Restaurants we would like to work with, Manchester

What makes a room right for this

A dinner is twelve people at one table, early in the week, when a good kitchen is at its quietest. We take a fixed menu, we tell you the numbers in advance, and we pay per head on the night. No room hire, no minimum spend, no deposit. These are the things that tend to make an evening like that work.

Independent, chef-led, not a chain

Roughly 1 to 4 years old

Well-reviewed but not fully booked

Room to seat a table of twelve

Visibly quieter early-week

Elnecot

Ancoats

60 covers

Edinburgh Castle

Ancoats

36 covers

Canto

Ancoats

? covers

Blue Eyed Panda

Ancoats

? covers

Photograph: Bruco

Bruco

Ancoats

? covers

Bruco is an Italian bar and kitchen on Murray Street in Ancoats, opened in November 2024 by Ethan Harvey with head chef Cosimo Torlo, on the site of the former Trove bakery. The room has very high ceilings and tall windows looking out at the red brick mills, a green and dusky pink colour scheme, low hanging lights and boucle chairs, with bar seating at the front and a view of the open kitchen further back. The kitchen cooks small plates and pasta: truffle arancini, nduja ribs, charred octopus, short rib lasagne. Open Wednesday to Sunday, morning through to dinner.