Dakota Grill – the popular restaurant housed at boutique hotel Dakota Manchester – has unveiled a limited-edition menu showcasing six “statement” courses for just £40 per person.
A Taste of Dakota is an exclusive new menu that defines the unique style of Dakota Grill.
The restaurant – which is renowned for its “feel-good food with a fabulously fine twist” serving up quality and seasonally-inspired dishes – has curated a menu like nothing else in the city by blending some of the finest ingredients to create an explosion of flavour.
So, what exactly can you expect then?
In true Dakota style, the A Taste of Dakota menu starts with an amuse bouche, followed by pork cheek with pear, hazelnut and parma ham for a sweet, nutty and salty flavour all in one. Then you can tuck into a twist on a king scallop, which is served with cauliflower cheese, pancetta and pea, before moving on to signature, prime cut, grass-fed, 35-day-aged beef steaks – which are Dakota’s speciality.
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Sourced from the very best British farms, you can enjoy a lightly-seasoned Chateaubriand beautifully cooked to your preference over hot coals, or try the 500g sharing steak, which is served with shallot puree, confit tomatoes and, fries.
For dessert, you can try a British twist on an Italian classic – Earl Grey panna cotta with lemon foam – and then finally, finish on a richer note with chocolate and pistachio with blackberry sorbet.
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There’s also the option to add on sides of short rib mac & cheese, truffle and parmesan fries, and vegetables and salads.
Dakota Manchester
If you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy port poached pear with hazelnut and chicory, followed by crispy cauliflower with a classic combination of soy, ginger and garlic, and then hay-baked celeriac with truffle potato puree and tenderstem broccoli.
A lemon posset with blackberry will cleanse the palette, before an indulgent millionaire’s shortbread with caramel ice cream brings the meal to a finish.
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The exclusive A Taste of Dakota menu is available for a limited time only.
Dining at Dakota Grill is described as “the ultimate decadent dining experience”. Situated on the ground floor of the Dakota Manchester Hotel, the restaurant’s sleek interiors and intimate dining zones combine both luxury and comfortability.
Reservations for A Taste of Dakota must be made in advance and the menu can be enjoyed Monday to Thursday from 5 – 7:30pm, and Friday from 4 – 7:30pm up until 12th November 2020.
You can make a booking via the Dakota Manchester website here.
Eats
Plans lodged to turn Ducie Street Warehouse into huge food hall
Daisy Jackson
Ducie Street Warehouse could be transformed into a massive food hall, with new plans lodged.
The historic warehouse building near Manchester Piccadilly has worn a few hats over the years.
When it first opened, it was a home to Bistrotheque, a London export that bowed out from the beautiful Grade II-listed building after just six months.
Since then, it’s become a bustling all-day space where you can sit with a laptop for hours (and many do), snacking on a simple menu of flatbreads and salads as well as great cocktails.
But now it looks like Ducie Street Warehouse is in store for a major shake-up again, with plans now lodged to transform the space into huge food hall with more than 500 covers.
The planning application comes from the same team behind Edinburgh Street Food up in Scotland, which is packed with street food traders serving a range of cuisines.
If the plans for Manchester Street Food go ahead, the warehouse on Ducie Street will become the home of a 10-kitchen food hall.
It would flip most of the ground floor, including the terrace, while the upstairs continues operating as a hotel.
The plans also show that the existing private dining area will be turned into a casual games room, with the addition of pool tables, arcade machines and foosball tables.
Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester Street Food will join a flurry of food halls across the city, with Mackie Mayor just a short walk away, along with the waterside venue Society, and the newly-opened House of Social.
The plans also mention minor changes to the exterior of the building, illuminating an external lift shaft in a rainbow hue.
Their application states: “The ‘Street Food’ brand works with a range of vibrant and independent street food vendors to provide varied yet complementary choices, whilst showcasing local breweries and distilleries.
“Their operations focus on supporting local businesses and to diverse the food and beverage offer to create a welcoming and accessible food experiences.
“The ’Street Food’ brand was first established in the form of Edinburgh Street Food which opened in 2023, and which welcomes a broad demographic. It is recognised as a cultural and culinary hub whilst contributing positively to the local economy.
“Building on the success of Edinburgh Street Food, the Applicant is keen to expand further and enhance Manchester’s hospitality, gastronomy and evening economy.
“As such, this full planning application has been prepared to enable the operation of Manchester Street Food from a prime city centre location at Ducie Street Warehouse.”
Do you think Manchester has the appetite for yet another street food hall?
Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers
Daisy Jackson
The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals.
The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them.
This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester.
Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men.
And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering.
Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthdayPen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long.
On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night.
Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm.
All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.
Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years!
“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”
Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
30th October 2020 
