The Sparrows is a central european restaurant in Noma, Manchester.
Kasia Hitchcock and Franco Concli run a Bib Gourmand kitchen under a Manchester railway arch. Tyrolean spaetzle, Polish pierogi, Russian pelmeni.
Signature dishes: Pierogi, Spaetzle, Pelmeni
Must order: Pierogi of the day and the goulash; finish with poppy-seed dumplings.
Tip: Bookings open one month ahead; weekday lunch is the calm shift.
Address: 16 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF
Bib Gourmand on Murray Street since 2019. Short menu of seasonal plates, twenty natural reds and the same in whites, most bottles under fifty pounds.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Natural wine
Order: Whatever the kitchen lists on the chalkboard; the wine list rewards exploration.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday only, kitchen closed 15:00 to 16:30 for the gap shift.
The upstairs kitchen earned a Top 50 Gastropubs spot in the UK; Gabe Lea took over as head chef in late 2024. Whitewashed Ancoats pub downstairs, bistro plates above.
Signature: Whole-animal British cooking, Aged Hereford steak
Order: Whatever protein is hung in the room that week; ask the pass.
Tip: Downstairs handles walk-in pints; the restaurant upstairs needs a booking.
Gary Usher's Didsbury bistro is the southern outpost of his Sticky Walnut group in Manchester. Two-course set lunch at sixteen pounds, ambitious for price.
Signature: Gin-cured sea trout, Braised featherblade
Order: Set lunch with featherblade and the parkin pudding with butterscotch.
Tip: Sundays book out; mid-week is calmer and the kitchen serves the same menu.
Kurt Zdesar's tenth-floor Nikkei rooftop room at No.1 St Michael's, opened October 2025. Robata grill, sushi counter, tempura bar across 20,000 sq ft with a 348-cover terrace overlooking Albert Square.
Signature: Salmon Nikkei tiradito, Black cod miso
Order: Salmon Nikkei tiradito; black cod miso; finish at the rooftop bar.
Tip: Book the terrace tables for sunset; lift access from the Jacksons Row entrance only.
Simon Shaw's tapas room landed on King Street in 2016 and held its Bib Gourmand through the 2026 guide. Three floors: bar, counter kitchen, roof terrace.
Signature: Tapas selection, Charcoal-grilled meats
Order: Whatever is grilled over the open coals upstairs; sherry by the copita with it.
Tip: The counter on the first floor faces the kitchen; reserve there.
Max Yorke and Julian Pizer run a 24-seat Michelin-listed bistro on Deansgate Mews in Manchester. Vegetable-forward plates, low-intervention wines.
Signature: Vegetable-led small plates, Holy Grain sourdough
Order: The vegetable plate the kitchen builds that week; sourdough comes with cultured butter.
Tip: Tiny room, two services only. Bookings via the site, no walk-ins.
