We all know Greater Manchester has a glowing – and ever-growing – food and drink scene, right?
Well, nothing proves that to be true more than the fact that a handful of the region’s best eateries, known and loved by residents all across Greater Manchester, have impressively been shortlisted in major categories at this year’s Deliveroo Restaurant Awards.
The leading food delivery service’s annual Restaurant Awards are a celebration of the best and most-loved restaurants up and down the country.
The highly-anticipated awards recognise Deliveroo’s most-popular local partners, from independent burger joints, to neighbourhood sushi restaurants, and all the dishes and flavours in between – and this year, a whopping NINE dining spots in Manchester and Salford have made the coveted shortlist for several accolades.
The popular restaurants feature in a wide range of categories, including ‘Best Chinese’, ‘Best Pizza’, and the all-important ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ award.
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Here’s all the nominees you need to know.
Deliveroo has announced its shortlist for its annual Restaurant Awards / Credit: The Manc Group
Regional Cuisine Awards
Best Chinese – Red Chilli, in Manchester
Best Pizza – Proove, in Manchester AND Double Zero Pizza, in Chorlton
Best Dessert – Frurt, in Manchester
Best Indian – Mughli, in Manchester
Best Burger – Burgerism, in Salford
Best Breakfast & Coffee – Ezra & Gil, in Manchester AND Federal Cafe and Bar, in Manchester
Best Japanese – Unagi Streetfood & Sushi, in Manchester
Independent Restaurant of the Year
25 restaurants from all across the UK are up for this year’s coveted ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year Award’, and Greater Manchester has two representatives.
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Burgerism, in Salford
Unagi Streetfood & Sushi, in Manchester
Nine of Greater Manchester’s best restaurants have made the cut / Credit: The Manc Group
Customer votes will determine five ‘Regional Restaurant of the Year’ winner, and then each of these eateries will be automatically entered into the final shortlist for the national ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ – which will be later judged by an esteemed panel.
Will Shu, who is both the founder and CEO at Deliveroo, says this year’s awards are “bigger and better” than ever before.
He continued: “The Restaurant Awards are designed to give our customers the chance to champion and celebrate the wealth of great food right on their doorstep, so get voting to see your favourite spots snap up the titles.”
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Voting for the awards is now open via the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards website, and participating customers are automatically entered into a prize draw to win £500 of app credit.
You’ve got until midnight on Sunday 21 January to get your votes in, and all the winners will be announced on Deliveroo’s social channels on Thursday 15 February, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled to see who claims to title.
Inside Voyeur, a mysterious new post-punk 80s-inspired cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
A brand new cocktail bar is set to open in Manchester this week, with dark and mysterious interiors, 80s inspiration, and a raunchy theme.
Voyeur is opening in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and here it’s all about modern drinks in a post-punk 80s setting.
The walls are decorated with beautiful voyeurism photography from the 80s, including artists like David Hockney, Nick Taggart, and Malerie Marder.
Even the menus celebrate the artistic side of voyeurism, with drinks presented within a book of photography.
Those drinks include creative twists on drinks dating back more than a century, from the Kaleidescope of Lies (a two-in one cocktail inspired by a pina colada, with a strawberry daiquiri foam top) to The Voyeur (made with coriander-infused tequila for a savoury punch).
There’ll be monthly themed specials, kicking off with The Breakfast Club, where seasonal drinks take inspiration from Lucky Charms cereal, chai latte and an acai bowl.
Cocktails inspired by The Breakfast Club at VoyeurCocktails at Voyeur in the Northern QuarterInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barVoyeur on Oldham StreetThe cocktail menu is presented as a photography book
The dark space is lit by marble table lamps and a glittering green disco ball (and not much else), perfect for an evening spent sipping cocktails into the early hours.
Between Thursdays and Sundays, Voyeur will have DJs spinning vinyls.
Voyeur is opening this week on Oldham Street and will be open from 5pm to 2am between Tuesday and Sunday.
A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot
Thomas Melia
Sweet lovers and dessert connoisseurs alike, a brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop is opening in Manchester city centre this month.
Titled ‘Baby Mayhem’, this sweet-filled shop has been teasing its arrival for the past month with videos showcasing everything from new instalments to their graffiti-style logo.
This brand-new opening will be located on Radium Street, not too far away from Chinese superstar Wing Yip and fellow sweet treat specialists, Flat Baker, right in the heart of Ancoats.
The interior has been given a very nice and bright facelift too, going from an all white four-walled site to a bold and distinctive baby pink-covered site.
Manchester seems to have quite the sweet tooth at the moment, as it was only last month that our Northern Quarter was christened by cake gods, Get Baked.
As for this new dessert shop, they’re starting from scratch, with a temporary wooden window frame with their branding spray-painted onto it fitted ahead of their soft launch later this week.
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the much-loved Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria shop, and it really is out with the old, in with the new, as the familiar neon ‘No Lasagne’ sign has been traded for a sweeter read of ‘Fresh Donuts’.
It may be Yank spelling, but this still feels Manc through and through.
Case and point: all their signage, stamps and stencils have been done by local laser cutting service and neighbours, Drawn By The Light – also on Radium Street.
Enough salt, let’s have a serious amount of sugar. (Credit: Baby Mayhem via Instagram)
Baby Mayhem are taking sweet treats to the complete extreme, serving up everyone’s beloved combo of coffees and cakes, while also creating our soon-to-be-favourite indulgence: doughnut sandwiches. 10/10, no notes – genius.
There really are no complaints here; what’s not to love?
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the former Lazy Tony’s site, 23 Radium Street in Ancoats, and will be serving up their sweet treats for all to try from this Saturday, 26 April.
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2024 
