THERE haven’t been many food and drink lures to take us down Chapel Street beyond the inner ring road. Maybe for some excellent rustic Italian food at Vero Moderno at Vimto Gardens or for a pint at ‘beer nirvana’ the New Oxford in Bexley Square.
Now there’s a third reason. Tapas stars Porta have pencilled in the end of November for their third restaurant opening just across the square in a former bank building on Chapel Street, more recently home to MadLab.
It’s a bold move for Porta, whose Altrincham outpost opposite the Market House was shortlisted for Best Casual Restaurant and Out of Town Venue of the Year in the 2018 Manchester Food and Drink Awards.
The first Porta was opened in Chester in 2012 by brothers Ben and Joe Wright next door to their highly acclaimed bistro Joseph Benjamin, and was inspired by casual but high quality tapas bars in Barcelona and Madrid. Then came Altrincham two years ago, which our ToM review gave four stars.
Like the original duo, Chapel Street will be non-booking, informal and fun and not flash in the furniture department (see Chester below).
There’ll be the same exemplary Spanish drinks list, with excellent sherries and authentic small plates from head chef Head Chef, Jose Garzón – such as Andalucian style squid with alioli, purple sprouting broccoli with romesco sauce or belly pork and chickpea stew (main image). A year on we still can’t forget a dish of fried Monte Enebro goat cheese with honey and orange segments (below).
Check @porta_alty for updates.
