After months of baking banana bread and finally getting round to trying out those recipes you had bookmarked during lockdown, you might be in the mood to have someone else doing the cooking for a change.
And if you have already exhausted every option on Deliveroo, you will be glad to see more and more restaurants at last reopening their doors inviting you for some socially-distanced dining.
For the next few weeks it gets even better. In August, you will be able to grab a tasty meal for cheaper thanks to the government’s new Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.
In the deal, food establishments up and down the country will offer 50% off your food and non-alcoholic drink bill up to the value of £10.
Coming into force on 3rd August, you can get in on this foody opportunity every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The scheme is entirely government-funded and you don’t even need a voucher. Your half-price discount will be automatically applied to your bill when you visit participating eateries, who will then claim back a reimbursement.
Here are our top picks of partaking Manchester restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes so you can join in the fun from Monday:
Happy Seasons, Faulkner Street
Claiming to serve up the best Chinese food in Manchester, Happy Seasons offers a wide range of authentic dishes in a cosy setting.
The slashed prices allow you to buy a main meal from just £3, and with countless to choose from your main issue is just deciding on one.
Rozafa, Princess Street
If Greek food is more your speed, a half-price meal at Rozafa is for you.
The award-winning Greek and Cypriot cuisine from an experienced native chef may not quite make up for not being able to jet away there, but it sure will be a satisfying close second.
Don Giovanni, Oxford Street
The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme allows for the perfect chance to enjoy an award-winning dish at Manchester’s oldest independent Italian restaurant for a small(er) cost.
Indulge in the huge a la carte selection or maybe even opt for an expertly-crafted mocktail.
Rudy’s, Cotton Street and Peter Street
Dubbed a favourite among Mancunian pizza fans, the two branches of this independent Neapolitan pizzeria are finally back in business.
At weekends Rudy’s is offering home delivery on its famous pizzas, you can pop in during the week to wolf it down in its true setting, tasting even better at half the price.
Directors’ Box, Booth Street
Also joining restaurants in making their post-lockdown debut are sporting events, so why not celebrate by combining the two? Sports bar Directors’ Box hosts state-of-the-art screens showing up to four different games, matches and meets at a time, all whilst keeping the snacks coming.
Pieminister, Deansgate
It’s high time for some pie, and some delicious ones at that. Pieminister has every filling you could hope for on its menu, from classic steak and ale to goats’ cheese and spinach.
Vegans can pick up a cut-price pie too, with a faux ‘chicken’ and sherry offering.
Of course, every pie is topped with lashings of gravy.
MOJO, Bridge Street
This hip cocktail and rum bar has a big menu of diner favourites, including sizzling wings (and ‘wingz’ as a meat-free alternative), pretzel bun burgers and your choice of fries and sides – served until 10pm daily.
