Reviews in Manchester City Centre

I booked a table here for friends a few weeks ago. I'd been here many a time and never had a bad dish. It smelled good as we sat down but we all walked out when we realised that Red Chilli sells shark fin soup. I've only just heard about the effect the demand for shark fin soup is causing, many sharks will be extinct in 15 years. What a shame. I hope they remove it from the menu soon so we can return.

I could quite easily wax lyrical about the talent and creativity that Robert shows in his menu for far longer than I care to write and certainly for far longer than you’d care to read…... However Robert Owen-Brown may be the Angel of the north, but his front of house staff are beyond redemption! This was our second visit to the Angel, or more accurately, the Angel’s second chance. Like many other customers on our first visit we’d experience a few mix-ups and just like those other customers, we’d put them down to teething trouble. So after a four month gap, we were sure they’d have been resolved. I fortunately, was lucky enough to be notified payment was still by cheque or cash only, so I came prepared. My party arrived 15 minutes early for our table. We were seated at our table after spending a few minutes helping the staff find our booking (which eventually was done by spotting my mobile number in their diary - next to a name that who ever had taken the booking had managed to invent). After two truly wonderful courses, we were presented with the desert menu and after a few minutes, the waitress returned to take our order, or so we thought. We were actually informed that we weren’t allowed to have dessert, as they needed the table back in five minutes for another party. After going back ‘to check’ a second member of staff came to the table to reiterate that they needed the table back and told us that we had been informed that this would be the case when we booked the table. Having booked the table myself, we weren’t. We were then told that it was house policy to only allocate an hour and a half per service. Weather the waiting staff had simply forgot to mention the 90 minute turn around on tables (both on the phone and when we were being seated) and were then too inept to perform their regulation 90 minute service even with the extra fifteen minutes we had given them by arriving early, or they had invented the whole story to cover-up a double booking. They stood there and lied to us. I can forgive mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s how you handle them that matters. When I get something wrong, I hold my hand up, I don’t lie to cover my own arse! Robert, over the years, myself and guests have provided you with well over a hundred covers at all three of your Mancunian pubs. Sadly, courtesy of you staff’s inexcusable behaviour, tonight’s visit will be our last! Needless to say when we were asked by the maitre d' if “everything was OK” I’m sure you can imagine our response.

Certainly can recommend the fishcakes starter with sweet chilli sauce - these were definitely home made. Portions are large in comparison with the price. Everything is made fresh. The chef is very friendly as are the other bar/kitchen staff. Chef will even come personally to ask if everything is OK with your meal and, will even serve the food to your table himself. A very relaxed atmosphere in a traditional pub with modern decor. Well worth a visit!!

Went with Chinese foodie friends who know a thing or two about good Cantonese food. Great experience, the best dim sum I've had. We gave ourselves over to our friends' recommendations and were rewarded with plate after plate of delightful textures and flavours. My favourite dish? The BBQ Honey Pork steamed buns. I could eat - oooh - 20 of these babies in one sitting! The price? Amazing value - Seventy quid for six of us. The decor is groovy - a style best described as 'opulent kitsch' but perfect for the occasion. Please go - you won't regret it

Very nice pub run by very nice people. The menu is changeable, but usually contains the usual suspects like fish & chips, steak and ale pie and steaks, as well as some slightly different dishes such as duck with berry sauce, garlic chicken, or salmon with a white wine sauce. All dishes are home made by an extremely proud chef. Prices are good (in proportion with quantity as well as quality). If you're into roast dinners then a visit on a Sunday is a must!! With Chicken, Lamb or Beef on the menu and various starters and desserts too. I recently tried the starter of Black Pudding (real bury black pudding) with peppercorn sauce and melted cheese - this was fantastic!! The peach melba was a star dessert too. I highly recommend this pub for food, drink and a truly relaxing time.

I would highly recommend Sweet Mandarin. A number of friends and I visited for dinner and had a great time. The food was fresh, delicious and probably the best Chinese I've tasted in ages. We ordered the Mabel's Claypot Chicken, Lily's curry, Sweet and Sour Chicken, King Prawn Satay, Mixed Vegetables and Tofu and Wambamboo (Char Sui and Mushrooms). It was good to see that they had Chinese favourites and home recipes on the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun. The service was exceptional - friendly and knowledgeable. Sweet Mandarin is in the heart of the Northern Quarter which is a huge plus - its a great place to hang out during the weekend. I will definitely be back soon.

I had a reservation 5.30 Saturday evening, December 6th. Got there at 5.30 on the dot, place full downstairs. People in front being told they will have to wait 15 mins and told to go to bar for a drink. I said I had a reservation but they said my table was not raedy for 15 mins and to go to bar. I did not want a drink at the packed bar so waited by entrance. Afetr 2 or 3 minutes we were taken upstairs and all of the tables were empty!. I feel as though we were told to go to the bar only so as to get us to spend more money! After ordering food, waited 30 minutes for starter - just tapas. Then waited another half an hour for the amin courses to arrive. Apparently not enough staff in the kitchen to handle a full restaurant. The main courses were OK but only OK. I would say stick to the tapas and not go for the main courses. Out of 10, i would give the experience 2.

Very disappointing recently. Used to be a regular but the standard of service and quality of food has been slowly getting worse. After the last visit one of our party was given a meat dish, after checking that it was the veggie option he had ordered, and being told it was, he tucked in.....to a chicken rogan josh! This was the final straw for me!

I had the 2nd Set menu here, the starters were very nice and the seafood salad was very spicy and very nice, though I found the main courses were more akin to Chinese cuisine than thai, also the Beef Green Curry was extremely salty.

I started going to Happy Seasons in 1983! I know it is the best because I love my food and travel a long way to get there. I not only eat in but more often than not get a takeout. Everyone knows you can get your £4.50 sweet and sour chicken and rice extra from any chinese takeaway but the quality at HS is second to none. Please don't just believe what I say, try it and you won't go anywhere else..

This restaurant works. It is clinical the staff are welcoming and the pizzas are loaded. I had the Asian Chicken Pizza and it was the best i have had in any pizza restaurant. Nice little bar next door as well. Keep up the good work.

We went to the Angel on Saturday 20th December. The pub hasn't changed much inside since the beer house days, and neither has the quality of the beer, both excellent. There was six in our group and we tried a variety of dishes. The salmon was fantastic, well cooked and fresh, the beef was succulent, chips are moreish, dessert are a triumph - we tried the Lemon tart and this was refreshing and light. We will definitely be returning. You really should try this place, is a true Mancunian establishment with excellent food, good beer and a reasonable wine list. Huzzah

Akbars was very good a while back, but recently the food is average. Hardly any dish's taste different. It is cheap though if your on a budget. It's very busy due to high numbers of asians who go there as they like value for money rather than quality

After reading various reviews on the Koh samui, i decided to book our Christmas meal for 29 people. The service and food was excellent. We were well looked after, from start to finish. Fantastic.

Went for the first time this week after trying numerous times. I shouldn't have bothered. I fail to see how people can say this is the best in Manchester, as it is far from that. We ordered eight tapas dish's between two of us and from that, one dish was ok (chicken with paprika). I ordered a mushroom dish with cheese that came as mushroom in a tomato sauce, as the waitress obviously misheard me say 38! That was ok but at 4.75 I would have expected more than 3 button mushrooms, absolute ripoff. Very average food, hardly any taste and we both found it bland Anyway the bill came to Fifty one pounds (inc 4 bottles perroni) and we both left still feeling peckish. Can't believe so many people rave about the place. But it has got a good atmosphere.

This is our preferred restaurant above all in China Town. Service is always superb, food is excellent and always hot. Now going into our second year of eating there for evenings out or a snack during the daytime. Excellent prices and a huge menu to choose from. Go here if you want quick friendly service in a very quiet surrounding.

Tried Dough Yesterday evening after just moving to the area. This is a no brainer alternative to the pizza hut and pizza express chains, the food is far superior and the DOUGH is home made on the premises... you can taste the difference. Had the Xmas pizza! very festive very filling very tasty and i got a starter and a mince pie and coffee for £11! excellent value. Staff were really friendly and definitely an experience I will be doing again and recommending others do!

I'm no foodie but I know what I like. I was hungry and was out with three foodies. I've had a nice in Japanese meal in Manchester and Wilmslow before but all for of us agreed that this was the best authentic Japanese meal in the city. The service was helpful without being intrusive and the sushi platter was enjoyed so much that we ordered another straight after the first. Fresh, tasty and well presented. As is the style these days the kitchen was open and the cooked meat dishes were enjoyed by all. Bottled Asahi and Sapporo suited our taste and the manager had gone to great lengths to ensure that the food was at the top of the agenda. The menu was extensive too without breaking the bank in this credit crunch era. We'll be back and get a green tea in :-)