We’re quite frankly fed up with amazing businesses having to close in Manchester, so we’re very happy to bring the news that there’s one starting a brand new chapter in the city centre. Breathing new life into Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square, Delhi-inspired modern kitchen, Indian Affair, is set to open its new Manchester venue this September.
Following success with an existing restaurant on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton, which opened in October 2022, the second Indian Affair has taken over the former Rigatoni’s site in Ancoats, with bookings available from Friday 20 September.
Owned by husband and wife, Harshit and Natasha Chopra, the new restaurant which focuses on Indian small plates and thalis, is the first of its kind in Cutting Room Square. Following visits to various locations within Manchester city centre, the couple fell in love with the Ancoats space.
Harshit said: “We always dreamed about opening a city centre restaurant. We’ve been totally blown away with the love for our Chorlton site, and extremely grateful to those who’ve visited and made it a success.
“As a family, we enjoy spending time in Ancoats, exploring the restaurants and Sunday markets. Cutting Room Square has a community like no other, we felt it was the perfect space for a modern Indian restaurant.”
Dishes are inspired by the couple’s favourite flavours of home in Delhi, with every dish on the menu hand-selected by Harshit and Natasha. The menu focuses on Delhi-inspired small plates and thalis, the latter, a selection of smaller plates served on an Indian style round platter, offering guests a bit of everything, available in vegan, vegetarian and meat versions.
Indian Affair encourages guests to dine family-style, where socialising, sharing, and tasting a bit of everything on the table, is a must. Small plates range from £5 – £13, with favourites including chicken tikka samosa, spinach fritters drizzled with yoghurt, tamarind and mint chutney, chargrilled lamb chops, and tandoori king prawns in garlic and garam masala.
In addition to offering traditional food from Delhi, Indian Affair has curated dishes with a modern twist including chicken and paneer bao and malai artichoke. The menu also features biryanis, fluffy freshly cooked naans, paranthas, and rotis from the clay oven tandoor, alongside a selection of rice, salads and chutneys.
Exclusive to Ancoats is the new Indian Affair lunch menu featuring filled naan rolls, plus modern Indian twists on loaded burgers and bao, priced from £8, and all served up with crispy masala wedges. Sure to be a hit with the locals, for sit in and takeaway, paneer tikka or lamb seekh can be enjoyed in a garlic naan, rolled up and packed with fresh onion salad, mint and coriander chutney.
Or if you fancy a burger, the butter chicken burger is the couple’s favourite new addition to the menu – and not one to be missed. Cobra will be served on draft, met with wines, alcohol free options and a selection of cocktails.
Natasha said: “Our small plate concept has been a great success in Chorlton. We know the demographic in Ancoats enjoy sharing food whilst socialising, so we hope the menu will be popular. We’re excited to try out our new lunch menu with Indian twists on your favourite lunch classics. We’re looking forward to welcoming you all very soon.”
Indian Affair showcases North Indian cuisine, inspired by Delhi’s diverse flavours and home-style cooking, reflecting both the traditional and modern sides of the city.
Indian Affair Ancoats is available to book from Friday 20 September.
📍 Indian Affair will be located at 46 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BA.