At a time when sushi restaurants are opening in Manchester more often than I open my fridge, it’s becoming difficult to stand out from the crowd.
But boy oh boy have we found a newcomer that will change all of that, and a new favourite Japanese spot has entered the region.
Sushi Pod is quite possibly the most exclusive restaurant experience in the entire country, seating just four guests per week.
Those lucky few who manage to secure a table (and at the time of writing, you can still book in for dinner in the coming weeks) will be whisked through a whopping 20 courses in a full omakase experience.
Omakase loosely translates to ‘I’ll leave it up to you’ – you just pull up a seat and watch the chef work their magic on the finest quality seafood available.
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At Sushi Pod, tucked upstairs above the brilliant Grape to Grain wine bar on Bury New Road, you sit mere inches away from chef Artur Wacewicz.
You have a true front-row seat as he delicately slices tuna, deftly rolls sushi rice into nori sheets, and blow-torches sugar onto exotic fruit.
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Artur Wacewicz working his magic at a Sushi Pod omakase nightSushi Pod are serving above Grape to Grain in Prestwich, Greater ManchesterArtur Wacewicz
Artur has teamed up with Grape to Grain founder Tom Sneesby for the Sushi Pod omakase nights – while one is plating up perfect bites of world-class fish, the other is topping up your glass with perfectly-paired wines from downstairs.
And while the experience truly is world-class, it’s not remotely stuffy or formal.
Can’t use chopsticks? Don’t even worry about it – Artur will make you up his special ‘baby chopsticks’, wrapping a napkin around one end so they basically turn into a giant pair of tweezers.
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Never eaten uni before (it’s literally the gonads of a sea urchin…)? Again, Artur will talk you through every ingredient, even happily whipping out his phone and flicking through his pictures to show you exactly what part of the animal you’re eating.
This is a man who has worked alongside the legendary Terry Huang, of former Umezushi fame, which was considered to be one of the best sushi restaurants not just in Manchester but in all of Europe.
Uni (sea urchin) tamakiSalmon nigiriMackerel nigiriThe day’s catchA small sample of the 20-course menu
Artur also works with Out of the Blue fishmongers in Chorlton, rising before the crack of dawn to make sure he has the freshest, best-quality seafood ingredients possible.
And because of this ‘what-have-you-got-today’ approach, the omakase menu from Sushi Pod changes all the time.
For our visit, we had (to name but a few) sweet scallops, bluefin tuna, mackerel, eel, different cuts of salmon, caviar, prawn, and so much more.
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The first dishes are presented as sashimi, with Artur simply slicing off pieces of fish and placing them in front of you beside a wedge of lime and a scoop of wasabi so that you can tweak each bite to your own tastes.
Then comes the nigiri portion, where expertly-prepared sushi rice spiked with vinegar is rolled up, dotted with wasabi or a soy sauce reduction or lime zest, then topped with different seafood ingredients.
ScallopsThe omakase wine flight menu
And finally comes the tamaki section, when Artur literally hands each course over to you neatly tucked into sheets of nori – no plate.
To go alongside this wonderful sushi journey, there are a few different menus of wine or sake pairings, usually kicking off with a champagne before touring some of the world’s finest white wines.
And again, Tom is on hand to explain exactly what is in your glass and why it’s the perfect match, with no stuffy wine lingo chucked in.
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At £90 per person, it’s a darn sight more accessible than a lot of other Omakase menus in town, but with no compromise on quality.
You can book in for Sushi Pod’s Omakaze Night at Grape to Grain here – but be quick, this one’ll book up fast.
And if you DO miss out, you can always order yourself a grab-and-go sushi selection to collect from either Grape to Grain in Prestwich or Out of the Blue in Chorlton.
Eccles pub says it’s ‘a dream come true’ as it’s named the best pub in Britain
Daisy Jackson
The Good Food Guide has named its best 100 pubs in Britain – and it’s a local Eccles boozer who’s come out on top.
The guide has travelled the length and breadth of the country to single out the best pubs the nation has to offer, from community atmosphere and great drinks to top quality kitchens.
Greater Manchester is well-represented in the top 100, with the Marble Arch placing 36th and The Trof 76th, plus The Pack Horse (just outside the region in Hayfield) came in 16th.
But showing the country how it’s done is The Queens Arms in Eccles, a fantastic Victorian red-brick pub with an unexpected yet authentic Japanese izakaya-style menu.
This is a pub where you can get an eel rice bowl or a pork cutlet katsu alongside a pint of pale ale, or a Japanese Sapporo lager.
Since October 2024, the historic pub has been under the steer of Mr. Lo and Mr. Anthony Sit, and their efforts have meant that The Queens Arms has now been named the number one pub in Britain – something they said is a ‘dream come true’.
The Good Food Guide said: “Expect the unexpected. Rarely does this well-worn phrase ring truer than at this historic Victorian pub in an obscure part of Eccles.
“The small, red-brick tavern has a significant claim to fame in the annals of industrial heritage: built in 1828 and ranked as the oldest passenger railway boozer in the world, it has been sympathetically preserved in all its Grade II-listed glory. That might be reason enough to visit, but it doesn’t prepare the first-time visitor for the culture shock inside.
“Under Hong Kong ownership, and with an authentic Japanese izakaya-style menu, the result could be an aesthetic car crash – a cultural pile-up that does no favour to either tradition. Instead, the Queens Arms is as packed with Asian diners and Chinese tourists as any eatery in Manchester’s Chinatown – even on a dull Monday lunchtime.
“And the unlikely combination has been a great success, as much for the novelty as the excellent quality of the cooking and speedy service (as many repeat customers testify).
“The menu is short but expertly executed: best-selling dishes include pork cutlet katsu, a teriyaki ox-tongue rice bowl, eel rice bowl and teppanyaki mixed vegetable udon. The tempura batter on our visit was outstanding – meltingly light, fresh and crisp.
“Somehow, the whole thing fits together: etched ‘snug’ windows, comfortable padded booth seating, tiled fireplaces, wooden bar fittings and Victorian knick-knacks. One room still functions as a local drinking den with a dartboard – so you can practice your throws with a glass of cold Sapporo on draught.”
Sharing the news today, The Queens Arms wrote: “A DREAM COME TRUE – WE ARE THE WINNER
“We are incredibly proud and delighted to announce that The Queens Arms has been named the overall WINNER of The Good Food Guide Britain’s 100 Best Pubs 2026! What an incredible moment for our little pub in Eccles!
“When we first took over The Queens Arms, we had a dream of bringing new life to this historic 1828 pub, combining the charm and heritage of a traditional British pub with our passion for Japanese cuisine.
“It has been quite a journey, and this recognition means so much to us.
“A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, whose hard work and dedication make everything possible, and to all our wonderful customers, friends and local community for your continued support. You have been part of our journey from the very beginning, we couldn’t have done it without you.
“Our sincere thanks to The Good Food Guide for this incredible recognition and for continuing to celebrate the great British pub, independent hospitality and the people who work so hard behind the scenes.
“This is not just our achievement – it is something for our whole community to celebrate!
“Thank you for believing in us. We can’t wait to welcome you and celebrate together!”
You can see the full Good Food Guide top 100 pubs in Britain HERE.
Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant team to take over iconic NQ venue
Daisy Jackson
The team who earned Cantaloupe a Michelin Bib Gourmand are moving into Manchester city centre – and into a site we all know pretty well.
The Cantaloupe team are about to embark on a new venture with Rasade, a new French restaurant in the site of the former TNQ in the Northern Quarter.
The old neighbourhood restaurant announced its shock closure earlier this year, after more than two decades serving Manchester.
But now the beautiful corner building on High Street is under new ownership, and in very safe hands.
Shortly after pivoting Cantaloupe into Bar Caput (a more casual neighbourhood offering), the duo behind it, Joshua Reed Cooper and Mike Thomas, have announced they’re launching Rasade in Manchester city centre.
Rasade in French refers to a glass filled to the brim, traditionally of wine or another drink.
The new French restaurant will showcase regional French cooking and seasonal local produce, drawing inspiration from France’s diverse regions.
This won’t be a stuffy French restaurant though – they’re aiming to create the relaxed spirit of a bistro with their serious commitment to traditional cooking.
Early menus show dishes like oysters with mignonette, langoustine with Karri-Gosse, and pâté de campagne, plus brill with rancio sec and mushroom fricassée, and pork chop with garniture Mirabeau.
And as for desserts, expect classics like a tarte Tatin designed for two to share, alongside flan pâtissier and Opéra religieuse.
Alongside the cooking, an extensive French wine offering will span the many, many wine regions of the country, featuring both small and unusual producers as well as more established names.
Mike and Josh now want to build on the success they quickly found in Stockport with this new city centre venture, bringing the same focus on good produce, thoughtful cooking and an informal approach to hospitality.
Rasade will open at 108 High Street in the Northern Quarter later this year.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd June 2024 
