Eats

Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure

Welcome to Amò

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 13th August 2026

Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.

And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.

Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.

Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.

The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.

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Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.

She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.

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Sienna outside Amò
Sienna outside Amò
Fresh pasta dishes
Fresh pasta dishes
Inside Amò by Salvi's
Inside Amò by Salvi’s
Their viral frozen crema di caffe
Their viral frozen crema di caffe
Lemon granita
Lemon granita
Inside Amò by Salvi's
Inside Amò by Salvi’s
Tiramisu pots
Tiramisu pots

Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.

At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.

With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.

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And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Award-winning Didsbury bakery La Chouquette reveals incredible new site

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The new, expanded La Chouquette

La Chouquette is one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries – an award-winner, with queues down the street every weekend for its authentic French pastries and loaves.

And now they’re ready for a new chapter, revealing a major expansion today.

Owners Catrina and Flo have painstakingly expanded the bakery into the unit next door, creating what feels like a true French bakery.

And in the midst of this huge renovation project, they’ve welcomed a tiny new baby boy – quite the summer for the couple.

Catrina and Flo launched La Chouquette in lockdown, and in a time where people could only get their hospitality fix from takeaways, immediately became one of the most popular spots in the region.

Their success has been so great, you’ll still consistently find queues down the street every weekend, for their top sellers like their authentic almond croissants.

Then in October 2024, they grew the business and launched Piqniq, a new deli in Didsbury village, serving freshly-baked baguette sandwiches, breakfast butties, toasties, tiramisu pots and their legendary pastries.

The new-look La Chouquette features beautiful details like mosaic floors, rich blue walls, wooden shelves, and brass light fixtures.

La Chouquette's best-selling almond croissants
La Chouquette’s best-selling almond croissants
Inside the stunning new La Chouquette in Didbsury
Inside the stunning new La Chouquette in Didbsury
New savoury bakes
New savoury bakes
The chausson aux pommes
The chausson aux pommes
The counter stuffed with artisan French bakes
The counter stuffed with artisan French bakes
Chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns
Chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns

The huge new counter displays more pastries and breads than ever before, like a hearty chausson aux pommes filled with apples that will be perfect for autumn, plus seasonal treats like a rhubarb creme brulee pastry, and homemade quiche.

Speaking at the grand relaunch today, Catrina said: “The layout has changed, it looks so much more chic, it looks like a traditional French bakery. We’re really excited about it.”

As for what’s on the counter, Flo reassured fans that their beloved almond and pistachio croissants remain, but with some new savoury editions, like a truffle croque monsieur made with croissant dough.

La Choquette has reopened today, and will be open seven days a week from 7am until 5pm.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Impressive CGIs reveal new two-storey Latin BBQ restaurant, bar, and music venue coming to the Northern Quarter

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo A bird's eye view of Dahlia, the Northern Quarter's new Latin BBQ restaurant

The Northern Quarter will soon welcome a huge two-storey Latin BBQ restaurant, bar and music venue, brought to you by the same team behind Manchester’s beloved Firehouse and Ramona – you just know it’s going to be good with names like that.

New CGI images have been released of the venue, giving us a sneak peek at what to expect from the huge transformation, which will take over the site formerly home to Pie & Ale.

Dahlia is set to be home to Barbacoa Cósmica, an open-fire grill kitchen, with cooking inspired by Latin America and the southern states of America. As the Northern Quarter’s first open fire grill kitchen, guests will have the unique experience of being able to watch the chefs in action, from their kitchen counter seats.

The concept is the product of years of travelling across Latin America, exploring regional recipes and techniques, then condensed down to allow us to take a road trip from San Diego to Jalisco, Mexico City to Oaxaca, all from the comfort of our seats.

Dahlia’s will also be home to Bar Más Bonita, translating to ‘most beautiful bar’, which has not disappointed either judging from the CGI projections – we just can’t wait to see it in person.

This lively Liquorita is set to serve up all sorts of Latin American specialties – think vibrant, handcrafted cocktails and salted rims with tequila, mezcal, rum and Latin spirits. 

In the evenings, the space will transform into Dahlia Stereo, an intimate two-storey music space powered by a bespoke Hatchett Sound system. Every element of the venue has been carefully considered by sound engineers and acoustic specialists, including Jonny ‘Oppo’ of Neuron Audio, to ensure the best listening experience possible.  

A glimpse inside Dahlia in Manchester
A glimpse inside Dahlia in Manchester
A glimpse inside Dahlia in Manchester
A glimpse inside Dahlia in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Will Taplin, executive chef at Dahlia, shared: “Barbacoa Cósmica is the result of everything we have experienced and loved during our travels across Latin America.

“It is generous, energetic and completely driven by flavour. If something is on the menu, it is because we genuinely love it, and we hope Manchester will love it too.”

Jonny ‘Oppo’ said: “We have been building and working with sound systems for years, but Manchester’s bars and restaurants have never had an installation at this level. Every detail of the room has been designed around how music should sound and feel. It is genuinely exciting for the city.”

In addition to this, the iconic Jonjo Williams of Maribou State and Rich Reason of Hit & Run, have carefully curated a music programme for September to give us a flavour of what’s to come, including sets from Gilles Peterson, Quantic, Gia Fu, DJ Die and Joey T.

Dahlia Manchester
Dahlia Manchester
The site of Dahlia
The site of Dahlia

Jonjo Williams explained: “We want to create the energy of an intimate club within a bar and restaurant.

“We are deliberately keeping capacity below 250 so the experience always feels personal, immersive and connected. Dahlia has been designed by the best DJs for the best DJs, but ultimately it has been created for anyone who truly loves music.”

With craft being central to the space, almost every element has been made by hand by the Dahlia team and its team of trusted independent artisans and specialist suppliers. From the artwork and upholstery, to the world class sound system and the team’s own bottled Latin spirits, it truly has all been carefully thought through.

We never thought we’d wish for summer to be over, but September can’t come soon enough.

Click HERE for reservations or follow @dahliastereo for further announcements.

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Featured image: Supplied

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