The highly-regarded list of the best restaurants in the UK and Ireland, the Michelin Guide, has now revealed which restaurants have received one, two or three stars for 2023. Despite the culinary talent found in Manchester, there were no new restaurants in the city that joined the coveted list, however our one and only Michelin Star restaurant, Mana, successfully managed to retain such an accolade once again this year, but did not receive a further star.
Opening back in 2018 on Ancoats’ Blossom Street, Mana has held its star since it was in its infancy – receiving it just one year into the business and becoming Manchester’s first Michelin Star in over 40 years. And today, the Michelin Guide has revealed that Mana will retain that star, maintaining its position as Manchester’s only holder. Yet, this year did also see The Sparrows in Manchester receive a Bib Gourmand, not a star but an award recognising top places to eat at great value.
When speaking of Mana, the Michelin Guide said: “The personality of chef-owner Simon Martin shines brightly at this stylish, modern restaurant in the lively Ancoats area of Manchester, where every one of the well-spaced tables has a view of the kitchen. The same fixed price, surprise multi-course menu is now served at both lunch and dinner, and the emphasis is on seafood because, as Simon puts it, ‘we live on an island’.
“While most of the produce is British, dishes incorporate influences from Simon’s travels and experiences, most notably Japanese and Nordic. Powerful flavours are the chef’s hallmark, and the sophisticated, modern dishes are precisely crafted, original and well-balanced. Each dish has a thoughtfully chosen wine to complement it, the ambience is calm and unhurried, and the bright young team are enthusiastic and refreshingly free from pomp.”
The British restaurant creates stunning dishes made using the finest produce found on the Isles, from seafood and beef to the finest, locally-sourced vegetables. Mana likes to use fermentation as one of the three main pillars of cooking, producing their our own miso, garum, lacto-ferments, kombucha, and vinegars.
The Michelin Star restaurant in Manchester serves a set dinner menu at £195 per head and £95 per head for the reduced dinner menu, however, due to the ever-changing nature of the dishes, no menu is available on the Mana website.
Other Manchester restaurants that get a mention in the guide are Canto, 63 Degrees, Habas, Erst, El Gato Negro, Adam Reid at The French, Tast, Another Hand, Osma, Perfect Match, Where The Light Gets In and Levanter.