crickets off .. so where do i take the mrs and her friends and husbands for a meal this evening.. no chains nothing fancy not dressed for it.. nice half an atmosphere italian? Tapas?

mmmmm, only one option for me

http://www.cafeistanbul.co.uk/

Was my fav restaurant when I lived up there. Great food, chilled, no need to dress up, and good price.

city centre, or what?

AMAZING SPANISH RESTAURANT !
El Rincon de Rafa
off St Johns Street, 244 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4BQ,+44 (0)161 839 8819

Do people really still say Madchester?

AMAZING SPANISH RESTAURANT !
El Rincon de Rafa
off St Johns Street, 244 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4BQ,+44 (0)161 839 8819

This. one of my faves and a bit of a hidden gem as far as resturants go! Much better than that La Tasca crap!

I don’t think we ever did tbh….

El Rincon is indeed a smashing feed. As is Dimitri’s on Deansgate.

Should you fancy a curry Akbars on Liverpool road pisses on any restaurant on curry mile from a great height.

If you fancy some after dinner refreshment the new brew dog bar on Peter St is supposed to be awesome, if a little on the pricey side.

Mr Thomas’ Chop House for pub food, Goucho for steak, The Northern Quarter Restaurant is brilliant for a classic menu. The Grill on The Alley does great steaks and decent fish. Zouks Tea Bar and Grill if you want a curry.

I’m going to check out that Spanish suggestion above as I was not aware of it.

I’ll second Cafe Istanbul and Grill on the Alley. Also, for the meat-sweats on the cheap the Cedar Tree in the northern quarter is good for Lebanese food, though it looks as grubby as hell from the outside. Oh, I quite liked Don Giovannis for Italian. I’m hungry now!

Grill on the Alley does a mean steak, though I advance booking is required as we had to wait a week to eat at the time we wanted.

Topkapi palace for really nice Turkish food.

On Deansgate, 189 I think?

El Rincon will probably be full.

Do people really still say Madchester?

On STW they do; but unfortunately they also try to embarrass people they don’t know about phrases they use just to feel a little bit superior

It’s a lot more complex than “just feeling a little bit superior”.

Oh, I quite liked Don Giovannis for Italian. I’m hungry now!

Excellent advice – Gio’s (same food, less stufy environment) down near the Bridgewater is superb value – big favourite with the pre concert crowd.

Linky.

Topkapi? bwaaaah ha ha ha. You are kidding right?

Although some good suggestions above, not many of them meet the brief.

Not italian, but if you want a good meal, reasonably priced, in a nice city centre location try http://www.thewharf-castlefield.co.uk

Just opened this week, on the banks of the canal basin & is a nice place to sit & chat. And no I don’t have any confection….i just live opposite it.

Totalshell – So where did you go in the end?

Bar Zinc do great food, nice relaxed atmoshpere

Croma. Very reliable, good food at very reasonable prices.

1-3 Clarence Street
Albert Square
Manchester
M2 4DE

Easy to get to from either Victoria or Salford Central in arriving by train.

Geologist. GOOD choice. Its been a while but good for me too.