Spinningfields has proved to be something of a hotbed for restaurants with diverse cuisine determined to make a name for themselves in Manchester, and now there is one more name that can be added to that list.
Snuggled away in Avenue North off Bridge Street is Artisan the latest restaurant from Living Ventures, whose portfolio includes Manchester favourites including Alchemist and Australasia.
With exposed brick wall, homely features and quirky pictures of famous faces, the atmosphere and layout is sure to entice people in and make them feel at ease.
As soon as we settled down, my dining partner and I were treated to five delicious waves of rustic delicacies which tantalised the senses and left us salivating for the next.
First up was hummus and flatbread, artichoke petals with a French garlic and herb vinaigrette and spicy pork crackling with homemade apple sauce.
The crackling was crunchy with an intense heat that was soothed by the sweetness of the apple sauce.
I’m pleased to report that my first time eating artichoke petals, though tougher than I initially anticipated, was a success – I particularly enjoyed the vinaigrette dressing which added a nice fragrance to the dish.
Up next was a deliciously gooey baked camembert served with spiced sugar nuts, crisp bread, chutney and grapes.
This twist on a classic oozed decadently and tasted wonderful against the spicy contrast of the nuts and the crisp texture of the bread.
The salmon cerviche with lime and coriander was light and tasty, but the indisputable star of the show was a pan of baked bread mussels served with curry and spinach.
Seafood lovers and curry aficionados are sure to be delighted with this dish which combines the refreshing taste of the sea with a delicious spicy curry sauce.
In addition to these gourmet delights, Artisan’s signature pizzas are ikely to be one of the restaurant’s big sellers.
The selection we sampled included a New York-inspired dish with pastrami and gherkins, a Thai red curry creation and, for the more unusual, a pizza garnished with chorizo and crisps.
Yes, you read correctly, crisps!
The accompanying Caesar salad boasts some of the most succulent and melt-in-the-mouth chicken you are ever likely to have.
Seafood lovers sampled some more delights from the sea in the form of cod and couscous baked in a bread papillote and mackerel topped with a tangy ratatouille.
Artisan’s core value of adding some theatre and drama to gastronomy, combined with delicious food, will surely satisfy the most experimental of diners.
For more information about Artisan visit http://www.artisan.uk.com/
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