/THE BEST OF MANCHESTER A TASTE OF SPAIN
FROM Basque pintxos to Catalan cuisine, Greater Manchester’s Spanish food scene has never been better or more varied. An influx of established names like El Gato Negro and Iberica have joined quality local forerunners like El Rincon de Rafa and Evuna in the city centre in recent years, and there are some real gems out in the suburbs too.
With Tast, a new Catalan restaurant from multi-Michelin starred chef Paco Perez , also on the way soon too, you’d only be more spoiled for choice in Spain itself. El Gato Negro, Manchester city centre Lighting up the lower end of King Street, Simon Shaw’s acclaimed tapas restaurant moved to Manchester from its original home in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, in 2016. The open kitchen revolves around the Josper grill, lending a smoky depth to dishes including Pedro Ximenez-glazed baby back pork ribs; beef fillet skewers with mojo rojo; and lamb skewers with spiced chickpea puree and harissa. There’s also a downstairs charcuterie bar where you can park yourself to nibble on Iberico ham, cured meats and cheeses. Behind the bar there’s a great selection of wines, bottled craft ales and their own cerveza on tap. But it’s the cava and sherries you need to get into, from crisp, dry palate cleansers to sweet dessert wines that will make you want more dessert to justify the extra glass. There’s a good cocktail menu here too courtesy of top floor cocktail bar The Black Cat complete with a retractable roof for al fresco drinks on sunny days. Dishes range from a few pounds to around £13, so you can pick at some smaller plates and go for value or you can hang it around a couple of bigger plates and boards and go from there.
52 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LY | elgatonegrotapas.com | 0161 694 8585 Levanter and Baratxuri, Ramsbottom This Spanish double header of top class tapas venues is out in Ramsbottom, Bury - one of Greater Manchester’s most gastronomically pleasing enclaves. They’re owned by the same people, meaning the standard is high in both places. Head to Levanter for Andalusian tapas such as pigs’ cheeks braised in rioja, cloves and honey, with celeriac puree and almonds, and seared mackerel with sticky tomato and pepper salsa, or settle in at the bar at Baratxuri to graze on Basque-style pintxos and raciones. A few glasses of Txakoli - a sparkling white wine that’s big in the Basque country - should help transport you to sunnier climes.
10 Square Street, Ramsbottom, BL0 9AT | levanterfinefoods.co.uk | 01706 551530 Tapeo & Wine, city centre Part-owned by United star Juan Mata and his dad, this smart Deansgate tapas bar is another popular choice with the club’s Spanish contingent who were out in force for its launch party. The menu includes a charcuteria selection with cured meats, air-dried and marinated fish and Spanish cheeses, while tapas range from wild mushroom croquetas (£5.80) and roasted octopus with hummus and sesame (£12.50) to fried duck eggs with potatoes, padron peppers and chorizo (£7.50). Larger plates include roasted suckling pig with tomato jam and rocket (£19.50) and duck paella (£25.50 between two). Cava is a particular speciality here, complementing a carefullychosen selection of Spanish wines, while Estrella Galicia is the beer of choice. Tapas and charcuteria plates range from about £4-8 while larger plates will set you back anywhere between £15-25.
209 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3NW | tapeoandwine.com | 0161 832 2770 Tinto, Didsbury Opened by the couple who founded Tapeo & Wine, neighbourhood restaurant Tinto is Didsbury’s first asador - a restaurant specialising in cooking over open flames. The menu revolves around its charcoal oven, turning out Spanish specialities such as Menorcan milk-fed lamb shoulder and whole wild turbot. The restaurant is also one of only a handful in Greater Manchester to serve Rubia Gallega Chuletón - a 45-day aged steak from 10-year-old Galician Blond cattle, priced at £7.50 per 100g. A tapas selection also includes dishes such as Iberico pork cheeks braised in wine (£5.75), arroz negro with squid and Spanish wild garlic (£5.20), along with larger dishes such as Valencian paella (£12), made the authentic way with rabbit and chicken on the bone. The menu also features cured meats and cheeses imported through the owners’ Spanish food supply business Lola España, plus a drinks selection centred around Spanish wine, cava, sherry, gin and beer.
784-788 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, M20 2DR | tintodidsbury.com | 0161 4451042 Porta, Altrincham Situated just opposite Altrincham Market, Porta made another welcome mark on Greater Manchester’s