order loads of different dishes and try them all. I've read that the ingredients are sourced from Italian markets (who cares about food miles when the food is this good) and you can tell this when the smallest things like tomatoes and mushrooms, taste so much better than normal tomatoes and mushrooms. Everybody should go to Cicchetti if just to sit at the bar with some wine and olives and soak up the atmosphere. read more

This is a must visit! The food is gorgeous, the service is impeccable and it's quite reasonably priced! Great food, atmosphere and helpful staff! read more

San Carlo's is amazing. As in when you first walk through the door, you are amazed. It's a bit of everything really, the beautiful decor, the gorgeous smell of the food, the buzzing atmosphere, the friendly greeting...all of it. As you are ushered to your table, you find yourself being more amazed, the vast menu, the incredible wine list, the beyond attentive waiters, it's all a bit too much. It's the perfect restaurant if you're trying to impress someone, the food is very very good. The prices are a little high but you don't mind as the experience is so good! It's not the sort of place you want to go to regularly, it's hard to relax in such busy surroundings and you're so in awe that you're constantly aware of everything around you. Booking is pretty much essential, especially at weekends. read more

What is all the hype about? This place was meant to be the bees-knees when it came to a good Italian in the city so I was excited to go after booking my table for a Friday evening. When we arrived we were left standing at the bar for at least 30 minutes in the hustle and bustle it was anything but the relaxing atmosphere I was looking for. After checking with the waitress 2-3 times to ask what the hold up was we were eventually seated in the packed floor of the restaurant. I am not a fan of the layout to say the least - the tables are packed together so that you feel like you are sat with those strangers on the next table over who are having a domestic mid-meal. I tried to not let this bother me as our drinks order was taken moments later - after prompt service we both ordered a pasta dish. I went for the lobster ravioli and my friend opted for the black pasta. Both arrived looking delicious however I wasn't sold on the taste. They were so salty - I usually like to season my own food however that option was already decided for me. Unfortunately I won't be back in a hurry - with the food being below average and nightmare wait at the beginning of the meal it has put me off for life! The value of food and drink here is way overpriced and isn't reflected in the ambiance. Stay clear if you are looking for an upmarket Italian! read more

Without a doubt, one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Manchester, and perhaps even in Britain. When we walked in here we could sense immediately that everything about this place revolves around quality, from the flawless decor, the bustling waiters attending to the guests' every need and last not but least the aroma of grilled vegetables, meats and garlic. The menu is traditional, all the classic pasta dishes you'd expect, but delivered to such a high standard you'd think you were Rome. Then there's the grilled fish and meat dishes, which I personally gravitate towards as they're cooked to perfection, with the most incredible attention to detail in their sauces and garnishes. The waiters are very knowledgeable, and swiftly replenish your glasses and remove your plates without being intrusive. It's an incredible and very professional operation that has recently gained a lot of rave reviews in publications such as the Times and Vogue. It's pricey but worth every penny. Remember to book. read more

Pretty but expensive facsimile of the real thing There's a trend in evening dining for small dishes for sharing, accompanied by a glass of wine before moving on to the next place. Tapas, dim sum, sushi, canapés: these are the ones you already know. Cicchetti is the Italian version and that's what San Carlo offers, but only for its starter menu. Okay portions but quite expensive for what you get: I've had the real deal in Venice and it was glorious. This was okay, a glamorous version of finger food with very good wine, but I would be wary of suggesting that it's really cicchetti to visitors. Possibly more Italian than many chains, but not a must-visit. read more

AMAZING food - its worth a visit, especially when there's live music. Best gnocchi I've ever had was their chicken dish with a mustard cream sauce. Their caprese was incredibly fresh and their tiramisu was the pheonominal topping to already wonderful meal. Make reservations and go - you won't regret it. read more

Ridiculously pretentious. This is a 4-star restaurant posing as a 6-star restaurant (if there was such a thing). The food was good, but not great. So why does this restaurant deserve no more than 2 stars? Pretentious-- and lousy-- service. Despite the fact that there were almost as many wait-staff as guests, all strutting around in smart suits, it took forever to order, then the order was wrong. Worse, the waiter was absolutely useless when I had questions about the menu. My queries seemed to be quite an imposition, and he had nothing useful to offer. At till time my waiter begrudgingly accepted my corporate AMEX, as tribute I imagine to his royal waiterness. If this establishment wants to earn 5 stars, they need to be brilliant with all three of these: Quality of food, Excellence of service, and a fair and reasonable value. At this point it has none of these 5-star qualities. read more

I thought that this restaurant would have been reviewed already because it is, I am told, very famous in Manchester and many of the Manchester United players wine and dine here. (David Beckham was there the following night I read in the local newspaper.) It's a very big restaurant and very crowded. My Norwegian friend was visiting with his brother and so he wanted to go there so the 3 of us made reservations. Well an hour after the reservation, we were seated. I'll bet Beckham didn't have to wait that long! It isn't a cheap place to eat but there are some reasonable dishes on the menu that aren't overly expensive compared to other Manchester restaurants. The food was very good, which is a plus. Was it fantastic, as my friend kept boasting about.... nah, not really. It was very good but perhaps having lived in Italy for 5 years has made me skeptical. I recommend this place if you have a hundred quid or so to blow on a really nice meal. read more

San Carlo is a pleasant Italian restaurant on King Street. The menu is a little bit safe, with nothing too daring on there. Having said that the quality of the food is good and portion sizes are decent. Prices aren't ridiculous but are a little on the expensive side. The restaurant itself is well designed, bright and modern. Service is attentive, perhaps too much so - one of my female friends was offered a lift home from the waiter after he realised she'd missed the last train home! In another town I would praise this place more highly, however with stiff local competition from Piccolino's, Croma and Felicini's, San Carlo could do more to deliver a winning experience. read more

Fabulous food. I really really enjoyed our night here, although they loose a star for making us wait after we had booked. We had a booth and whilst private you could people watch, and with many a minor celeb and anumber of footballers there's quite a bit to see! Staff where very attentive and prices although expensive where competative to other restaurants in the city. Would definately go back as the food was fantastic and lets face it thats the main reason your there. read more

San Carlo is without doubt my favourite restaurant in Manchester, the atmosphere is bustly, the food is delicious and the service is attentive. I have never seen so many waiters in any other restaurant, they are constantly walking around the floor making sure that no one is waiting for service. I find San Carlo to be slightly more expensive that other Italian restaurants in the city centre but worth every penny. Book early if you want a table at the weekend and although there is no dress code i'd recommend you dress to impress if you don't want to feel out of place. You'll quite often find footballers and minor celebs in here at a weekend. read more

As soon as you walk in the place you are amazed. Had three course meal and everything was fresh and delicious. Portions were pretty big, but still found a room for Tiramisu. Not only food is great there but also atmosphere. Great service! read more

San Carlo - Italian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Based on breakfast only. Some ingredients were good quality, namely bacon and black pudding, but sausages were cheap and everything was poorly cooked. Poached eggs were hard boiled and the replacement scrambled were too rich. The standard coffee included was possibly recycled dishwater. Service is of the Euro style snooty and patronising as it is across the road. To conclude; good value, worth a try, but definitely not worth regular trips. read more

Manchester has many new restaurants popping up, and a few (like this) have stayed the course of time and become 'institutions' in their own right with regular customers, regular staff, and consistent delivery of excellent food and service. Set just off deansgate, a throw from Kendals, this restaurant has a lot more personality than many of its branded counterparts, and contrary to other reviews here, the quality of the food and experience is significantly beyond other 'chain' eateries (as mentioned in the other review here). The restaurant certainly isn't cheap, but no good dining venue is. Book in advance for fri/sat for sure. read more

Went on a wet Monday night in July. Was packed - which to me is a good thing as it shows it must be good. And it was. Quick service, good food and reasonable prices. Drinks are expensive and they don't do pints which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. Many celebrities have visited the place if the photos on the wall are anything to go by. Not that we saw any - although there was a chap there who looked slightly like Paul Hollywood, if that counts. I'd definitely go back if that's anything to go by. read more

This is one of my favourite restaurants of all time. Lobster Tagliolini is absolutely amazing. I can't praise this restaurant enough, I have been maybe 10/12 times and have never had a bad meal. The waiters are brilliant and the restaurant seems to have a life of its own. This is the restaurant I take all of my visitors to and each time it becomes their favourite restaurant. At the minute its dressed for christmas and looks fab, with all the red lighting and the massive flower arrangements. The menu is huge it takes ages just to decide what your having. The Lobster Ravioli, Lamb Chops and Veal are all excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. But book in advance its a nightmare getting a table, especially at Christmas. read more

When you walk into San Carlos you will immediately notice the photographs of celebrities eating in the restaurant. Usually this would make me a bit wary of a place - it always seems a little desperate like 'look Wayne Rooney gets his head shaved here!!' or 'We told Patsy Palmer her future!!'. Big Whup. But at San Carlos the calibre of celebrity makes you think, hmmm...maybe it is quite cool that they've eaten here actually... Famous patrons aside, the food here is really great. Of special mention is the mushroom tortellini which comes in a rich nutty sauce which is hideously addictive. The pizza is also great, as are the salads if you fancy a healthy option. I'm not that into fish but my boyfriend always has a fish dish here and always remarks on how fresh their fish is, so I'll take his word for it. They have some great wines to compliment what you're eating, and some lovely coffees and liqueurs for after. The service has a military precision which you only get in family-led Italian restaurants, and the food comes out just at the right time (enough time to have had a drink, gone for a wee and eaten some olives, not too long to leave you twiddling your thumbs or oggling a waiter). A great place for a date or to take the parents, I'd recommend San Carlos on any night of the week. read more

Horrendous service. Arrived with my mum with a few shopping bags as I was treating her to a weekend in Manchester. Wouldn't mind waiting for a table, but we weren't even acknowledged. I had to go up to a server to get their attention, to be shooed to the back of the restaurant (no words, just pointed in the direction of the back) like we were dirt, to be then told (even though the bar was empty) that basically, we'd have to wait. So we left then. Food could be great I really don't know - but the experience we had was SO upsetting and it seems that the workers here really have very little respect for anyone who isn't dressed in fancy designer clothes. Avoid at all costs if you're not into that kinda judgmental place. read more

I was expecting this to be the best Italian after hearing so much about this place but I really don't see the hype and was really disappointed! The staff were awful and seemed like that you the paying customer was lucky to be in there! I didn't think the menu was Upto anything and thought it was just box standard. Don't get me wrong when the food did finally turn up it was nice but when the bill came and I saw how much it cost I really didn't think you was getting value for money! read more

Still perfer San Carlo across the street though. Me and other three friends came here for dinner tonight. I dont know if its because we didnt order well or what. Im not really impressed by the dishes. The selection of bread comes first, i expect it to be warm but it isnt, and it tastes not fresh. Then the Margherita lights up our faces. Crab with Avocado is not seasoned properly but the chicken breat salad does a good job on that. I had Ossobuco with risotto for main from daily special board. The ossobuco is cooked very well, its juciy and tender, well seasoned. Apart from that the risotto seems pretty boring for me. My friends had seafood spaghetti and lasagna and risotto lobster. They said they are pretty good. Finally the only thing I was looking forward to try since I missed that last time at San Carlo's, the dessert palette! Though there are few disappointing dishes but the dessert truly made our night! Hahahah. Btw staff are friendly and its not busy for Monday night so you can get a table easily. However, i would still recommend San carlo if you want some decent italian tastes. read more

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I've now been here two times when traveling to Manchester and have been blown away each time. Food is prepared to impressive perfection and service is attentive and knowledgable. Quite simply, I don't think you can go wrong here. read more

San Carlo is a fairly new restaurant in central Manchester, I actually went hear last week to eat with a group of friends and found it very nice. The restaurant/bar looks quite bit from the outside and when you get it is obvious to see that it is much bigger in reality. The restaurant itself offers a huge variety of Italian dishes, in my opinions this is one of the best Italian restaurants in Manchester. Although it has not been open for long it has a great reputation for the quality of the food and surprisingly the cost is not too great. I understand this is a chain restaurant with a few other in major other UK cities. This is the first one I have eaten at and I would definitely go again. read more

Great atmosphere and authentic food. Great, rich favours and good value for money. The place has a real buzz to it. Try the spinach soufflé!

Lovely food, nice setting, perfect location for lunch as it is right at the side of Kendall's. The only criticism I have is that the 'specials', whilst extensive, haven't changed for almost 5 years since they opened!!!! The best dish is the Lobster Tagliolini- huge portion, half a lobster and great value at £15. The wine is always lovely, and the service is good. However if you happen to be dressed wrong, I have noticed that you get relegated to second class, and put in the far right corner where scruffs and children usually end up. Their other restaurants in Birmingham and Leicester are also fantastic, but the Manchester one just seems more alive. read more

real italian home-cooking at very good prices. service is brisk and friendly. you could be in italy. no more to be said. drool over the website for details. http://www.sancarlocicchetti.co.uk/ # read more

I went here not long ago and had a really great meal. Service was very efficient I felt and the food was of very good standard. Always seems very busy, but it is a credit to the staff that they are able to keep the high standard of service up at all times. I loved my dining experience here, and am definately going to return if only to try something else on the vast menu. Well recommended. read more

San carlo is a lovely italian resturaunt in manchester and i don't think it has been here very long but already it has such a good reputation. The menu is very long and it is hard to decide what to have because everything sounds so tasty! Everytime i have come in here in the past the food has been delicious and always made fresh. You don't have to wait to long for your order either. The restaurant is kept very clean and to a high standard. It is a little bit expensive but i don't mind paying a bit extra to eat here. My favourite dish in here is the classic spaghetti bolognese! The chef is brilliant and he always pays extra attention to detail! I really cannot fault this restaurant at all! read more

Great italian food with a huge menu & lots of waiters! I usually go here at lunchtime & it seems busy even at lunchtime on random days like tuesday, but the service is still good & there's a always a nice buzz about the place. They seem to be able to accommodate groups pretty easily too. read more

This is a great little place. I come here for cheeky celebrations or a birthday. The food is incredible, they have loads of Italian tapas portions which are great so you have tons of small dishes. They really look after you and the food is amazing :) read more