Manchester is brimming with food options to fill your belly for days but sometimes we like to be a bit fancy but on a budget. With just one Michelin-starred restaurant to Manchester’s name and it not being the cheapest of eateries in the city, where can Mancs get world-class grub but at an affordable price? Well, as well as awarding stars to top dining establishments, the Michelin Guide has also highlighted a few (or in Manchester’s case, a couple) of affordable restaurants to visit. So, without further ado…
El Gato Negro
One of the most popular and affordable tapas restaurants to visit in Manchester, El Gato Negro is highly regarded by the Michelin Guide, awarding it a Bib Gourmand for good quality, good value cooking. Both a dreamy and reasonably-priced choice whether it be a date night or catch up with friends and family, El Gato Negro offers a taste of Spain without the need to jump on a flight thanks to its food and rooftop terrace.
Offering a good value dining deal of three tapas dishes for £18, there’s plenty to choose from (vegans and vegetarians are covered), all of which are decent portion sizes and certainly do not lack flavour. Plus, the drinks list is pretty extensive with lots of cocktails including sangria as well as an impressive sherry selection.
What did the Michelin Guide say?
The buzzy ‘Black Cat’ sits in a pedestrianised street. The ground floor houses a bar, the first floor plays host to an industrial-style dining room and the top floor is home to a private events space with a retractable roof. Appealing tapas dishes include meats from the Josper grill.
🍽️ What to order: You cannot go wrong with some classic patatas bravas (the closest you’ll get to the ones in España), any of their croquetas (such as salt cod and jamón Ibérico), mini Catalan chorizo cooked in cider, Padrón peppers, and crispy squid with lemon aioli. If you want to splash the cash a little bit, add a charcuterie board which features chorizo bellota, lomo, salchichon, manchego, Monte Enebro goats cheese and olive torta.
📍El Gato Negro, 52 King Street, M2 4LY.
OSMA
Adding to the Michelin Guide list of affordable restaurants in Manchester is OSMA, a neighbourhood restaurant and bar situated in Prestwich, north of the Manchester city centre, complete with Scandi vibes and a decent price tag.
Run by Danielle, who appeared earlier this year on the cooking programme The Great British Menu which showcases some top-class cookery, which can also be found at this restaurant. OSMA also has a kitchen within food hall Exhibition on Peter Street, offering small plates with finesse that pay homage to both Manchester and Scandinavia.
What did the Michelin Guide say?
Located in the city’s northern suburbs, this restaurant’s name is a nod to the owners’ birthplaces – OSlo and MAnchester. Set lunch menus are replaced in the evening by tempting small plates, which can be accompanied with wine and cocktails. The stylish room comes with an open kitchen, a communal island table and smart curved banquettes.
🍽️ What to order: The menu changes weekly depending on the season and ingredients available but favourites of ours include: Tuna sashimi with caper vinaigrette, parsley, shallot and fermented chilli (a classic OSMA dish with fresh ingredients), Oyster with XO dressing and coriander (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it), Crispy new potatoes with brown butter hollandaise and chives (you can’t go wrong with a crispy potato and these are fancy and flavoursome ones). OSMA’s Sunday roast is also not to be sniffed at with three courses costing £29.
📍 OSMA, 132 Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 0AA | Exhibition, St George’s House, 56 Peter Street, M2 3NQ.