HERE’S a look at the glorious interior of San Carlo Fumo – a typically lavish design (and that is a good thing) by Bernard Carroll, responsible for several of contemporary Manchester’s finest restaurant lay-outs.
It occupies a prominent position across the ground and first floors at One St Peter’s Square, opposite the iconic revamped Central Library. It’s the family-owned San Carlo group’s fifth city centre site and the most spectacular yet. Witness the 15 metre long curved marble bar that greets you on your entrance from Oxford Street
It describes itself as a restaurant, cocktail and late lounge concept. It features a grand sweeping staircase linking the two floors and a terrace for al fresco dining. Oh and it looks ubercomfortable. Thet are even planning a coffee and pastry station beneath the staircase in the Ones St Peter Square Lobby, making it sn all-day operation.
The man in everyday charge is Alessandro Distefano (son of founder Carlo Distefano and brother of MD Marcello). He said: "We want people to be able to use Fumo from breakfast until the early hours, to enjoy the late lounge long after eating, to come even if they haven't been eating, take a stool at the huge bar and dive into our cocktails."
Hence a late license that on Saturdays stretches to 2am.
The food offering follows the success of the group’s Cicchetti restaurants in Manchester and London – expect expertly crafted small plate Italian and Mediterranean dishes. All dishes will be made on the premises, using the finest seasonal ingredients, with much flown direct from produce markets in Milan and Sicily. HIghlights look to be their pigeon pate with fresh black truffle, Salsiccia with cannellini beans for two (coiled Italian sausage), seafood risotto in a pan for two and some amazing pecorino cheeses. The head is Filipo Pagani, who masterminded the group's successful Bangkok food operation. He's seen below serving the truffle risotto at Fumo's VIP launch on Thursday, December 11.
What is a departure is the spectacular bar area, under the stewardship of Alessandro Distefano, son of San Carlo founder Carlo and brother of Marcello. For Fumo Manchester’s drinks wizard Jamie Jones (below) has created a Lavanda Martini – beautifully smooth Beluga vodka, cold infused with lavender olive oil and dry vermouth and sealed on site in a caviar tin, available to enjoy at the bar or take home.
The Miss Bombo – an Italian nod to the Manchester bee, features Portobello Road gin, honey, sage, fresh lemon juice and egg white topped with a dash of Fever-Tree ginger beer and decorated with bee pollen.
A range of food matched signature cocktails will also offer the opportunity for guests to sample Fumo’s culinary style while enjoying a drink at the bar.
Open seven days a week from breakfast through to dinner and with late opening hours on Friday and Saturday, diners will be able to call in for a bite to eat and a cocktail or glass champagne at the feature bar or take a table and enjoy a relaxed yet stylish dining experience inside or out, on the alfresco terrace, should weather permit.
As with all San Carlo restaurants, attention to detail at San Carlo Fumo will be of utmost importance, all dishes will be made on the premises using only the finest seasonal ingredients, with much flown direct from produce markets in Milan and Sicily.
The San Carlo Group now owns and operates 14 UK restaurants including the hugely popular San Carlo and San Carlo Cicchetti on Manchester’s King Street West and Bottega and Farmacia del Dolce at Selfridges.
San Carlo Fumo Manchester, 1 St Peter’s Square, Oxford Road, M2 3DE. 0161 236 7344.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-12.30am, Sat 10am-2am, Sun 10am-11pm.