Eats

Piccolino Caffé Grande – Manchester’s Italian restaurant institution reveals stunning revamp

Beautiful interiors for a beautiful menu.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 29th March 2024

Piccolino Caffé Grande has been serving the city for 23 years, and it still stands the test of time as a destination for elegant dining.

Located proudly on Clarence Street overlooking the Town Hall, Piccolino Caffé Grande is basically an institution at this point.

Serving customers day-in, day-out with delicious food and proper Italian hospitality – it’s no surprise that this spot has been loved by locals for decades.

And their brand-new refurbishment sets them in good stead for decades to come.

Piccolino’s iconic blue interiors are met with elegant gold accents, a statement brass ceiling, impressive floral instillations and beautiful chandeliers.

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The new refurb has also seen the instillation of an open kitchen, so you can see the chefs at work as they craft mouthwatering pasta dishes, fantastic pizza and impressive sharing cuts of meat on the grill.

Outside Piccolino Caffe Grande, an Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre
The new interiors at Piccolino Caffe Grande, an Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre
The new interiors at Piccolino Caffe Grande, an Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre. Credit: The Manc Group

Diners can take a seat at the decadent bar area and watch their cocktail being made before heading over to their table in one of two huge dining rooms.

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The authentic Italian menu remains superb, highlights included the Capesanta king scallops topped with confit garlic and breadcrumbs, as well as the Arancina with saffron and spicy vegetarian nduja – a new dish for Spring which is sure to be a firm favourite.

The Devonshire crab ravioli in a sumptuous shellfish butter was the knockout dish though, beautifully al dente pasta stuffed generously with flavourful crab served swimming in a silky sauce – utter perfection.

Capesanta king scallops topped with confit garlic and breadcrumbs and a squeeze of lemon.
Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare from Piccolino Caffe Grande Italian restaurant in Manchester
Piccolino Caffe Grande in Manchester is an Italian restaurant institution. Credit: The Manc Group

And of course you can’t go wrong with Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare, packed with plenty of mussels, clams, prawns and squid in a sauce which had a cheeky kick of chilli which was very much welcomed.

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But it wouldn’t be a trip to Piccolino’s if you weren’t treated to the exceptional Italian hospitality that they pride themselves on, and our waiter José was none other than a master of his craft.

A Manchester institution loved for decades, and we predict for many more to come. Welcome back Caffé Grande – it’s great to see you.

The new interiors at Piccolino Caffe Grande, an Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre
The new interiors at Piccolino Caffe Grande, an Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre
Images: The Manc Eats

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Manchester’s viral sandwich shop Ad Maiora is selling HUGE butties for only 9p through Deliveroo

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Ad Maiora in Manchester is selling 9p sandwiches this week through Deliveroo. Credit: The Manc Group

Ad Maiora, the Italian sandwich shop that’s loved by Manchester City stars (and everyone else who’s sunk their teeth into one), is selling butties for only 9p this week.

The local business is famed for its authentic sandwiches filled with quality imported Italian ingredients, and for its super-sized versions of its delicious lunches.

And this week only, you’ll be able to pick up a hefty sandwich, called the Scran-wich, for only 9 English pence.

The limited-edition Schiacciata will have nine different components and weighs in at a whopping 500g (though it’s nothing on their 1kg beast we’ve tried before…)

Owners and couple Enrico and Daniela have spent weeks developing the perfect balance of flavours.

Each ingredient is sourced in Italy but inspired by places and sayings from Manchester.

So you’ll find spicy ‘supersonic’ salami, nowt better N’duja, mozzarella ‘footballs’, sliced Haçienda heritage tomatoes, ‘r kid Italian wild rocket, 0161 olives, lashings of mad fer it mayonnaise, ‘buzzing bee’ basil leaves and ‘let’s ave it’ red onions – all sandwiched between fresh homemade Scran-worthy Schiacciata bread. 

The Scran-wich and its 9p sale have been created to celebrate Deliveroo’s ninth birthday, and there’ll be 300 available to order through Deliveroo.

The limited edition 9p ‘Scran-Wich’, available at Ad Maiora in Manchester through Deliveroo. Credit: Deliveroo/Dominic Lipinski
The limited edition 9p ‘Scran-Wich’, available at Ad Maiora in Manchester through Deliveroo. Credit: Deliveroo/Dominic Lipinski
Ad Maiora is one of Manchester's best sandwich shops and loved by celebs and locals
Ad Maiora is one of Manchester’s best sandwich shops and loved by celebs and locals

Enrico and Daniela, owners of Ad Maiora, said: “We’ve had so much support from the local community since we launched, so we were very excited when Deliveroo asked us to create a special Ad Maiora sandwich dedicated to the city of Manchester in celebration of their 9th birthday.

“We hope our customers love the limited-edition ‘Scran-wich’ – we’ve really enjoyed creating a sandwich that celebrates our city which makes this SUPER limited edition and special!”

Steffi Morel, Deliveroo city manager for Manchester, said: “It has been an absolute honour connecting Manc foodies to the best local restaurants at the click of a button for the last nine years.

“To celebrate, we’ve partnered with one of Manchester’s new local favourites, Ad Maiora, who’ve created the ultimate birthday ‘Scran-wich’, which pays homage to the city with every delicious bite! Deliveroo customers will need to be quick, as there are only 300 available!”

Ad Maiora’s Scran-wich is available for just 9p from Tuesday 30 April until Thursday 2 May through Deliveroo.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Medlock Canteen receives rave Guardian review from Jay Rayner just one month after opening

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

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).

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’.

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
Inside Medlock Canteen in Manchester, which just received a rave review in The Guardian
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.

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.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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