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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
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.
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.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu 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.
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.
Award-winning Didsbury bakery La Chouquette reveals incredible new site
Daisy Jackson
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 croissantsInside the stunning new La Chouquette in DidbsuryNew savoury bakesThe chausson aux pommesThe counter stuffed with artisan French bakesChocolate 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.
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2024 
