Gordo Recommends 23/02/11

Cornerhouse
The original arts cafe in Manchester. Cornerhouse contains a different crowd from most in Manchester, more academic, more interesting, you can hear ideas being discussed. The food is locally sourced and all that – you’d expect it with this crowd. Recent visits delivered Moroccan bean and preserved lemon tagine (£6.95) and a steak sandwich (£8.25).

Both fantastic. The beer range is great with samples from Brewdog Brewery, the wine range is solid. The place also has the best view of the most exciting junction in Manchester – if city-watching is your thing. Oh and good art gallery, a great bookshop and a fine cinema.

70 Oxford Street, M1 5NH. T: 0161 200 1500

Efes
Turkish food done well is one of the great world cuisines, full of variety and interest. And one of the world’s great finger-picking FUN cuisines. Here, at Efes, in intimate and characterful surroundings you can get party menus, banqueting menus or a straightforward a la carte menu. In fact with a resident belly-dancer -and guests can join in - this a great place for a party of friends to celebrate and giggle.

Food is classic middle-eastern fare, meze, fabulous grilled lamb dishes and spicy sides. Service is relaxed, friendly and yet professional.

46 Princess Street, M1 6HR. T: 0161 236 1824

Rhubarb
This is a cute Confidential favourite, on the gastronomic main drag of South Manchester, Burton Road. The single room provides a smart yet homely backdrop to intimate tete-a-tetes or for groups of friends.

Menu items include such lovelies as pan fried seabass fillets, dill and parsley pink fir apple potatoes and a warm roast red pepper, caper and olive salsa for £16, or Seared pork fillet with Lyonnaise potatoes, wilted spinach and an apple and sage café au lait sauce for £15, or pan fried gnocchi with peas, asparagus, rocket and walnut pesto for £13.

Lovely pudd as well. Give the place a whirl.

167 Burton Road, M20 2LN. T: 0161 448 8887

Hunters
Sometimes a curry is needed. Strategically needed. You want sustenance, you want good flavours, you want to be prepared for the rest of the day – or maybe you need some food to celebrate its close.

The land of the good value curry is Manchester’s Northern Quarter. A star in the firmament of that curry enclave is Hunter’s. This lot do a wonderful array of dishes with a recent favourite a lamb korma which instead of coconut used almonds to stunning and spectacular effect.

Then there’s all the exotica. As the name Hunter’s indicates you can get game curries such as venison, quail and so on.

94 High Street, Northern Quarter M4 1EF. T: 0161 839 5060