My Nawaab

My Nawaab has been a part of Levenshulme lore for many, many years. The name might have changed a few times, but the spirit remains the same: a wildly successful South Asian banquet hall. 

And it’s been like this since 2003 – no trend-chasing gimmicks, just a good old-fashioned traditional buffet specialising in Indian and Pakistani food. 

As well as the daily serve-yourself feast, they’ve just launched a Sunday brunch, available for an impressively affordable £13.95 from 10am to 1pm. 

It’s by far the most striking-looking space on Stockport Road – in a previous incarnation, it was an old-school cinema hall. Today, this ostentatious location also serves as a popular venue for weddings and other large-scale events. 

Step through the doors and you’ll be met with a waterfall, with people bustling to take photos in front of it. Crane your neck up to the sky-high ceiling and you’ll see a series of framed black and white portraits circling the lobby. Combined with the smartly dressed concierges, it has the feel of a centuries-old hotel. 

Move on into the food hall and it becomes a good sight more free and easy. It’s a huge space, and very family-friendly, so expect kids happily tearing about, with big tables of extended households, catching up and filling their bellies. 

A huge team of chefs cook and replenish the food constantly – no risk of it going cold. The choice is endless: a pani puri station at one end, desserts at the end and dozens of starters, mains, sauces and salads in between.

Few things to note: no booze. It’s all mocktails only, which fits neatly with the family-oriented vibe. Want lamb? Of course you do, we all do – well, you’ll have to ask for it specially, due to ramped-up costs and whatnot. 

The queue for the food is nicely ordered but with a lively edge – grab your plate and get stuck in. Or, do as I did and have your Nawaab-proficient dining partner to brave the frontline and return with a handpicked selection of the best dishes. 

Of these, the standout choices are the chicken liver curry (enriched by a note-perfect array of offal-enhancing spices); the lightly coated masala fish; some crunchy Dhaka chicken niblets; and a whole host of beautifully made vegetarian dishes. In short, if you don’t find something to enjoy here, you’re dead inside. 

It’s easy to scoff at a buffet, but it’s more fun to scoff a good buffet and My Nawaab is one of Manchester’s biggest and best. It’s been around for decades and it’ll be around for decades more, doling out those delicious Desi dishes.