One of Greater Manchester’s coolest new restaurants has quietly opened in recent months, and if you’re looking in the direction of Ancoats, turn around – we’re off to Stalybridge.
This often-overlooked town in Tameside has welcomed Cafe Continental, a charming little neighbourhood restaurant that feels like it’s been plucked from a pretty Parisian back street.
With its cafe curtains, red leather furniture and wood-panelled walls, it feels like the sort of local hangout that’s been here for decades.
But Cafe Continental is barely eight weeks old, and already firmly finding its feet as one of the region’s most exciting newcomers.
As with all good neighbourhood restaurants, the menu spans breakfast all the way through lunch and dinner and into cocktails, stopping off for an epic Sunday roast too.
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It’s also got one of the internet’s most viral sweet treats, a proper Paris hot chocolate, where you dollop thick cream into dainty cups of molten hot chocolate.
Inside Cafe Continental in Stalybridge. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Paris hot chocolate. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Cafe Continental in Stalybridge. Credit: The Manc Group
This place might have caught the attention of the social media food crowd, but it’s far from gimmicky.
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On its menu you’ll find classics that will stand the test of time, like giant tiger prawns with garlic butter, ribeye beef, flame-roasted chicken, croquettes and hand-dived scallops.
There’s a lunch menu that will stop you in your tracks – think seasonal soups with wedges of bouncy focaccia, spicy twice-fried chicken buns, and a steak sandwich with fries.
There’s also an excellent cacio e pepe pasta, served with an egg yolk on top that you can pop and twirl into the pasta.
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It’s co-owned and created by Ryan Robinson, who’s quick to point out that Cafe Continental isn’t the first restaurant worth travelling for in Stalybridge, which already has a deep-rooted independent food scene.
The fried chicken bun. Credit: The Manc GroupCacio e pepe pasta. Credit: The Manc Group
“We’ve already got some really good food establishments in the area,” he said, “With Gladstone and SK15 and Guiseppes, so the skeleton’s there with Stalybridge, you just need to have some meat on the bones, really.
“And obviously, like we’ve jumped in and hopefully that adds value to the area and then hopefully we see a few more drinking and dining establishments.
“There’s loads of space for development in Stalybridge, and it’s just gonna get better and better.”
Ryan says his inspiration comes from his travels to cities around Europe, and the sort of off-the-beaten-track, full-of-locals restaurants that are so often the most memorable part of a holiday.
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“No matter where you are, whether it’s France or Italy or Spain, there’s always that one restaurant you seem to find that’s set in the back streets, and it’s busy and it’s noisy and the food’s amazing, and you end up having such a good time on the off chance, that you just want to tell everyone about it.
Soup and focaccia at Cafe Continental. Credit: The Manc GroupCod bites and a chicken bun. Credit: The Manc Group
“You want to stay there all night, and that was kind of the inspiration for Cafe Continental.
“We just wanted to make a really buzzy local place.”
Ryan, who previously worked as a DJ and across the hospitality industry, has always had a big passion for food.
He’s teamed up with a good friend who is his head chef, and a couple of other friends as business partners, who just ‘believed in the idea and trusted it’.
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It seems to be paying off, with Cafe Continental already luring people out of the city centre to visit, and drawing in a decent returning local crowd.
Ryan finished by saying: “Support locally this Christmas – there’s a lot of great restaurants in Stalybridge and the surrounding areas that are working hard to bring people the best Christmas possible.
“So if everyone can support local, that would be amazing.”
Cafe Continental is open now at 5 Melbourne St, Stalybridge, SK15 2JE.
‘This is huge’ – Modest Salford Greek restaurant celebrates being added to Michelin Guide
Daisy Jackson
Kallos, a Greek restaurant in Salford, has shared a heartfelt thank you after being added to the Michelin Guide less than a year after opening.
The brilliant Greater Manchester newcomer is the latest local restaurant to receive recognition from the prestigious guide, which celebrates the best places to eat and drink across the globe.
In a glowing review, The Michelin Guide has praised Kallos for its ‘caring service and sumptuous flavours of the Mediterranean’.
Kallos opened at Cortland at Colliers Yard in spring this year, launched by couple Ioanna and Ivan who are doing a damn good job of bringing a taste of Santorini to their stripped-back, concrete-filled, light-flooded new space.
In the mornings, you’ll find brunches like handmade flatbreads loaded with toppings including Merguez sausage, Spanakopita, or Glazed smoked bacon and scrambled eggs; plus yoghurt bowls and pastries.
And then as the day wears on, the menu switches to meze plates, premium tinned fish from coastal Spain and Portugal, and more of those show-stopping flatbreads.
Speaking of the honour of being added to the Michelin Guide, Kallos thanked every member of its team by name, and said ‘it happened because of our team’s dedication’.
Kallos in Salford has been added to the Michelin GuideKallos in Cortland at Colliers Yard, Salford
They wrote: “Today is the day all the hard work of our team was truly recognised.
“Kallos was created with the intention and belief that hospitality begins with our people and through them, it reaches our guests.
“We’re incredibly proud to have a team that lives these values every day, lifting each other up with care, kindness, and genuine hospitality.
“This morning, we woke up to the news that we’ve been added to the Michelin Guide @michelinguide. For a small business like ours, in our very first year of operations, this is huge.
“It happened because of our team’s dedication to every plate that leaves the kitchen, every welcoming smile, and every story we share with each wine we serve.
“Jade, Josh, Sam, Megan, Nina, Giorgos, Ali, Riley – thank you for being the team that makes Kallos what it is.
“And to all the guests who have supported us, believed in us, and shared in what we’re building – thank you. We can’t wait to welcome you again. With gratitude, Ioanna & Ivan.”
The Michelin Guide says: “With its all-day dining, caring service and sumptuous flavours of the Mediterranean, this is the kind of neighbourhood operation you could quickly find yourself visiting week after week.
“Part of the city’s Greengate development, its offering starts with brunch, before morphing from a café vibe into a wine bar and restaurant.
“The evening meze menu is a treat for all fans of Greek cuisine, with the likes of topped flatbreads (the lamb shoulder option is terrific), a supremely comforting chickpea stew and a selection of high-end tinned fish.”
A huge congratulations to Ioanna, Ivan, and the full Kallos team.
Rudy’s toy-swap – You can swap toys for pizza in Manchester this Christmas
Daisy Jackson
You’ll be able to claim a free pizza in exchange for donating a toy to charity this Christmas, with the return of Rudy’s toy-swap initiative.
The popular pizzeria is teaming up again with Cash for Kids, for a community-led toy-swap initiative.
Mancs who take an unwrapped, new toy (worth £10) into any Rudy’s pizzeria will be able to claim a pizza on the house as a thank you.
One toy = one free Neapolitan pizza.
The toys collected in the charity drive will be donated to the Cash for Kids charity, spreading a little festive cheer to children in need.
When Rudy’s held a similar toy-swap scheme last year, they gathered 6,500 toy donations.
The donations and free pizza will be available from Monday 1 December to Thursday 4 December between 12pm and 5pm.
Commenting on the toy-swap initiative, Managing Director of Rudy’s Pizza Neal Bates, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing back our festive toy swap this Christmas in partnership with Cash for Kids.
“The campaign is a simple way for our guests to give back and help bring a little joy to children who might otherwise go without.
“Community has always been at the heart of Rudy’s, and this initiative is a small way for us to say thank you and spread kindness throughout our community, all with delicious pizza in hand.”
The Rudy’s toy-swap initiative is back in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
There’ll be new festive pizzas to try in every Rudy’s too, including the Porchetta (with Emilia-Romagna porchetta, sage-roasted potatoes and cranberry sauce); the Pesto Rosso (homemade sundried tomato red pesto base with capers and tomatoes); and the Pizza Sorbillo, inspired by Naples’ legendary Sorbillo Pizzeria.
There’ll also be seasonal cocktails including the spiced red berry spritz, the white Christmas margherita, and a winter spiced negroni.
Rudy’s toy swap initiative will run from 1 – 4 December across all of Rudy’s pizzerias in the UK – Manchester pizzerias include Ancoats, Peter Street, and Portland Street, plus branches in suburbs across Greater Manchester.
Daisy Jackson -
31st October 2024 
