This week in Manchester, we’ve plenty of new food and drink spots to get you excited about.
From the sausage roll-steak bake pie hybrid that’s got the whole city talking, to a gorgeous new Italian restaurant from one of the city’s longest-standing restauranteurs, there’s lots to look forward to.
Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks in Manchester for the week.
Potter’s Pies has its first pop-up in Ancoats this weekend selling these absolute beauties / Image: Potter’s Pies
A pie combining sausage rolls and steak bakes
The mum and son pie-making duo behind newcomer Potters Pies has already hit on a winner ahead of their first market pop-up in Ancoats this weekend.
Since sharing the picture of their steak bake-sausage roll hybrid pie to Instagram, Manchester’s interest has certainly been piqued – so we expect there’s going to be quite the queue for these bad boys on Saturday.
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They do make other pies though, too – including a very special cheese and onion creation by the late Alan Potter, credited with “pretty much starting the whole thing off”. Now made by Grandma Potter to a closely guarded recipe, these will be available alongside the much-talked-about sausage roll hybrid this weekend. Get down early to avoid disappointment.
Find Potter’s Pies at Ancoats pop-up this Saturday 28th September at its new home on Cutting Room Square.
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Vincenzo Trattoria is a little-known Italian gem right in the centre of Manchester / Image: Vincenzo Trattoria
A gorgeous new Italian restaurant from the Dom’s Taverna team
Vincenzo Trattoria initially opened at the start of 2020, but in a year (and then some) beset with issues for the hospitality industry, it’s spent more of its time closed than open – and battled off a takeover bid from competitor Salvi’s in the process.
Named after the owner’s late father, it comes from the same team behind the popular (and now sadly closed) Dom’s Taverna restaurant on Deansgate – a haven for quality southern Italian cuisine in the city.
On the menu here you’ll find a good selection of classic mains like saltimbocca alongside classic pizza and pasta dishes. Everything is made fresh to order, and we recommend you try the special spicy sausage which Dom makes himself in house.
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Find Vincenzo at 34 St Ann St, Manchester M2 7LE.
Ancoats favourites the Hip Hop Chip Shop have now got a stand down at the Etihad / Image: Hip Hop Chip Shop
A host of new independent street food traders at the Etihad
Whether you’re red or you’re blue, we hope we can all agree that it’s a joy to see local independents replacing chain brands over at the Etihad.
Man City is now working with seven local street food traders and four independent brewers, meaning you can now enjoy some tasty bevs from the likes of Beatnikz Republic, Seven Brothers, Track and Runaway down at this end of town on matchdays.
Find them serving at the Etihad stadium on Ashton New Rd, Manchester M11 3FF on match days.
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Kong’s Chicken Shop stopped us all in our tracks with their fried chicken roast, but they do so much more – and the menu’s getting even bigger / Image: Lous.brews
A new home for the creators of Manchester’s favourite fried chicken dinners
Kong’s Chicken Shop has revealed it will be taking over the kitchen at Foundation Coffee House there for at least the next few months, opening its doors from this Thursday 26 August. Of course, they don’t just do roast dinners – they first made their name cooking up chicken burgers, so it seems appropriate they’re launching at their new home on national burger day.
There is lots to look forward to here over the coming weeks, with rumours of a new ice cream menu currently doing the rounds amidst promises of new dishes on the way. Watch this space.
Find Kong’s Chicken Shop at 11 Portland St, Manchester M1 3HU from Thursday 26, then Wednesday to Sunday 5-10 pm every week.
The new bottomless brunch deal at Delhi House Cafe in the Corn Exchange is not to be missed / Image: Delhi House Cafe
A new Indian bottomless brunch with unlimited mango mimosas
Delhi House Cafe in the Corn Exchange is the place to be if you’re planning on brunching bottomless this weekend.
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Think chicken tikka with fluffy homemade naan and chips, bottomless mimosas, paneer wraps and rose sangrias. Think two courses and as many drinks as you can neck in ninety minutes for just £31.95. This is the new bottomless brunch deal that’s got Manchester by storm this week.
Available Thursday to Sunday, walk ins are welcome but booking is recommended. We expect it’s going to be busy this weekend. Fortunately, they have a lot of seats inside.
Find Delhi House Cafe at Unit 10, The Corn Exchange, Manchester M4 3TR.
Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
A ‘saucy’ new Korean fried chicken restaurant is opening in the Gay Village
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new Korean fried chicken restaurant and cocktail bar is set to open on Canal Street this week.
CLUK is promising some big deals and amazing giveaways to celebrate its launch in Manchester, including free food and prize draws.
The newcomer in the heart of the city will specialise in Korean-style crispy fried chicken, but also warming ramen bowls, and salt & pepper classics.
Signature dishes will include Korean cheese-powder fried chicken, and Cheese Volcano Chicken.
CLUK will also serve dishes like kimchi cheese loaded fries, salt & pepper chicken, and huge sharing platters.
You can customise your Korean fried chicken order by size, choosing between wings and boneless and picking a flavour out of honey garlic, sweet and spicy, honey mustard, and honey and sour.
They promise it’ll all be ‘saucy, crunchy, and seriously addictive’.
That’s all washed down with ice-cold beers and creative cocktails, like martinis, spritzes and sours.
CLUK is now open in the Gay Village in ManchesterA spread of CLUK dishesInside CLUK ManchesterFried chicken with Korean cheese powderInside CLUK Manchester
The CLUK team are hoping to create a fun late-night dining option for this buzzing corner of the city centre.
To celebrate its launch on Thursday 18 September, CLUK have announced a whole heap of promotions.
This includes free chicken bao for the first 50 guests to visit during the first five days.
Over the two week launch period, visitors can spin the wheel whenever you spend £12 – spend £24 and spin twice.
And there are big prizes available – the top prize is a £100 gift card or £50 cash, with other prizes including free drinks, food and a £3 voucher as a consolation prize.
Plus, anyone who buys a gift card and tops it up with £100 will receive a free beer or cider.
When those two weeks are up, CLUK will run a £1,000 prize draw.
Georgina Pellant -
24th August 2021 
