Tony Soprano once told a friend trapped in a desperate situation: “You gotta get your arms around this thing.”Bada Bing Sandwich Deli is offering similar advice to its customers.
Manchester’s new city centre snack bar – inspired by mafia TV series The Sopranos – is serving ‘hoagies’ so big they come with eating instructions: Two hands recommended.
Partners Sam and Meg had often wondered about setting up their own cafe, and during one lockdown evening spent watching David Chase’s seminal show, the pair found themselves feasting their eyes on the plates of food that were so often piled high in the foreground on screen.
It was all the motivation they needed.
Together, Sam and Meg made it their mission to bring proper Italian-American sandwiches to Manchester for the first time – recreating the kind of ingredient-packed, eye-popping hoagies that wouldn’t look out of place in Satriale’s (the mob deli where Tony is often found chewing over a problem with his food).
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They officially launched their cafe in February and called it ‘Bada Bing’ – an ode to the venue that brings in business for the New Jersey mafia in The Sopranos.
Of course, there are a few crucial differences. Manchester’s Bing is an alley kitchen serving sandwiches – not a bar and strip club off a highway exit.
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Currently, Sam and Meg do all the prep and cooking themselves – whipping up recipes in a dark kitchen (with bread freshly-baked each morning) and passing orders out of a window.
However, there are already plans to move to Ancoats and share a space with another Italian-American-themed takeaway ‘Fat Tony’s Lasagne’ later this year.
Bada Bing co-owner Sam told The Manc: “Me and Meg were sat there one night watching The Sopranos and I said: ‘You know what, why don’t we just do it? Set up our own shop and call it the Bada Bing’?
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“It was a bit of a laugh at first, but then it turned out to be a great idea in the end!”
Within a matter of weeks, the pair were serving hungry customers out of a hatch round the back of B Lounge.
“We do get a lot of Sopranos fans coming down, but we also get people who are just looking for a good sandwich in Manchester,” Sam explains.
“I can’t think of many places that offer a sandwich like we do.
“Obviously, you’ve got the big chains but I’ve always been disappointed by them.”
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In time, Sam and Meg are hoping to have their very own shopfront with “pictures behind the counter” and “meat hanging from the roof” – just like in their beloved TV show.
But until then, they’re keeping The Sopranos theme alive through their menu.
Tony Soprano was often seen tucking into sandwiches at Satriale’s during the series / Image: YouTube
The headliner sandwich is The Bing (with ‘Gabagool’, pistachio mortadella, salami, provolone, tomato, lettuce, red onion, giardiniera and mayo); whilst the Paulie Walnuts is named after one of The Sopranos’ fearless Mafia captains (this one is packed with mushroom shawarma, artichokes, balsamic caramelised onions, walnuts rocket, vegan truffle mayo and gouda).
Other options include the The Meatball Sub with fennel sausage meatballs, red sauce, mozzarella, rocket, pecorino and basil salsa verde; and a rotating list of specials including a Chicago-style hot beef sandwich.
There’s also plans for a Bánh mì sandwich – which the pair have been wanting to recreate since trying one in Melbourne.
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“We’ll keep changing the menu as often as possible, maybe the meats will change from time to time, too,” Sam tells us.
“We just want to keep it interesting, I’d hate for the menu to get stale.”
“We’re also hoping to hire someone soon to help with the workload.
“It’s a lot of hard work just the two of us, but it’s been really fun. We’ve worked in bars for years and we’ve decided to throw ourselves in the deep end.
“Touch wood it’s been pretty successful so far.”
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Bada Bing Sandwich Deli
So much of The Sopranos is set against backdrops of food – whether it’s a cafe, pork store, restaurant, dinner table, or the wake of a fallen mobster.
By the final season, one boss’ daughter even reaches breaking point, exasperatedly turning to her father – who is clad in an orange prison jumpsuit – and asking: “Jesus, can’t we ever about anything else in the family besides food?!”
It was a snatch of dialogue that can be seen as a cheeky, knowing nod to the show’s obsession with cooking. And maybe it was the masterful cinematography, but the grub always looked so good.
Bada Bing is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood for this reason alone. But it’s probably about time New Jersey and Manchester got better acquainted, anyway.
After all, the two cities already share several similarities – including slate-grey winter skies, residents bursting with intense civic pride, and international status for making groundbreaking achievements in media.
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Perhaps NJ’s most famous televisual export, The Sopranos ran for nine years in total, but it picked up a cult following mere months after it first launched.
Bada Bing Sandwich Deli has been much the same.
What this means, of course, is that Piccadilly’s freshest deli is as busy as the real ‘Bing’ on a Friday night.
“We’ve been selling out every week!” Sam chuckles.
“It’s really popular because there’s a gap in the market for this in Manchester.”
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Bada Bing Sandwich Deli
Because they’re only a crew of two at Bada Bing right now, customers are urged to get their orders in early.
You can arrange collection on the same day or the next – but you’ll need to act fast to get your hands on (and you will need both hands) a weekend hoagie.
If you wait around too long, fuh-get about it.
Bada Bing Sandwich Deli is located on Back Piccadilly in Manchester city centre.
Opening times are Friday to Sunday, midday until 3pm. Order for collection next day.
Top-rated Manchester chippy Hip Hop Chip Shop confirms it will soon be closing
Danny Jones
Not the news we wanted to go into the weekend writing but, sadly, we have word of yet another loss to Manchester hospitality as The Hip Hop Chip Shop have announced they will soon be closing.
Rated not just one of the top-rated chippies in Greater Manchester but having been named the second beast in the UK back in 2023, Hip Hop Chip Shop‘s success story is one we’ve loved watching.
First opened back in 2014 (how time flies), the chippy started out as nothing more than another street food stall serving out of a converted trailer designed to look like a boombox; it was cool, great value for money and absolutely delicious.
However, now over a decade later and having opened their brick-and-mortar site in Ancoats, the present financial pressures of the sector have taken their toll just like they have so many others and Hip Hop Chip Shop confirmed they will be early closing next month.
Bidding an emotional goodbye on social media, they wrote: “After 11 years, we’re unfortunately joining the chorus of independent businesses in Manchester and beyond, calling it a day.
Although Ancoats was an amazing area for us to embark on our bricks-and-mortar dream, the cost increases from Brexit, Covid, energy, VAT (halving it would save a lot in the industry), BB Loans etc. has meant it’s unviable in its current form – we would’ve had to increase prices much more than we’d be comfortable with to get the margins we need to keep going.
“It’s an extremely tough decision given it’s 15 years since the idea was born in my early 20s – then three mates whilst working other jobs began building it from scratch every weekend, to then quitting our jobs and taking a leap of full-time faith. Ultimately, we need to listen to the head, not the heart.”
Founder Jonathan ‘Ozzie’ Oswald goes on to add, “We wanted to give enough notice to support our amazing team in finding new jobs, making sure all our suppliers are paid up and provide our supportive customers with the last chance to eat/drink/party with us.”
Although they started they are exploring the possibility of keeping their trailer (which made its Christmas Markets debut just this past year) going at regular locations like the Etihad Stadium, the rest of the business as we know will be shutting down in a matter of weeks.
How it all started.The food’s been unbelievable since the start.Credit: The Manc Eats
Sharing a lengthy farewell message in honour of their fellow contemporaries and competitors, equally lauded Chips @ No.8 in Prestwich said: “We honour those who dared to do it differently. The Hip Hop Chip Shop in Manchester city centre were inspirational to us when we were setting out.
“They turned fish and chips on its head and did it how no one else thought possible. Centred on community with a high-quality product that championed sustainability and the alternative, we deemed them Gods of the fish and chip world and untouchable…
“Yet another independent food-based business to succumb to the economic crisis that has enveloped us and to date, the one that has hit us hardest. This latest closure most certainly won’t be the last. The government need to wake up fast and support small independent businesses before there are no more…
“If you haven’t been before then you really should, before it’s too late.”
You can find their remaining opening hours in the full Instagram post and the staff have assured all they’ll be open as normal in Manchester and at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range until their closing party on Saturday, 2 March, where guests can come along and have one last bite – and more than a few beers.
Responding underneath the post, one person commented: “The doors might be closing, but what you’ve done for us will never ever be forgotten. It’s impossible to talk about Manchester Hip Hop without talking about the Chippy.
“From Manchester to Vegas, tales of a Chippy that supported a culture, community and served dam good food will be told with smiles on our faces and heavy hearts.”
As for the Hip Hop gang, they signed off simply by saying: “It’s been a privilege to be able to feed you all whether it’s been at a music festival, kitchen takeover, wedding, corporate party and also put on some top events in a chippy! HUGE thanks for your support!
RIP to HOP, you were the modern Manchester chippy OGs and we sincerely hope it’s not forever.
Nothing short of a perfect plate – you will be missed x
Manchester’s reigning Chef of the Year unveils new restaurant
Danny Jones
A brand new restaurant from Manchester Chef of the Year, Shaun Moffat, and a small team of hospitality heavyweights is opening in the city centre.
The former Manteca, Hix and St. Leonards chef, who has gone on to earn even plenty of local acclaim thanks to his work at the Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats and most recently Maya in the Gay Village, is now set to embark on his own venture and will soon become the Chef Patron of a brand new concept.
Although there aren’t too many details just yet, Moffat and co. are promising to focus on two core principles: ‘Northern hospitality and thoughtful British cooking’.
Set to take the lead on Winsome Restaurant sooner than you think, should everything stay on schedule, Moffat and the new restaurant will be housed on Princess Street, adjoining the Whitworth Locke Hotel, as they cook to the masses from this historic corner of Manchester.
Winsome will be opening in the old Peru Perdu site, which sadly closed back in May 2024 after being given notice by the landlords next door.
The South American spot had proved a popular one for half a decade but has sadly been vacant ever since, but neighbours Foundation Coffee and the aforementioned Whitworth remain frequented city centre destinations.
With that in mind, the man voted ‘Chef of the Year’ at the most recent Manchester Food and Drink Awards and who notched a spot in the UK’s Top 50 Gastro Pubs during his time at the Castle, will be hoping to welcome diners back into the building and continue his success at Winsome.
The aim, more specifically, will be to bring local and seasonal produce and deliver a regularly changing menu that showcases the very best of ingredients, all with a comforting familiarity and a touch of Moffat’s own modern flair. But there are plenty more brains and pedigree behind this new opening too…
The drinks programme at Winsome will be led by none other than Tom Fastiggi, who previously worked at the industry-leading and equally award-winning Schofields. There will be a selection of hotel classics and familiar drinks alongside a strong no and low selection and some of Fastiggi’s own creations.
Wine will also be a focus with a sommelier served and curated list focusing primarily on old-world wines delivered again with Winsome’s laidback personality and flair.
Fastiggi and the Winsome team will also take over Whitworth’s stunning Atrium hotel bar (pictured above), providing a space for diners, hotel guests and passers-by to enjoy memorable bar food paired with delicious cocktails in the quaint setting of the Locke’s iconic glass structure.
“The Atrium space truly gives a unique feel to this bar. The drinks will be familiar and a warm welcome will await all guests. It’s a great new addition to Manchester’s hospitality scene”, says Tom Fastiggi.
Completing the team will be Owain Williams, founder not only of the renowned Belzan in Liverpool but, more importantly for us Mancs, Kampus’ Madre and Medlock Canteen over on Deansgate, among a number of other notable hospitality venues across the Northwest.
Quite the trio of talent with a wealth of expertise behind them.
Speaking on launching his own restaurant, Shaun Moffat added, “Opening the doors will be a big moment in my career, I am truly excited to share Winsome with the people of Manchester.”