Bistro 1847: six courses for £36
Tuck into a veritable veggie banquet at this north west favourite. For Valentines, the taster menu is six courses for a very reasonable £36. Sample dishes include cheese and pineapple, salted caramel vintage cheddar cre?me brule?e, nasturtium, buttered asparagus, tarka daal, salted caramel popcorn labneh, banana tempura, borage followed by cider cream sauce, caramelised cabbage, barbequed tenderstem broccoli, poached egg yolk. Desserts include vanilla ice cream soda, botanical dandelion and burdock or a real treat in the shape of chocolate and real ale cake with a malt and muscovado cream. There is a vegan tasting menu too for the same price.
58 Mosley Street?(Entrance on Booth St)?M2 3HZ. Tel: 0161 236 1811, £36, www.bistro1847.co.uk
ABODE Café Bar & Grill four courses for £40
Michael Caines is full but guests can enjoy both fine romance and fine food in the Café Bar & Grill by Michael Caines with one of our favourite head chefs, formerly of Rhubarb and Obsidian, Bryn Evans. Sample dishes include a glass of Dedicato Grand Rosé on arrival followed by potato soup with wild garlic, focaccia croutons and mustard rarebit, or hand dived Scottish scallops with smoked bacon flakes. Mains include roasted stone bass with spring vegetable étuvée, Russian salad or Welsh mountain lamb rump with tapenade, basil and dauphinoise gratin. Round things off with apple charlotte, blackberry ice cream with honey Anglaise or a hot dark chocolate brownie with white chocolate ice cream.
107 Piccadilly, M1 2DB, Tel: 0161 200 5665, £40, www.abodemanchester.co.uk
The Rose Garden: four modern British flavours for £45
Manchesters most romantic neighbourhood restaurant turns up the luxe this Valentines with a bumper modern British selection. Amuse the bouche with a chicken heart skewer, tempura battered queenie scallop, asparagus and truffle shot before moving onto the likes of lobster risotto, two way early season lamb encrusted with anchovies and capers with new potatoes, samphire, garden peas, lamb gravy on the side with treats like a sweet hot dog, toffee apple, pop corn, candy floss to share at the end.
218 Burton Road, West Didsbury, M20 2LW. Tel: 0161 478 0747, £45, therosegardendidsbury.com
Rosylee Tea Rooms: four courses for £35
The Northern Quarters new baby oozes Parisian chic and its black and white checked floors and arty interior look even better by candlelight. Sit down, cosy up and tuck into a menu that includes tasters of hot smoked salmon and goats cheese bonbons, followed by lobster ravioli, baby leaf spinach, confit cherry tomatoes and passion fruit broth, roast two bone rack of lamb, truffled green beans, white onion puree,?roast butternut squash and sage with a port and shallot sauce with desserts like baked dark chocolate orange and candied ginger cheesecake or milk chocolate pot with a cherry compote and honey tuile to make this a night to remember.
11 Stevenson Square, Northern Quarter, M1 1DB, Tel: 0161 228 6629, £35, www.rosyleetearooms.com
Vermillion (pictured) five Asian Fusion courses for £65 (including wine)
This gorgeous space designed by the hand behind Pariss famous Buddha bar is sumptuous, impressive, and entrancing. So its fitting that they should have a special Asian Fusion menu to match. The evening includes a romantic five course meal with matched wines. Start with beluga caviar, followed by giant tiger prawns with green papaya salad. Champagne sorbet is a mid-meal palate cleanser, followed by Salmon Yang (supreme of Scottish salmon marinated with lemon grass, garlic and coriander paste served with buttered vegetable and lemon butter sauce) and a 10oz Thai Pepper Steak (striploin beef marinated with herbs, gently grilled and served with sauted asparagus, fine beans and potatoes au gratin topped up with thai pepper sauce. Dessert is a traditional Indian dessert of home made carrot pudding served with authentic ice cream. Afterwards, guests can enjoy a visit to Cinnabar with its intimate Private Cocoon beds and sounds by resident DJ Lee Majors.
Lord North Street / Hulme Hall Lane, M40 8AD. Tel: 0161 202 0055, £65, www.vermilion.uk.com