The Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and there are PLENTY of entries for Greater Manchester.
From city centre gastropubs to Michelin-recommended hidden gems to proper local Italian restaurants, our city region has shone throughout the list.
And while the top spot in all of Britain went to Bavette in Leeds (a firm favourite of our friends over at The Hoot), there are plenty of restaurants to shout about closer to home too.
The overall winner in the entire North West was named as Cibus in Levenshulme, a laid-back spot that’s a huge part of Levy’s culinary levelling-up.
In fact, Greater Manchester has completely dominated the Best Local Restaurants list for the North West, taking seven out of the 13 spots.
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Widely considered one of the city’s best restaurants, Higher Ground has shot onto the list, along with fellow Michelin-recommended spots The Sparrows and Another Hand.
Also featuring in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious list is The Pearl, a newcomer in Prestwich with its own wine window.
Bombay to Mumbai in Stockport made the guide too, as did the brilliant Lily’s Vegetarian in Ashton-under-Lyne, and Covino just down the road in Chester.
And completing the list for the North West is The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats, a gastropub that’s been named one of the best in the country.
Back to the big win for Cibus though.
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Cibus in Levenshulme is loved locally and beyond for its modern Italian menu, which features everything from salted doughnuts to cicchetti and pizza and pasta.
The Good Food Guide noted that Cibus’ cooking and the effort they put into their seasonal menu is so brilliant, ‘it would shame many-a fancier joint’.
They also wrote: “It has transformed the food scene in Levenshulme and is the type of place we all wished we had on our doorstep.”
The Pearl in Prestwich has made it onto the list of the Top 100 Local Restaurants in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Edinburgh Castle also made the top 100 in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupHigher Ground is officially one of Britain’s best local restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group
Owners Giorgio Fontana and Marco Bracchitta said of the award: “We are thrilled and humbled by the news that Cibus has been voted the Best Local Restaurant in the North West!
“It is a huge honour, and we are overwhelmed with joy. Thank you to all of our supporters.
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“We feel loved and embraced by the community around us, and we reciprocate that with our love and passion in what we do here at Cibus.
“This recognition is a massive burst of morale for the Cibus team. We are like family, and we work hard together to provide a great experience for our guests. Our hard work has paid off.”
This year, more than 60,000 votes were cast in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants guide, leaving a panel of experts to anonymously eat in the front-running restaurants across the UK.
Elizabeth Carter and Chloë Hamilton, co-editors of The Good Food Guide, said: “You came out in force this year, casting an astonishing 60,000 nominations for your beloved bistros, brasseries, pubs and cafés.
“We, and our undercover inspectors, have been touring the country to ensure the list is made up of the best of their kind.
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“Places that are home to extraordinary local creativity and talent, personal hospitality and genuine community spirit, and that are wonderfully affordable too.
“Eating out locally has never been so diverse, so enjoyable, so satisfying. Let’s make sure it stays that way.”
The best restaurants in the North West according to The Good Food Guide 2024
Cibus Levenshulme [regional winner]
Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Ashton-under-Lyne
Northern Quarter cafe to reopen after TWO mysterious closures
Daisy Jackson
Morning Glory, a Manchester cafe that has mysteriously closed twice since its launch, is set to reopen again this week.
The sunny yellow cafe, which makes a playful nod to the Oasis hit with its name, opened in the Northern Quarter last summer.
It was created and launched by much-loved local influencer Zack Hipps, and was known for its coffees, matchas, and Manchester tarts.
Then in May this year, Morning Glory quietly closed temporarily, with forfeiture notices appearing in its windows while Zack assured fans things would be sorted out soon.
In late July, the cafe teased its grand reopening, with a post captioned: “Did you miss us? Cos we missed you.”
But then just days later, the doors were closed again.
This time, it seems like Morning Glory is back for good – music to our ears – with Zack sharing a statement addressing a ‘harsh reality check and very public lesson to learn’.
Manchester Tarts at Morning GloryInside Morning Glory, which will reopen this week
In his statement, the local business-owner has promised that the cafe will be back ‘stronger than before’, with ‘a lot of cool things planned’.
Morning Glory will also be handing out freebies, including speciality drinks, coffees, and house-made Manchester tarts to the first people to visit on its grand reopening day this weekend.
Zack’s statement reads: “Entering the Manchester coffee scene was incredible, but as a first-time business owner, it was also a massive learning curve.
“I’ll be honest: I got caught up in all the things I wanted Morning Glory to be – great coffee, a great space, art, events and somewhere that felt part of the community. I didn’t spend enough time focusing on the business side of making all of that work, leading to our closure. It was a harsh reality check and a very public lesson to learn.
“But I’ve been putting the work in behind the scenes, and we are moving forward stronger than before.
“If the Gallagher brothers can come back, so can we! We’re excited to share that we are officially reopening on 3rd October from 10am. To say thank you for all your support so far, we’ll be giving out 15 of our NEW special drinks, 85 regular coffees, and 100 house-made Manchester tarts to the first people through the doors. Come say hi!
“We will also be hiding a few of our yellow sloths around Manchester for a free coffee every day for the rest of the year – keep an eye out for clues on the 10th October.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in phase one of Morning Glory. From the team behind the bar, to the people who helped make our art, events, and collabs happen, to the suppliers, and to every single one of you who came and tried us out.
“As we enter Season 2, we’ve got a lot of cool things planned. We are building on our favourites, expanding the range, bringing back fun events, and showing you more behind the scenes.
“See you on the 3rd Oct! Zack and team. Morning Glory x”
Manchester’s first banana pudding bar has opened in the city centre
Clementine Hall
Make sure to save room for pudding…because one of the city’s most-talked about dessert brands has found a new home.
Buttercup launched last summer, creating little pots of the hit US dessert made famous by the iconic Magnolia Bakery.
Each dessert features vanilla custard whipped with cream, soft sponge, and fresh banana, which you can then customise with rotating flavours and toppings.
And after a brief disappearance from the Manchester foodie scene, Buttercup is back with a bang with their beautiful new home on Deansgate.
Images: The Manc Group
And when we say beautiful, we really mean it.
Glossy burgundy tiles, butter yellow walls and sleek chrome furniture make up the space beneath the huge arched window, and there’s even a few seats for you to enjoy your pud and watch the world go by.
Open daily from 10am til 10pm, the menu includes three puddings on rotation ready to scoop.
Images: The Manc Group
Choose from the classic banana, indulgent tiramisu and an ever-changing seasonal special, alongside a wall of toppings for you to customise your own pud.
Each recipe has been perfected in-house and the proof really is in the banana pudding…because it tastes just as good as it looks.
Since launching, Buttercup has served around 50,000 puddings, hosted sell-out pop-ups across the city, collaborated with some huge brands, and built a loyal following around its signature build-your-own pudding bar.
Image: The Manc Group
With this new standalone space, you’ll of course be able to indulge in its signature banana pudding, as well as breakfast yoghurt bowls, coffee and matcha.
Officially opening tomorrow Saturday 26 September, the first 50 customers will get a free topping and sauce with the purchase of any pudding, plus a free lip gloss from Manchester-born beauty brand REFY.
Daisy Jackson -
24th July 2024 
