The 30 Best Intimate dinner restaurants in Manchester

“Been wanting to go here since they opened, finally got a table. Heard and read great things about this place. I can see now why it's got such high praise and why it's worth waiting to get a booking. From the moment we entered the place was so inviting, the service was excellent. As for the food it was incredible, not one bad course, I opted for the extra course of pheasant, which I'm so glad I did it was one of my favourites. I've been to quite a few tasting menus and this was up there as one of my favourites. The place has a lovely homely family vibe, the chef/owner came out and chatted to us about one of the courses and we ended up chatting for a little, really nice guy. This is such an amazing addition to Urmston and deserves all the success. Get booked in and you won't be disappointed. We will be returning for the next convenient available slot. Been here a few times now and it never disappoints. The food is incredible we went on Sunday for there Sunday roast and it was amazing, every element was off the scale. I'd go for the three courses as the portions aren't huge but well balanced.”

“Stunning food, excellent atmosphere and absolutely amazing service from really friendly staff, could not recommend enough”

“Came here for our anniversary meal and it honestly was the best meal we have had! The staff were incredible throughout the night, and whilst we didn’t get their names, the young, blonde lady and the middle aged, olive skinned gentleman who served us a glass of bubbly each were amazing. The food is to die for and trust me you will not be going hungry when you leave. Thank you for making our night an unforgettable experience!”

“Best ever !!! For true authentic Nepalese cuisine Everest cafe & its staff never disappoint. Very special place that we always look forward to visiting. 10/10”

“Everything about this place is first class! Amazing delicious food, attention to detail Presentation of food, tables, staff is all excellent. Staff are amazing all smiley, happy and talk to you, which you don’t get very often! Special thanks to the lovely, good looking Sag on the service provided, we will definitely see you again!”

“We can never ever fault this restaurant. Local to us but worth a drive if you live outside Heaton Moor. So glad they are back open after a holiday closure. Just wished they did orders to be delivered although it's no effort to go to the restaurant and see the lovely staff. The food is fabulous and when family come over from Ireland they ask if we can book a table. Book now you won't be disappointed.”

“This Hong Kong stylish Thai restaurant is an amazing. Though small, its stylish, beautiful decorations create a vibrant atmosphere. The food is a delight, with perfectly balanced flavors that dance on your palate. Don’t miss their unique, refreshing drinks—a perfect complement to an unforgettable dining experience!”

“Fresh and delicious food, the mixed mezze platter definitely a standout. Service very friendly too and BYOB”

“From the moment we sat down, the whole experience just flowed—the kind of easy, confident service that lets you settle in and focus on the important stuff: the food. We kicked things off with the starter platter, and honestly? Every single item stole a tiny piece of my heart. Fresh, bold, nothing hanging around in the kitchen too long—the dishes landed on our table quicker than my nephew spots Pidgey (my pet pigeon) on the bannister. Then came the lamb shank… unbelievably tender. It didn’t just “fall off the bone”—it practically handed in its resignation. Silky, rich, and cooked with the sort of patience I wish my smart meter had. My wife’s dishes were just as impressive. Every bite looked like it transported her somewhere peaceful—meat and chicken both juicy enough to make you rethink every dry dish you’ve ever tolerated in life. I didn’t manage to grab photos of everyone else’s food, but trust me, the table was full of happy faces and clean plates. If you’re thinking about coming here for dinner, do it. The food’s on point, the service feels natural, and the décor gives the place a warm, modern charm. Fully recommend.”

“Fantastic Somali Arab Halal spot close to Rusholme and Fallowfield area. Generous portion and careful with green chili sauce, taste amazing with a big kick! The service is impeccable!”

“A bit quiet hence the 4 stars for atmosphere. Otherwise absolutely excellent food, cooked to perfection and service. Very attentive staff. Warm and comfortable. Not pressured at all. 5 stars is warranted.”

“I came with my girlfriend and this place is awesome. Was a lovely place and the food was amazing, really recommended. Keep it up!! My favorite one was mixed kebab with hummus! Best combination ever!”

“Derbar is one of the best Iranian restaurants I’ve ever tried! The food is absolutely delicious, full of authentic flavors, and beautifully presented. From the kebabs to the rice, every bite was perfect. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended if you’re looking for real Persian taste!”

“Been here 4 times and thoroughly enjoyed every visit. This is a really well- run restaurant and nicely appointed, creating a really pleasant environment to catch up over the well presented and really tasty food and well- chosen wine list. The steak, carbonara and lamb are all just delightful. Not the cheapest, but thoroughly worth it. I'll be returning regularly.”

“Bianca was amazing tonight and looked after us so well. Great food and speedy service too. Thank you”

“I would like to thank Mr Saleem and the entire staff for their impeccable service. We went in as a family of 10 as a last min birthday treat. The entire atmosphere and the ' nothing is too much' attitude the staff had really will have us returning and highly recommending this place. To top it all off the food was amazing!! The mix grill platter is a must! The lamb karahi was perfect, the naans were fresh and soft and the kids even loved their burgers! Something for everyone. Highly recommend.”

“Came here with my friends and had an amazing time! The food was absolutely incredible. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly made. Our server Rubel was awesome and gave us great recommendations that we all loved. The music was lit and really added to the fun, energetic vibe. From start to finish, the experience was enjoyable and delicious. Definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to”

“Today, I had the opportunity to visit this traditional Greek tapas bar, which I’ve often come across on social media. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and guided to our reserved table. The staff’s professionalism and attentiveness were evident from the outset, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. The service was seamless, with the team demonstrating a deep knowledge of the menu and offering helpful recommendations. The selection of tapas we ordered reflected the authentic flavours of Greek cuisine. Each dish was thoughtfully presented, and the freshness of the ingredients was noticeable. Overall, the flavours were well-balanced and met our expectations. The only minor drawback was that the calamari was slightly saltier than I would have preferred, but this did not significantly detract from the overall experience. The quality of the ingredients, the cooking techniques, and the attention to detail in the seasoning were all impressive. By Manchester standards, this restaurant delivers a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience, both in terms of taste and service. With its warm atmosphere and well-executed menu, it’s an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy an evening out with friends or simply indulge in authentic Greek flavours. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.”

“We had lunch here for the first time today and wish we had discovered Yara sooner. The food was delicious, generous portions and inexpensive. We left full and happy. Will be returning time and again.”

“Accommodated our table of 11 and changes along the way for Mother's Day. Everyone loved their food and commented on how tasty it was. The prices are very reasonable and the staff are attentive, personable and work hard. We'll definitely be back. Thank you.”

“Yummy and authentic kerala food. Tasty kappa & fish curry, flavourful kozhikodan biriyani and authentic kerala porotta.. The starter Kerala Kozhi roast was special. Will come back soon..”

“Called in last night, without a booking. No problem, got seated and from then on the experience was a pleasure. Service and staff were excellent, very friendly and made you feel comfortable and relaxed. The food was unbelievable. Absolutely delicious and very generous portions unlike some. We will definitely be going back, already recommended to friends. Thank you La Casa”

“Our wedding at the Bellavista was perfect!! I would personally like to thank Gemma the wedding planner who from the initial meet to final moments on the day has been brilliant. She was always there to answer any questions and always replied promptly. Gemma recommended the best suppliers to work with and organised everything perfectly. The wedding was 2 days ago and people are still talking about how good the food was, the canapés were a great hit and the Italian buffet was gorgeous. Everything ran smoothly throughout the day and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

“We visited for the first time on Saturday 8th November 2025 and we were served by Simona. She couldn’t have been more attentive. The service provided was excellent and right up there with the food. I had the arancini and the carbonara with sides of tenderstem broccoli and rocket. My partner had the scarpetta and lasagne. We both really enjoyed the food, particularly the dishes I picked. Simona kindly made me aware that the carbonara was traditional and not cooked with cream, which is what I expected but I do know people who have eaten a version of “carbonara” with cream who would definitely appreciate this information for their knowledge and to be aware of what they were ordering. Despite our table being booked for 7pm on a Saturday and the restaurant being very busy, we did not wait long to be served or for our food to come out. It was all well presented and perfectly cooked. I’ve already recommended a number of people to visit since our meal and we will definitely return next time we’re in Manchester.”

“We enjoyed a lovely Saturday evening at Rosa tonight. The food was lovely and tasty, however slightly slow being served but we were given some free olives to tide us by. We want to particularly point out the excellent service from all of the staff, especially from the main waiter (with the tattoos sorry didnt get his name). Very catering for children- they made particular effort to bring her food out first. We would definitely recommend and will return again”

“Always come here, been recently with 23 people, in one big group, all food served at the same time, all right, everyone loved it, was an amazing night which was catered for perfectly by the amazing team at lal quila, had a baby and was given a high chair, thanks!”

“This place was spectacular. Great service, really polite staff and amazing customers too. The food was outstanding and the drinks (cocktails and wines) were superb. Can't knock the place. Thank you for the great experience!”

“The food was hot,fresh service excellent even though there was a large party already sat down.We were in the extended area in the back.Lamb chops fab.Would recommend and will go back.”

“I ate here with my son this afternoon. We had a main each and shared a side dish. We both thoroughly enjoyed our food, it was delicious, fresh and well presented. They were good portion sizes, plenty for us and it wasn’t a long wait. The atmosphere was lovely and relaxed. The young lady serving us was friendly, polite and also helpful when we enquired about different dishes. £44 for our meals and a drink each was good value. We will definitely be back and will visit again with friends.”

“We went here yesterday and was told they are closing with immediate effect and that we were the last ever customers. This News absolutely devastated us but they went out with a bang. Food was absolutely delicious and the service was second to none. They were open nearly 40 years and I really hope they make a return :( long life aladdin”