Black Friar

Since it opened in 2021, I’ve recommended Black Friar more than any other restaurant in the city. Few places can serve dishes as wide-ranging as this, and maintain the kind of elegance and quality that makes broadsheet critics swoon while keeping things accessible and just plain fun. 

In a nutshell, that’s what The Black Friar is doing for their birthday celebrations this month. They’re giving away instant win scratch cards with every meal, and, to quote Hot Chocolate, every one’s a winner: every single card has a prize, ranging from free cocktails to money-off vouchers to getting the entire meal for free. In total, there are £70,000 worth of freebies being given away.  

In addition, they’re launching a new birthday menu curated by celebrated UK chef Ben Chaplin. This menu offers three courses for £33 (available Monday through Saturday) – if you’ve been mulling over a visit, now’s the time. 

This menu includes some Black Friar classics alongside some all-new creations, such as harissa-spiced lamb meatballs with mint yoghurt, toasted almonds and pomegranate; whole-line honey-glazed mackerel with horseradish new potatoes and radish salad; pork tomahawk and baked feta with grilled peaches, chorizo and peach jam; and Sicilian lemon tart with burnt buttermilk and lime sorbet.

We popped in ahead of the launch, and tried a few other of these plus some other wonderful dishes from the wider menu. The tomato and chilli arancini is a must-try from the Grazing section of the £33 menu, making great use of Grana Padano cheese, plus a delightfully unique basil mayonnaise. Also from the grazing menu, there’s sourdough baked locally by Half Dozen Other, with house-whipped butter (we tried a glorious sundried tomato-infused version). 

When it comes to big-occasion meals, The Black Friar is probably the best restaurant in Manchester (or Manchester-slash-Salford, if we’re being picky). The menu has enough choice to keep everyone happy, from your fussy uncle to your well-travelled niece, and the quality is sky-high.