The Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and there are PLENTY of entries for Greater Manchester.
From city centre gastropubs to Michelin-recommended hidden gems to proper local Italian restaurants, our city region has shone throughout the list.
And while the top spot in all of Britain went to Bavette in Leeds (a firm favourite of our friends over at The Hoot), there are plenty of restaurants to shout about closer to home too.
The overall winner in the entire North West was named as Cibus in Levenshulme, a laid-back spot that’s a huge part of Levy’s culinary levelling-up.
In fact, Greater Manchester has completely dominated the Best Local Restaurants list for the North West, taking seven out of the 13 spots.
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Widely considered one of the city’s best restaurants, Higher Ground has shot onto the list, along with fellow Michelin-recommended spots The Sparrows and Another Hand.
Also featuring in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious list is The Pearl, a newcomer in Prestwich with its own wine window.
Bombay to Mumbai in Stockport made the guide too, as did the brilliant Lily’s Vegetarian in Ashton-under-Lyne, and Covino just down the road in Chester.
And completing the list for the North West is The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats, a gastropub that’s been named one of the best in the country.
Back to the big win for Cibus though.
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Cibus in Levenshulme is loved locally and beyond for its modern Italian menu, which features everything from salted doughnuts to cicchetti and pizza and pasta.
The Good Food Guide noted that Cibus’ cooking and the effort they put into their seasonal menu is so brilliant, ‘it would shame many-a fancier joint’.
They also wrote: “It has transformed the food scene in Levenshulme and is the type of place we all wished we had on our doorstep.”
The Pearl in Prestwich has made it onto the list of the Top 100 Local Restaurants in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Edinburgh Castle also made the top 100 in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupHigher Ground is officially one of Britain’s best local restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group
Owners Giorgio Fontana and Marco Bracchitta said of the award: “We are thrilled and humbled by the news that Cibus has been voted the Best Local Restaurant in the North West!
“It is a huge honour, and we are overwhelmed with joy. Thank you to all of our supporters.
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“We feel loved and embraced by the community around us, and we reciprocate that with our love and passion in what we do here at Cibus.
“This recognition is a massive burst of morale for the Cibus team. We are like family, and we work hard together to provide a great experience for our guests. Our hard work has paid off.”
This year, more than 60,000 votes were cast in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants guide, leaving a panel of experts to anonymously eat in the front-running restaurants across the UK.
Elizabeth Carter and Chloë Hamilton, co-editors of The Good Food Guide, said: “You came out in force this year, casting an astonishing 60,000 nominations for your beloved bistros, brasseries, pubs and cafés.
“We, and our undercover inspectors, have been touring the country to ensure the list is made up of the best of their kind.
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“Places that are home to extraordinary local creativity and talent, personal hospitality and genuine community spirit, and that are wonderfully affordable too.
“Eating out locally has never been so diverse, so enjoyable, so satisfying. Let’s make sure it stays that way.”
The best restaurants in the North West according to The Good Food Guide 2024
Cibus Levenshulme [regional winner]
Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Ashton-under-Lyne
Mongrel – New taproom and pizzeria set to move into the former Street Urchin site
Daisy Jackson
A brand new taproom, coffee shop and pizzeria concept has announced plans to move into Ancoats.
Mongrel will come from the same team behind Crust, a much-raved-about pizza joint that operated off a Stockport industrial estate until earlier this year.
They’ve now confirmed they have their sights set on the city centre, specially the magnificent corner unit that was previously home to the beloved Street Urchin.
Street Urchin suddenly closed earlier this year after co-founder and head chef Kevin suffered a heart attack, leaving them ‘unable to continue as a business’.
Rachel Choudhary, Kevin’s partner and co-founder of the neighbourhood restaurant, wrote at the time that they were ‘heartbroken’ to close the business.
Street Urchin was quietly one of the top restaurants in Ancoats and operated in a market diner fashion, creatively cooking the best catch of the day for an ever-changing menu that honoured each season.
Thankfully, this key corner unit won’t be quiet for much longer, with another local operator now lined up to move in.
Inside Street Urchin before its closure – the site will now become a pizzeria called Mongrel. Credit: The Manc Group
Mongrel has so far shared that it’s set to be a ‘coffee shop, pizza place and taproom, all under one roof’.
Upon closing Crust in Stockport they confirmed this will be ‘a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love’.
They posted on Instagram: “Thanks to everyone who’s popped down over the last year. We’re eternally grateful for the support from our fantastic customers, and will look back on this period with huge gratitude.
“It’s with great sadness that we announce our departure from Stockport. We know this will come as a disappointment to our Crüst family – we haven’t made this decision lightly.
“We have been looking for a new premesis in Stockport for a while, however after multiple applications going nowhere, we have finally found a new home in Manchester City Center!
“Our new home will be a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love… We can’t to reveal what’s to come!
Mongrel is set to open its taproom and pizzeria on Great Ancoats Street, in the former Street Urchin site, in November.
Legendary Borough Market doughnut bakery Bread Ahead is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Bread Ahead – creators of the cult creme brulee doughnuts – is finally coming to Manchester (and soon).
The doughnut bakery is one of the most famous traders at Borough Market in London thanks to its artisan dough, classic fillings, and creative specials.
And to celebrate its arrival into the North, Bread Ahead will be giving away 1,000 free doughnuts across its first two days in Manchester.
The Borough Market bakery institution has announced a three-month stint inside Harvey Nichols, where Mancs will be able to pick up flavours including their world-famous creme brulee doughnut, a custard-filled beauty with a crunchy torched brown sugar top.
That particular flavour is so popular, they sell around 5,000 daily down in London.
Other Bread Ahead doughnuts include vanilla, jam, sea salted caramel, pistachio, and regional/seasonal specials like pumpkin creme brulee, smores, lemon curd, coconut, and blackcurrant cheesecake.
The giveaway of 1,000 free doughnuts will start at 10am on Monday 3 November, with 500 handed out while stocks last.
Bread Ahead is bringing its legendary doughnuts to Manchester for the first time
Then on Tuesday 4 November there’ll be another 500 up for grabs on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Founder Matthew Jones says: “We’ve long wanted to branch out regionally, and this felt like the perfect way to do it.
“Baking and education are so important to us, so we’re really excited to bring our doughnuts to the people of Manchester and thrilled to be working with Harvey Nichols.
“We hope this is just the first of many visits – there’s so much more to come!”
The creme brulee doughnuts from Bread Ahead are coming to Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Gavin Hudson, General Manager at Harvey Nichols Manchester said: “Bread Ahead is a true institution in Borough Market, so when Matthew and the team got in touch, we knew that their offer would definitely resonate with our customers.
“We’re excited to be bringing their full selection of doughnut flavours to the city and we are sure that their trademark Crème Brûlée doughnut will become a firm favourite here too.”
Bread Ahead will open at Harvey Nichols Manchester from Monday 3 November.
Daisy Jackson -
24th July 2024 
