THERE was much lamentation when Manchester’s most high profile fine dining establishments, Manchester House and Adam Reid at The French failed to make the UK Top 100 in the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards 2017.
That’s been remedied by their inclusion in a rival Top 100 list from the SquareMeal website, at No.24 and 26 respectively, with King Street’s El Gato Negro and Didsbury’s Hispi, our only Estrella Damm inclusions, also appearing here at 98 and 100. The French’s sister restaurant, Mr Cooper's House and Garden is60th.
The awards, voted by readers of the review site and top food bloggers, are for restaurants outside London. On notable beneficiary is Hispi owner Gary Usher, whose earlier establishments also make the list – Chester’s Sticky Walnut (14) and Heswall’s Burnt Truffle (48).
Usher, who is set to open a fourth, Wreckfish in Liverpool, said: “We’re absolutely chuffed to have not just one, but all three of the restaurants featured in the list. The Top 100 is a great way to champion restaurants outside of London and ensure the hard work all the regional teams put in is recognised. With Wreckfish opening in September, we’re hopeful that we’ll have another restaurant to add to the list in 2018.”
The full list, topped by perennial favourite The Sportsman near Whitstable, is here.
Pictured is a glorious pudding from Manchester House.