Ornella’s is one of those brilliant Greater Manchester restaurants that’s doing a totally roaring trade without rabbiting on about it too much.
From its tiny spot in the middle of Denton, this cosy Italian has got its head down and focused on cooking, and cooking really, really well.
The results speak for themselves. You will quite literally wait months to get a table here.
In fact if you’re thinking of making a reservation, you pretty much have two options – wait until next June, or eat lunch (as we did) at 11.30am on a Wednesday. Did the early hour stop me drinking a large Aperol Spritz though? Of course not.
Ornella’s will always be worth the patience it takes to get your bum on a seat.
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It all started as a lockdown project for Ornella Cancila, where customers would come and collect carefully-made Sicilian dishes from a bench outside her home.
And now it’s grown to be one of those local spots that Tameside residents are proud of, and everyone else in Greater Manchester is jealous of.
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Inside Ornella’s Italian restaurant in Denton. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Ornella’s Italian restaurant in Denton. Credit: The Manc Group
I’ve encountered a lot of people who have been to Ornella’s, and haven’t yet heard a single bad word said about it.
Inside, there are just a couple of rows of tables in front of a deli counter displaying top-quality meats and other deli items.
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Let’s get stuck into that main restaurant menu though, which is way more comprehensive than you’d expect for such a small space.
An arancini that looks exactly like Donald Trump. Credit: The Manc GroupInside another Ornella’s arancini. Credit: The Manc Group
There are a couple of different arancini on the menu, one of which looks exactly like Donald Trump – a rotund orange fried ball topped with a bright white wig of parmesan.
That one is stuffed with caramelised onion and saffron (unlike the real deal), while another comes with nduja and mozzarella with a hot honey drizzle.
A clear menu highlight is the pistachio carbonara with crispy guanciale pieces that burst in little salty mouthfuls against the rich and creamy pasta sauce.
There’s also a beef short rib that releases its grip on the bone with a gentle prod from a fork, falling into a pool of creamy parmesan gnocchi. It tastes exactly like how it feels to step into a warm house after being pelted by rain all day, or pulling on a pair of socks that have been warmed on a radiator. Pure comfort.
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The pistachio carbonara from Ornella’s Kitchen. Credit: The Manc GroupPistachio gelato in a Sicilian brioche bun. Credit: The Manc Group
Truffle fans can’t go wrong with Ornella’s creamy truffle mafalde, covered in generous shavings of truffle and pecorino.
Ornella is generous with all of her cheese portions, actually – the sourdough garlic bread also arrives blanketed in the stuff.
I kick my feet under the table and actually giggle after taking a bite of the oven-baked conchiglioni shells, which are filled with pumpkin cream, sharp cheddar, pork sausage and a sourdough crumb. It flits from sweet to salt with every chew.
And then for desserts, you’ll find proper Italian pistachio gelato, served in a soft Sicilian brioche bun, and a Biscoff and white chocolate cheesecake that had me and my mate jousting with our forks for the last bite like really sh*t knights.
Ornella’s might not be a big space, but it’s destined for big things. Just good luck getting that reservation…
Forget pub crawls – you can now go on a guided cheese crawl around Manchester
Thomas Melia
Manchester is a foodie’s paradise and with so many options at hand why not break it down into individual food groups – starting with the dairy crowd pleaser, cheese.
Long gone are the draining pub crawls of the past, it’s time to make way for the new pioneer in the world of adventurous crawling, ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’.
There’s always lots of food and drink options flowing throughout our bubbly city spanning all cuisines and cultures so it comes as no surprise that the latest way to experience Manchester is via cheese, a staple of many citizens’ diets.
On the tour, there will be insider knowledge on-hand as you wander the streets and sample the creamy delights, assisting you with any dying queso queries and pecorino ponders that you need to get off your chest.
There’ll be plenty of familiar independents on the Manchester Cheese Crawl, including Northern Soul’s impressive grilled cheese sandwiches as well as more traditional cheese samples.
How could this experience get any better I hear you ask, how about a free glass of fizz to accompany those already impressive cheese selections? Yes please!
Guests can expect to sample some of Manchester’s dairy delights while being directed by some of Manchester’s top cheese connoisseurs that are the real big cheese.
Groups who take the tour aren’t just treated to food and drink, they also receive free entertainment from their food guides who are prepared to make you chuckle with their incredible humour.
The Manchester Cheese Crawl will feature plenty of bites for curd nerdsA selection of dairy heaven displayed on a wonderful variety cheese board.Credit: Unsplash
Previous visitors have commented on their experience while taking the tour sharing the names their groups received with highlights such as ‘Shaken not curd’ and ‘Three blind mice’.
They really are serious about their cheeses, another previous visitor who went on the tour revealed their guide even had a name that perfectly fit the occasion, ‘Mel the babybel’.
It’s sure to be a fantastic day with games and activities planned for all as you walk between the shops landmarked on the cheese-filled route.
Everyone on the tour also gets a small taste of the high life as they are treated to a Lancashire cheese handmade by a local star and celebrity.
Starting at the Richard Cobden Statue and finishing on the always vibrant Tib Street, a quick google search reveals this walk isn’t too strenuous taking only 12 minutes but with many cheeses to get your whiskers on it will probably take around an estimated two hours to tackle.
Running this Saturday 16 November and planned to continue until November 2025 and beyond, you’d be emmental to miss out on this cheesy adventure.
If all this cheese talk has left you dreaming about your next foodie fix, tickets for ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’ are on sale and available here.
Featured Image: Unsplash
Eats
Plans to turn Stockport pyramid into Indian restaurant take MAJOR step forward
Daisy Jackson
The vision for Stockport pyramid’s new life as an Indian restaurant and banquet hall has taken a big step forward today – and we finally have CGIs to help bring it all to life.
Royal Nawaab has now been granted planning permission to convert the landmark building into a luxurious restaurant and banquet hall, set to open early next year.
Royal Nawaab has a couple of restaurants in London and is now setting its sights on the north, aiming to create its ‘biggest and most luxurious destination to date’.
The epic project will be geared up to host parties, banquets and huge events.
There are lavish refurbishment plans for the former office building, which looms over the M60.
When it opens, there’ll be a 350-capacity restaurant on the ground floor, plus three premium banquet facilities ranging between 150 and 700 covers.
News of Royal Nawaab’s takeover of the Stockport Pyramid broke last year and the curry house was initially tipped for a 2024 opening, but it seemed like things had stalled until this major step forward.
CGIs shared today show that the Stockport Pyramid will be transformed with luxury details like gold ceilings, marble floors and chandeliers.
Royal Nawaab will turn Stockport pyramid into an Indian restaurant and banquet hall. Credit: Supplied
Mahboob Hussain of Royal Nawaab said: “Living close to Stockport, the Pyramid has always been an iconic symbol of the town for me. It is unique and we are thrilled to be bringing Royal Nawaab Manchester.
“This is definitely not ‘a curry house’. Royal Nawaab will be a destination and will attract visitors from across the UK and beyond to experience the best cuisine in the most stunning of settings.
“The attention to detail is incredible, and I personally have been involved in the plans throughout. It is a dream come true, and I know that anyone that visits will be in awe.”
Cllr Colin Macalister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “We’re thrilled to see the iconic Stockport Pyramid brought back to life with the fantastic Royal Nawaab joining our community! It’s an exciting addition to Stockport’s vibrant food and drink scene, all within one of our town’s most prominent landmarks.
A glimpse inside Royal Nawaab Indian restaurant at Stockport pyramid. Credit: SuppliedRoyal Nawaab will totally transform the landmark building into a luxury restaurant and banquet hall. Credit: Supplied
“Bringing 150 new jobs and working with local suppliers, Royal Nawaab’s arrival is a strong vote of confidence in Stockport’s future as our £1 billion town centre regeneration continues to take shape. We can’t wait to see the Pyramid open its doors again and warmly welcome Royal Nawaab to Stockport.”
Fozia Alharby of Eamar Developments expressed, “Dr. Abdullah Alnaeem, the owner, is delighted to announce that Royal Nawaab will open at the Pyramid in 2025.
“As long-time admirers of the brand and its legacy in the South, we are honoured to play a role in bringing this exceptional destination to Stockport.
“We are delighted to be a part of this project, which will create a premium experience that we believe will resonate with visitors from across the UK and beyond.”
Daisy Jackson -
15th November 2024 
