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Aumbry Comes To Town: McTague Opens In NQ
It's taster menus and snails for Edge Street
MARY-Ellen McTague, owner and head chef at the award-winning Aumbry in Prestwich, is launching her first city centre venture, 4244 Edge Street on 23 September. Aumbry will close on 30 August for refurbishments and is due to re-open before Christmas.
The taster menu will have locally sourced, deceptively simple dishes from slow cooked Cumbrian beef to signature favourites grapefruit posset and sautéed mushrooms and snails.
The Edge Street address comprises the rear area of Teacup which will continue to operate from the Thomas Street side.
The space has fifty covers and the idea is serve a five course taster menu featuring McTague’s award winning fusion of British fine dining, traditional methods and historical cookery using the very latest science and technology.
Taster menu food for 4244
Opening hours will be Tuesdays to Saturdays, 7pm-9:30pm and the intention is to provide a relaxed, casual and intimate ambience.
The taster menu will have locally sourced, deceptively simple dishes from slow cooked Cumbrian beef to signature favourites grapefruit posset and sautéed mushrooms and snails. Bespoke wine and in house tea pairings will be part of the experience. The taster menu is expected to cost around £40-£45.
Mary-Ellen McTague said: “4244’s philosophy is to serve exciting, fine dining in the heart of the city without pretension. The restaurant is a place for diners to relax and socialise whilst enjoying the very best cuisine and most importantly, somewhere they can return to regularly.”
All 4244 Edge St bookings will be taken via the website www.4244.co.uk from 1 September.
Confidential's excited about this news. We also wonder whether the allure of the city centre, if this project is a success, might encourage McTague to take up permanent residency - along with a return to Aumbry after the refit.
We've also just had to throw cold water over the editor's head and slap his face a couple of times because he collapsed in happy joy at the words 'snails' and 'oysters' on the sample menu below.
Sample Menu
Amuse
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Sautéed mushrooms and snails
Fresh curds in hay ash, malt loaf, garlic & parsley
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Tomato consommé
Cucumber, borage, tomato confit and rosary goats cheese dumpling
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Slow cooked Cumbrian beef
Oyster, pickled cockles, mustard leaves & Shetland Black potatoes
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Macerated Scottish Strawberries
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Candied violet and elderflower diplomat
Taster menu nosh
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WOW that's expensive! The NQ's not the right demographic for this restaurant. Mind you, the NQ has become something a little different from it's original concept IMO.
If it can do well in Pretwich it can do well anywhere in town, far more people to target. I'll definitely give it a whirl. Won't be too long until we have next to no empty units in the NQ!
40-45 quid for a taster menu is expensive?
Yes IMO it is. I'm not commenting on the food or the venue, just the price stated in the article above BTW JS.
people in the northern quarter are falling over themselves to pay £15+ for burger and chips at Solita, i dont think £40 for this quality of food should scare them.
It is dear, but it's perfect for a special treat. Why has everyone turned so miserable on this site? You guys used to be cool.
for food as good as Aumbry's £45 for a 6 course taster menu really isn't dear at all.
Thats really reasonable for fine dining 6 course taster menu.
@Mancadam Oh ok! That means it's great value then does it?
yes, that's my point.
I think the point is it is good food hence all the praise for Aumbry and the price is great value too.
The NQ is not in the middle of nowhere. It's easily accessible to the whole of Manchester and people who don't normally frequent the NQ will go to visit aumbry. It's not a restaurant for the NQ lot. It's just based in the NQ.
Plus 63 degrees does well, is a similar price and a stones throw from where this place will open.
'It's not a restaurant for the NQ lot. It's just based in the NQ.' Hmmm...perhaps Spinningfields [the obvious choice of location] was too expensive.
This is bold... with such a big drinking and casual dining culture alive in the NQ, I'm not sure how well this will take off. Do people who are willing to spend such an amount on 'fine dining' want to be surrounded by groups of men throwing up against the window?
It's hardly the Printworks or Deansgate Locks! It's Edge street facing Common. If the food is good then it'll do well I'm sure.
There is fine dining in Parts of london surrounded by bars
63Degrees is in the NQ? (just)
I've never seen anyone throwing up on a window near Common or Terrace.
Also it says it closes at 9.30.
9.30 will be last seating
I can only imagine you don't live in the vicinity
This is a fine idea and let's hope it soars. I'm going to selectively censor the anonymous whingers on here for 24 hours just for the fun of it.
Hmmm...perhaps your efforts might best be put to good use sorting the website out to accept named posters. I've tried and I can only post Anon. It's not the first time this has been said.
Tyrant Jon.
Cannot wait!
She'll do absolutely fine in town. Aumbry is absolutely brilliant (if you can get in)
absolutely! (doh!)
'Aumbry is absolutely brilliant (if you can get in)' Oh my! It's going to be one of those restaurants...and in the NQ?
I just meant it's not very big, and it's very popular, so it's hard to get a booking at times, nowt else.
Booking restaurants in the NQ now? Blimey!
anonymarse - just put your petty little prejudices to one side. Aumbrey is a small restaurant in Prestwich that doesn't have many covers. The food is of such a fab quality that, yes, it is v v difficult to get a table if you haven't booked in advance. As it has such a fine reputation throughout the north west (despite the fears of south Manchester and Cheshire-ites that 'It's grim up North') then it will probably transpire that you would have to book at the NQ venue as well. Might be better if you stick you Nandos and Zizzi - or call in at the chippy on your way home.
@Maggie Snob much?
"booking restaurant" The Market has been in the NQ for 30 years, and TNQ 10. the only (reverse) snob on this page is you, "anonymous".
do you think the amuse will be jokes or impressions?
IMO it's exactly what the NQ needs - lots of places that are opening up are rather identikit and at least this will be different. Also, the NQ is hardly as grungy as it used to be - it's slowly drifting up market - if you'll pay a fiver for a pint then I'm sure a £45 meal isn't beyond the realms of possibility.
A fiver for a pint? I always wondered what qualified as up market!
Mary-Ellen and the team turn out some incredible food; exciting and inventive. Go on, live a little!
Perhaps some people haven't got the disposable income that others have.
ditto comment to anonymarse - call in at the chippy............ You pays your money and takes your choice!
@Maggie. You've always been a snob on ManCon. I wouldn't expect any less a comment from your slappedarse.
I'm with Maggie, £45 quid isn't expensive for 6 courses. If you think it is don't go, I'm pretty confident it will be booked out.
@anonymarse. Is 'snob' your new insult? Ha, ha, ha, I'd rather be considered that that than be the pedantic little killjoy you portray. if I choose to spend my money on good food in a good restaurant rather than fags and booze, that's my choice - if you choose the chippy then that's your choice. Now go away like the annoying little pedant you are and let people who enjoy good food, good wine, and interesting local events carry on passing the news of good restaurants etc between us. That's what Mancon is all about. You don't have to read the reviews if you don't want to. Snob? Ha, ha ha! Funny! I nearly choked on my champagne!
@Maggie Fags and booze? If I choose the chippy? Call me an annoying little pedant? YOU FUCKING TWERP I've done more for this city than you've had hot dinners ya bitch, and continue to do so. GO STUFF YOURSELF FULL OF FOOD AND BLOAT YA TWAT!
Anon, that made me spurt my tea all over the desk. ~Funny~ take a deep breath and chilllll I hope Jonno doesn't remove it :-)
Ha Ha Ha anoymarsehole! What are you then, the Mayor! Or are you the local road sweeper. i hope you are because there is great dignity in work of any type, but if your the mayor........... I think you have shown your true colours now, ha, ha ha!
anonymarsehole... hysterical. Cheered my morning no that has. Thanks Maggie!
Morning up
Oh my! What have I missed? This is too funny. Careful Maggie, it looks like Anon's sussed you out as you're showing your true colours here too.
Aumbry is my favourite restaurant - really good for a posh treat. Hope they can bring the Aumbry charm to the city centre! Can't wait to give it a whirl! Nom, nom, nombry
Just what the NQ needs - recently, it's become somewhat of a parody of itself with each new venue fawning over a version of Americana which doesn't actually exist. The odd Americanized venue is OK but it's been getting quite cringeworthy considering we are an English city. Cane & Grain seems to have been the logical conclusion of this trend with the cheek to charge extortionate amounts to eat cheaper cuts of meat in shoddy (or is it cool?) interiors with 'casual' service. I've eaten at places like this in the US, the difference is, they are actually priced accordingly for the experience you are getting. Ditto with the burger trend in Manchester. Hopefully this new venture will succeed and being a bit of diversity to what, foodwise, is actually a very generic area of town.
If it says 'casual service' it's best avoided I've found... And I'm well over burgers...
Isn't the NQ all about casual service, albeit overpriced?
Rosylee, El Capo and now this, things are getting better in the NQ.
For whom?
For people who like to leave the house once in a while.
That's madness.
Nice to see somewhere opening which hasn't got pulled pork/beef/hot dog/burger/rum blaring on the menu. Good luck to them! I for one will certainly be trying it given the excellent experience I've had at Aumbry.
You all realise it is a pop up?
yes, love. A bit of Prestwich in town for just a few months while the original is refurbed. We got it.
5 weeks actually love.
Thank god something that's not another American rip off!! There are only so many burger/rib joints needed so when There is a chance of creative local cuisine as a choice, I for won will be choosing it!! Ps Mary Ellen has the same training pedigree as Rogan/Bryne so at £40/45 it gives people a chance of experiencing amazing food without having to pay for all the pretension that usually goes with it!!
Absolutely! When Cane & Grain are charging £22 for a bit of brisket on a giant bone, why are people whining about £45 for a quality experience? Beyond stupid.
Great idea let's hope it stays after December
Awesome - can't wait. Would much rather spend my money here than at any of pop up the meat joints, and for not much more outlay. It'll even come on plate, not a prison dish, like Cane and Grain.