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BBQ Chinese Restaurant & Mr. Hong Noodles
Higher Ground
Tender

The Vain Carl Sukonik

Lupo in Manchester

7 places

Tom Barnes’ guide to Manchester

Discover the best restaurants in Manchester with tips from local chef Tom Barnes of Skof
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About the list

Cumbrian-born chef Tom Barnes is best known for his work at Simon Rogan's L'Enclume, where he was Head Chef, helping the Lake District restaurant to win the second of three eventual Michelin stars. After winning the Roux Scholarship in 2014, Barnes chose Hof Van Cleve in Kruishoutem, Belgium as his prize stage, before joining chef Rasmus Kofoed at Geranium in Copenhagen. He then returned to the Lake District and Rogan, heading up Rogan & Co. in Cartmel, close to L’Enclume, which also won a star.

So, all eyes are on Barnes and his new solo Manchester restaurant, Skof, which opened earlier this year. Located in the city’s NOMA neighbourhood, the restaurant promises Barnes’ assured modern British cooking in a relaxed environment, perfect for a city where white tablecloth experiences are very much not the vibe. Skof is the latest addition to Manchester’s head-turning restaurant scene and looks set to be an essential stop on any foodie tour of England’s northwest.

Here then is where Barnes likes to eat in Manchester when he's not putting all that stellar experience into practise on the pass at Skof.

Tom Jenkins

Originally published 23 July 2024

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Manchester, United Kingdom
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“A Szechuan restaurant in the middle of Manchester’s Chinatown. I go for the cumin fried lamb and the garlic chilli ribs, so delicious, my absolute favourite place and I recommend it to everyone who will listen.”

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“A really lovely bistro run by really lovely people. The team have worked in some incredible restaurants and settled in Manchester where they’ve also got a wine bar, Flawd, and a market garden, Cinderwood – we get some of our veg from them for Skof.”

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“My friend Niall (Keating) opened Tender at the Stock Exchange Hotel recently and he’s doing a really good Sunday roast. We’ve been back a couple of times already – love it.”

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“Nico is an Italian guy, from Rome, who has this incredible deli/restaurant/coffee shop near where I live in Prestwich, North Manchester. They make gnocchi with beef shin ragu – delicious.”

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“Nell’s is a Manchester meets NY pizza place where they do these 22-inch thin, crisp pizzas. The dough is great and they do the most brilliant dips. I get the Magic Number with ricotta salata and salsa verde, and then dip in extra vodka sauce.” [Various locations] 

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“My girlfriend Carla and I go to Pollen at the weekend for their special. It’s a cruffin (croissant baked like a muffin) which they do in seasonal flavors so you never know what’s coming up. We have a brew and wander about the marina or the garden depending on which one we go to.” [Various locations]

Manchester, United Kingdom
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“I adore their chilli chicken. I order it with a cheese naan and could easily eat the whole thing twice.” 

Dishoom

Dishoom Manchester

32 Bridge St
Manchester
M3 3BT
United Kingdom

Higher Ground

Higher Ground

New York St
Manchester
M1 4DY
United Kingdom

Lupo

Lupo in Manchester

65 Ardent Way
Manchester
M25 9WE
United Kingdom

Mr Hong Beef Noodles

BBQ Chinese Restaurant & Mr. Hong Noodles

Manchester
M1 4EE
United Kingdom

Nell’s Pizza

Nell's Pizza, NQ

39 Edge St
Manchester
M4 1HW
United Kingdom

Pollen

Pollen Bakery

8 New Union St
Manchester
M4 6FQ
United Kingdom

Tender

Tender

4 Norfolk St
Manchester
M2 1DW
United Kingdom

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