‘IT’S Showtime’ was the social media message from WOOD Mcr on the day of their launch this week, culmination of the highest profile, personality-led build-up to a restaurant with fine dining pretensions we can remember (Gino d’Acampo doesn’t count).
Actually, the impression on an early visit to personable Masterchef winner Simon Wood’s First Street establishment is how relaxed it is with its major investment. The environment devoted to serving quality food casually may divide opinion – the wood features against a backdrop of a hangar-like space, the mezzanine private dining room a bit like an airport control tower, mmm? Service, too, was still a little raw. Early days, though. Like all new openings lots wasn’t quite ready.
With the exception of the food, the key offering, which had hit the ground running. Especially impressive was beef fillet, burnt onion, horseradish, Madeira, truffle (main picture), at £35 much the most expensive dish off the fledgling a la carte, most mains a tenner cheaper.
An accompanying Malbec was a fruity beaut, suggesting some serious thought has gone into the wine list too, but with a wild mushroom raviolo starter and a lemon posset as a pud ToM’s visit was too fleeting to explore further. We’ll review, as is our policy, once it is settled.
We are eyeing the Tasting Menu, costing £65 for seven courses (or £85 if you fancy a copy of Simon’s book, At Home, thrown in. A choice of a matching wine or spirits/cocktails flight to accompany will cost you £35.
There is an affordable lounge menu on offer too with some tasty options available from the josper grill – flat iron steak (£14), seared squid with chilli and garlic (£8.50) and infused wild mushrooms (£7.50).Small plates and nibbles will cost around £3/4 and there'll also be a pre-theatre offering costing £20 for two courses or £25 for three.
WOOD Manchester, Jack Rosenthal Street, First Street, Manchester, M15 4RA . Book here.
