The UK’s best curry houses have just been named for 2023, and we’re pleased to see that a few of our favourite Manchester restaurants have been included in the cut.
The Nation’s Curry Awards were celebrated at a glitzy ceremony in Manchester last night, with hospitality pros across the region picking up gongs for their excellent cooking skills.
Designed to recognise and celebrate ‘the talents and hard work of individuals and businesses within the UK’s curry industry’, awards categories included Best Chef of the Year, Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year, and Best Customer Service.
Taking home the gong for Best of Manchester was Asha’s on Peter Street. A fine dining Indian restaurant established in 2016, it featured in the Michelin Guide in 2017 and 2018 and takes its name from Bollywood icon and founder Asha Bhosle.
Beating other popular Manchester eateries like Indian Tiffin Room, Delhi House Cafe, Kabana, Arnero, Wah Ji Wah, Dhoom Dhaam, Indique, and Chit ‘N’ Chaat, the team took to social media to celebrate after the ceremony writing: “We won! ‘Best of Manchester!”
Image: Asha’s Manchester
Image: Asha’s Manchester
“Thank you to all our customers for your continued support at Asha’s. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the #nationalcurryawards.”
Fans were quick to congratulate the restaurant, with one person writing: “Huge Congratulations. Totally deserving. For my favourite restaurant.”
Another said: “You deserve all the best, you r the one and the one only. Love you all so much without knowing you …”
Asha’s reopened after a period of closure and a change of management last August, following a takeover by KRO Hospitality group.
At the time, it retained its executive chef Ashwani Rangta but he has since moved over to Cheshire to head up the newly acclaimed eatery GupShup. However, the award win last night suggests that Asha’s is as popular as ever.
Other Greater Manchester restaurants to pick up awards at the ceremony included Ayaan’s in Bolton, which was crowned Pakistani Restaurant of the Year, and The Great Kathmandu, a Burton Road favourite which took home the gong for Best Nepalese Restaurant of the Year.
A Spokesperson for the inaugural Nation’s Curry Awards 2023 said: “It has been an unforgettable night, filled with incredible food, vibrant energy, and passionate conversations.
“We have celebrated the finest in the UK’s curry scene, recognising the creativity, innovation, and exceptional service that have become synonymous with this beloved cuisine.
“The UK’s curry industry is a vital part of our culture, and these awards recognised the exceptional talents of the individuals and businesses that make it so special. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event.”
Feature image – Asha’s Manchester
Eats
Luxury Manchester steak restaurant launches bottomless brunch with endless rosé
Daisy Jackson
One of the newest luxury restaurants in Manchester is bringing back its suitably luxury bottomless brunch, with endless rosé and champagne.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch, where you can sip on never-ending Whispering Angel Rosé while tucking into a flat iron steak.
And if you’re not fussed about the food and just want to indulge in 90 minutes of non-stop Moët & Chandon Champagne in a beautiful setting, there are bar-only tables available too, which come with complimentary black truffle crisps.
The whole thing will be soundtracked by a live DJ, dancers, and more.
Now, this landmark Victorian building is painted in rich blues and golds, with huge windows, private dining spaces, a sommelier lounge, and even a ‘gossip room’.
The Cut & Craft is reintroducing its bottomless brunch
Its bottomless brunch launched over the previous bank holidays and will be back again this August for one day only.
You can choose from bottomless Whispering Angel, Moët & Chandon Champagne, or both.
And dishes from the Cut & Craft bottomless brunch set menu include flat iron steak and chips; halloumi, steak or prawn fajitas; and grilled peach salad.
Each booking gets you 90 minutes of bottomless, with extra nibbles available like freshly shucked Carlingford oysters, caviar, olives, salted almonds, and more.
Whispering Angel tickets are £55 for bar, or £75 for restaurant.
Champagne AND Whispering Angel tickets are £80 at the bar or £100 in the restaurant.
Prestwich wine bar Chin Chin now serves roast dinner sandwiches
Daisy Jackson
A new (ish) wine bar in Prestwich has launched one of the city’s coolest Sunday offerings – roast dinner sandwiches, with a side of jazz.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it 1000 times – Elnecot is up there as one of Manchester’s best Sunday roasts, with Yorkshire puddings you could fit a jug of gravy inside, blushing slices of roast beef, and generous portions that put you in the sort of food coma you should be in on a Sunday afternoon.
So when Roast Master (okay fine, his official job title is chef/owner) Michael Clay said that his sister venue Chin Chin was launching a Sunday offering, I was there with my nose pressed up at the window. I’m ready, Michael.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin, right in the heart of Prestwich village, brings that incredible roast beef and roast potatoes into a more casual format.
You can tuck into roast meat butties, roast potatoes loaded with cheese and gravy, and ice cream sundaes, all while perusing a well-thought-out wine list that’s written up by hand every time new bottles come in.
Oh, and did we mention there are £4 pints all day on Sunday – and that includes Guinness?
On the side of just about everything on the menu, you’re presented with a little bowl of extra gravy (how delightfully Northern) for dipping and dunking.
Sunday Sessions at Chin Chin in PrestwichRoast beef sandwiches at Chin ChinLancashire cheese toastiesThe BifanaLoaded roastiesWine and vinyl recordsInside Chin Chin wine barThe wine list at Chin Chin
Our top pick would be the roast beef sandwich, served between ciabatta rolls and laced with mustard mayo and caramelised onions.
But the cheese toastie is worth a visit too – a hefty helping of Lancashire cheese and charred spring onions, with a ‘secret sauce’ on the side.
Coming soon will be a new menu item, a Bifana sandwich. If you’ve trudged the streets of Portugal you’ll have come across these – thin slices of pork marinated in white wine and garlic, piled into bread with a punchy mustard. Chin Chin’s are excellent.
And for afters, because there is always room for dessert, it’s a lovely ice cream sundae topped with miso caramel and a showering of pistachios.
The whole time you’ll be eating with a soundtrack of jazz, played through the wine bar’s vinyl record system and Michael’s own personal collection of vinyls.
Chin Chin is open now on Bury New Road, with food on Sundays served between 12pm and 6pm.
Georgina Pellant -
21st February 2023 
