Over on Spinningfields’ Hardman Boulevard, the cultural melting pot that is Habbibi has recently opened its first Manchester location and we went along to try their selection of set menus.
Launching to the public fully on Friday, 2 August, they’ve created a trio of new themed set menus taking cues from all over the globe in truth, but with strong roots in Arabic and Mediterranean cuisine, and after a soft launch to more than 300+ covers you could say they’ve gone down pretty well.
You only have to take a quick glance at the interior to notice some Dubai flare; the restaurant itself is as elevated and elegant as you’d expect from a new opening in the heart of Manchester’s sophisticated financial district, but forget all that for a minute – it’s the food that’s shone for us.
Their core influences, combined with some creative tweaks from the chefs, have resulted in Habbibi Manchester doing some very clever things to some dishes you may be very familiar with but have never tasted quite like this.
What better way to start a meal? (Credit: The Manc Group)
Now, the first and only problem we had was deciding which one to go for, so we just decided to sample a few items from each of the three new weekend offerings: the seafood-inspired Atlantis menu (£45pp), the Jumeirah (£55), where the heat and char off the specially designed kitchen is centre stage, and the Burj Al Arab, which lends its name from the iconic towers situated on Dubai‘s artificial island (£75pp).
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We kicked things as you would any good taste of the Med, with olives and some lovely toasted flatbreads elevated by some Arabic spices, along with possibly the smoothest houmous we’ve ever eaten – big words, we know. Note to self (and you lot), sprinkle pomegranates on top the next time you make it.
A fine start to affairs but nothing compared to the mouth-punch that came next with the stunning king scallops in kataifi pastry nest – a challenging but intriguing texture – and the ‘bang-bang’ chicken, which was saucy, spicy and tangy without beating you over the head with acid.
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Then we were treated to another pair of perfectly cooked portions of meat and seafood, with the grilled cod loin served on a bed of lightly crushed purple potatoes with a luxurious but still delicate saffron sauce, as well as an Irish wagyu sirloin with tomatoes on the vine and their take on peppercorn sauce.
Some seriously sumptuous mouthfuls on show here. (Credit: The Manc Group)
It was in these moments that we saw the perfect combinations not only of classic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours but other styles of cooking coming through, almost as if to punctuate each varied set of courses.
With Head Chef Djafar Yousfi and many of his crew having not only reunited after a number of years at the likes of First Street’s all-Halal steakhouse Ribeye and Hotel Football next to Old Trafford but also sharing classic French training, the final product feels like a rich blend of experience and different ideas.
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As if we weren’t impressed enough already, they somehow managed to serve up some unique twists on some classic desserts: a super light and aerated tiramisu, a confit pear mousse in the shape of an actual pear, and a rocher cake which we genuinely could have eaten three times over were we not so full.
There was even a great-looking bonus eclair-esque dish that was impressive even though it was still being workshopped, once again proving that Habbibi is looking to push their food in a new direction with these new set menus.
All in all, whilst there is an obvious level of decadence to Habbibi Manchester and its new offerings that any fan of fine dining will enjoy, one thing we would reiterate is that there’s also a refreshing level of accessibility to this trio of set menus when compared to other restaurants in similar culinary spaces.
Even having the three tiers of set menus to choose from means you can go in with your budget in mind and still have a top-quality meal that feels with every penny no matter how far you push the purse strings. We genuinely didn’t have a bad or even remotely average bit of food all evening.
We also enjoyed seeing how many people walked in during the middle of a work day to enjoy a drink, flashy cocktail or simply sample some shisha on the terrace.
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All three set menus and their four total waves can be viewed HERE to see which one appeals to your palate the most; you can book a table online, over the phone or by walk-in and check out an extended look at the restaurant down below.
A £1m health optimisation hub with breakthrough ‘brain health technology’ is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new £1m health optimisation clinic is set to open near Manchester Airport this month, with a North West-first breakthrough ‘brain health technology’ offering.
Projuvenate will be a flagship 3350 sq ft medically-led clinic, with ExoMind™, offering non-invasive treatment for mental wellness.
The space will be bringing cutting-edge treatments to Greater Manchester that are normally associated with high-end private wellness clinics in London.
Projuvenate promises three key wellness pillars – health optimisation, physiotherapy, and aesthetic wellness.
Part of its health optimisation pillar will be ExoMind, a breakthrough treatment that uses targeted electromagnetic stimulation to deliver precise pulses to key areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation, focus, and motivation.
Early trials of this FDA-approved treatment show 88% of patients report improved mental wellness, with 78% experiencing better mood, sleep, and emotional regulation.
Other health optimisation treatments include HaloRed™ salt and red light therapy, longevity treatments, and intimate health solutions such as electromagnetic pelvic floor training.
There’ll also be elite physiotherapy as part of Projuvenate’s offering, with rehabilitation and injury prevention from experts in elite sport.
Advanced equipment patients will be able to access includes the R-Force™ anti-gravity treadmill, targeted cryotherapy, and more.
It’s open now at Manchester GreenThe new Projuvenate wellness centreProjuvenate is the first North West clinic to offer ExoMindProjuvenate will offer physiotherapy in a state-of-the-art gym
And the final pillar, aesthetic wellness, offers non-invasive treatments to enhance appearance, strength and confidence, from skin and face therapies to injectables, body sculpting, and hair vitality.
Projuvenate is founded by Dr Libby Artingstall, a former consultant psychiatrist, and her brother Rob Artingstall, an experienced performance physiotherapist and Head Physio with England Rugby League.
They hope to bridge the gap between healthcare, rehabilitation, and proactive wellbeing.
Dr Libby Artingstall said: “Throughout medical school and much of my career as a doctor, the focus was on what happens when the body or mind goes wrong. But I became increasingly compelled by the question: how do we help people stay well, not just now, but long into the future? That’s what led to Projuvenate.
“Wellness isn’t one-dimensional. At Projuvenate we bring together advanced aesthetic wellness, expert physiotherapy, and science-backed health optimisation to support the skin, body and mind in a fully integrated, medically led environment. ExoMind™ is the perfect example of this philosophy—giving people an evidence-based way to support clarity, focus, and emotional strength.”
She added: “This opening marks a new era for health in the North West. People no longer need to travel to London for these preventative therapies. We’re proud to be putting Manchester on the map for clinical excellence and proactive care that supports every dimension of wellbeing.”
A medical consultation is £75, redeemable against treatment within three months, is required before starting any treatment or programme.
Treatments start from £45 for HaloRed™ therapy, and a six-session ExoMind™ package is priced at £2,200.
Projuvenate will open on 18 September at Manchester Green.
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.
Danny Jones -
1st August 2024 
