CANTO We came to Canto, a recent creation of Simon Shaw, of El Gato Negro Tapas fame, on an unusually sunny Sunday Lunchtime In Manchester, for a meal before going to the football at Old Trafford later that day. You will find this younger sibling of Simon’s in the heart of Manchester’s latest to be redeveloped neighbourhood, Ancoats, on Cutting Room Square. It is quite a stunning, ample space with blue Portuguese tiles that reminded me of a recent visit to Braga. They use th

BARRAFINA One Michelin Star Barrafina moved to a new address in Soho, from Frith Street to 26-27 Dean Street. We thought we would try the new venue on this midweek evening in March. As usual, it was busy, so we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. Once at the bar, we tried these dishes. Pimientos de Padrón y jamón croquetas. Paletila Ibérica Lenguado en salsa de almendra (sole in almond sauce) Solomillo Rubia Gallega (sirloin steak from Galicia) The food is still delicio

TAPEO & WINE PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2021 This was our first visit to Tapeo & Wine in Deansgate, Manchester, as a precursor to the football at Old Trafford. The restaurant was opened in 2016 in the buzzing heart of Manchester by the Mata family (The owner’s Son, Juan Mata, is currently a Manchester United football player). There is a bright, modern bar and restaurant on the ground floor, looking out onto busy Deansgate. It also has another large restaurant bar downstairs, which

CAMBIO DE TERCIO Under Abel Lusa’s long-term, excellent hospitality and guidance, and chef Alberto Criado’s (Twitter @Alberto_Criado) creative dishes, Cambio de Tercio has become a standard-bearer for Iberian food in London. Most Hispanophiles consider it the best in town. You can choose from the traditional tapas menu, an inventive á la carte menu, or the reasonably priced tasting menu. On a recent visit, we had this tasting menu. Andalusian gazpacho, steamed king prawns

IBÉRICA CANARY WHARF UPDATED APRIL 2025 - CLOSED Chef Nacho Manzano is the chef of the three-star restaurant Casa Marcial in Arriondas and the one-star restaurant La Salgar in Gijón. Both are in the northern Spanish region of Asturias. He has created the hot and cold tapa menus. The open kitchen lets you see all the action as it happens, and the bar offers a good selection of classic and signature cocktails, gin tonics, sherry, sidra, jugs of sangria, and a few beers. There