Medlock Canteen, a new Manchester restaurant, has received a rave review in the Guardian just weeks after it opened.
National critic Jay Rayner has heaped praise upon the restaurant at Deansgate Square, describing it as ‘so special’.
The restaurant only opened its doors at the end of March, taking its inspiration from opposite sides of the pond – the laid-back style of American diners and the hospitality of Parisian bistros.
Rayner said it’s ‘a welcome haven for all’ and applauded its menu packed with ‘appealing, familiar dishes that are the best versions of themselves’.
Medlock Canteen comes from the team behind Madre (the Mexican restaurant at Kampus) and Belzan (one of Liverpool’s top restaurants).
ADVERTISEMENT
But unlike those two restaurants, things are much simpler at their newest venture – this is a restaurant where you can order a fried egg with any meal, drink bottomless coffee, and even order the day’s ‘staff dinner’ for just a tenner.
Rayner dedicated almost an entire paragraph of his review to Medlock Canteen’s gravy (‘dark and sticky and deeply savoury’), which he said is so good you should just ‘order that and pour it over everything. Pour it over a friend’.
ADVERTISEMENT
He also waxed lyrical about their rotisserie chicken (there are rows of the things rotating in the city’s first in-restaurant rotisserie chicken oven), of which he said: “It is everything those words promise and don’t always deliver. No special rubs or sauces. Just roast chicken, rested long enough for the meat to start shrugging itself off the bones. The skin is crisp and salty.”
Inside Medlock Canteen in Manchester, which just received a rave review in The Guardian. Credit: The Manc Group
Other dishes that were celebrated in the Guardian’s review of Medlock Canteen included a rhubarb pie, charcoal-grilled fish of the day, duck rillettes and pistachio frangipane tart.
The restaurant itself said there were ‘happy faces’ after the review was published over the weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Medlock Canteen wrote on Instagram: “Manchester may be grey this Sunday, but let us tell you, there are a few happy faces both on and behind the scenes as we enjoy our morning brew, reading through the kind words of @jayrayner1 in the @guardian.
“Thanks go to our team and our guests for all the hard work, dedication, and pure passion that has made Medlock Canteen ‘a welcome haven for one and all.’
“Anyway, enough of that. Just another day. Just another ‘set of appealing, familiar dishes that are the best versions of themselves.’
“Caution: gravy jus may be thrown. Let Sunday service commence.”
A new Southeast Asian BBQ restaurant has opened on a Manchester rooftop with jaw-dropping city views
Clementine Hall
Say hello to Sister Moon, a beautiful new restaurant bringing a taste of Southeast Asia to Manchester city centre.
It’s the latest addition to Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel, which opened last year transforming a huge building at the end of Deansgate.
This is the final chapter of its new opening, and it might be our favourite one yet.
Sister Moon is the new project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger who you’ll know from Madre, among others.
Images: The Manc
Sam is working alongside Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (Electric Chair, Volta, Freight Island) at Sister Moon, a Southeast Asian BBQ concept inspired by his time cooking with a local family in Thailand.
All the dishes are cooked on open fire, including dishes like the fried pork skewers with banana ketchup and the grilled prawns with crispy chilli and garlic.
Image: The Manc
Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find stars like the crispy pork belly and pomelo salad as well as the slow cooked lamb jungle curry (warning, this one’s got a kick).
Looking for something lighter? There’s dishes like the smacked cucumber and the cold soba noodle salad that make for the perfect lunch option.
Images: The Manc
And it’s not just Sister Moon which has opened on the 14th floor of the Treehouse Hotel, also now open is The Nest, a new signature bar with panoramic views of Manchester that will be a destination for late-night drinks and social occasions.
Just up the stairs is also The Hideout – an intimate rooftop lounge and event space designed for private hire.
Kick off your evening with a drink in The Nest before making your way for a flavour-packed dinner at Sister Moon – all whilst enjoying jaw-dropping views of the city.
Sister Moon, The Nest, and The Hideout will officially open on Saturday 5 September, and you can find out more here.
Cult favourite shawarma bar hailed ‘outstanding’ by major reviewer
Daisy Jackson
A shawarma takeaway in Manchester has received a glowing review that’s left its founder with ‘the biggest goosebumps’.
Sqew opened its doors on Deansgate last year, having started life over in Leeds, scooping up all sorts of awards and accolades as it went – including Deliveroo’s Best Kebab of 2025.
And now it’s caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 400k followers) paying Sqew a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up on Deansgate to test the claims that Sqew is serving the UK’s best shawarma.
In their video review, Bite Twice said that the food is ‘out-f**kin-standing’, and rated it a strong 9.2 out of 10.
They said before even taking a bite: “I can tell you already we’re in for a treat. The quality of meat, cuts on that spit, look outstanding.”
Then after taking their first mouthful, they added: “That was one of the most juicy, flavour-filled, gorgeous bites into anything that I’ve ever had. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s got texture.
Sqew founder Mitch outside his Deansgate restaurantSqew has received a rave review
“But that meat, the quality of the chicken, it’s out-f**kin-standing. It’s been seasoned to perfection.
“This is taking the humble shawarma wrap to absolute heights, my god.
“Up there with the top three best shawarmas I’ve ever had in my life. Probably joint top with Fostok Halab, which is massive praise. 9.1. Why not, f**k it, 9.2, what you gonna do it about it?”
Responding to the video, Sqew founder Mitch Renshaw said: “Watched this 10 times. The biggest goosebumps. Thanks guys, made mine and the team’s day!”
Daisy Jackson -
29th April 2024 
