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Steak Restaurants in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Looking for the best steaks in Manchester? Of course you are. Nothing says luxury (and climate change) like a big slab of meat, cooked medium rare. And Manchester has a whole host of top-class steakhouses in which to blow your hard-earned pay packet. This guide focuses mostly on those restaurants that make steak the headline act of their menu, but we’ve included a few wider-ranging destinations that have superb steak dishes on the menu too.

So, whether you prefer your steak rare, medium or well-done – in fact, no, if you’re eating steak well done you’re barely eating steak at all, begone with you – we have expert recommendations for all the most barnstorming beef-based bistros, brasseries and, er, buffets in town. This one’s for the Desperate Dans amongst us.

Our top picks

Gaucho Manchester

Gaucho Manchester, 2a St Mary’s Street, Manchester, M3 2LB - Visit now

The steak scene in Manchester has hit fever pitch in recent years, with countless newcomers trying to make their mark. But where some places can have a slightly off-putting atmosphere, Gaucho takes a more elegant approach – nothing too pompous or macho, just top-quality produce prepared beautifully, with countless subtle touches that most competitors couldn’t even imagine.

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Hawksmoor

Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 3WB

A night dining at Hawksmoor doesn’t come cheap. But then, quality rarely does. The steaks are arguably the finest in the city, and the starters aren’t far off. If price is no object, Hawksmoor stands tall among Manchester’s finest restaurants.

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Alston Bar & Beef

Alston Bar & Beef, Cathedral Street, Manchester, M4 3TR - Visit now

Alston places itself carefully towards the top end steakhouse – making the bold assertion it’s bringing the best steak to Manchester. Originally set up in Glasgow, they use only the finest Scottish beef, each animal and cut chosen specifically for its quality and flavour by their expert butcher.

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Alston Bar & Beef
Alston Bar & Beef

The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel

The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford, M3 5LH - Visit now

The Beef Wellington is raved about, and the best is exactly what is delivered – unsurprisingly, considering this is the chef’s favourite dish.

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Store Street Exchange

Store Street Exchange, 1 Auburn St, Manchester, M1 3DG - Visit now

The slices of steak at Store Street Exchange are second to none, cooked beautifully pink in the middle and topped with a rich buttery sauce.

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Tariff & Dale

Tariff & Dale, 2 Tariff Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 2FN - Visit now

The bone marrow steak burger here is as good as it sounds, with a dill pickle, two slices of brie and all the crispy veg on a sweet brioche bun above a huge patty.

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Where to go in Manchester

Zadie's
Manchester
Restaurant
Zadie’s

Italo-Japanese plates and razzle-dazzle glamour at Medlock Square. Featuring live acts, a space-age bar and a bird’s-eye view onto the Manchester City pitch.

Proloco
Manchester
Restaurant
Proloco

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City Centre
Restaurant
GiGi Gusto Griglia

GiGi is a lavish Italian restaurant just off Deansgate, with 1950s décor and a menu that sticks to the classics.

Manchester
Restaurant
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Balance Taproom
Manchester
Restaurant
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Restaurant
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Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
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Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
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Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

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Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

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