El Gato Negro

Chef-patron Simon Shaw upped sticks from his old basecamp in Ripponden to relaunch El Gato Negro in a historic three-storey building on Manchester’s King Street. Tricked out as an elegant tapas bar and restaurant, it manages to feel both spacious and intimate, with a few nice Mancunian touches such as a mosaic depicting local icons Frank Sidebottom and John Cooper Clarke. The first-floor dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows and an open kitchen that delivers top-charcuterie, cheeses and a cavalcade of flawless plates: spicy char-grilled pork skewers with mojo verde; ‘hot and cold’ sugar-cured mackerel with salt-baked celeriac and pink grapefruit salad; spiced aubergine with onion confit, fritada sauce and lavash bread. There are also onglet steaks from the Josper grill, while desserts might promise doughnuts, crema catalana or chocolate fondue with marshmallows (to share). An aptly named ‘menu rapido’ is spot-on for speedy weekday lunches. Also make sure you visit The Black Cat upstairs, a beautiful bar with a clever, creative list of cocktails and a retractable roof that opens to reveal the stars.

Elgato Negro Tapas, Manchester is a vibrant and modern three storey bar and restaurant serving a selection of freshly made cooked-to-order tapas dishes and seasonal specials from their converted townhouse on King Street.

The ground floor of Elgato Negro Tapas is open for al-fresco dining, there is also a bar area and bar seating if you’re looking for a relaxed drink and light bite. The second floor offers more restaurant style dining with an open kitchen and a chef’s table. The top floor of Elgato Negro features a terrace and retractable roof.

The menu features a good selection of meat, fish and vegetable dishes, plus plenty of tempting-sounding nibbles and starters. Perhaps you will kick things off with some Catalan bread served with olive oil, garlic and fresh tomato, or their own-recipe marinated olives made with chilli, lemon, garlic and rosemary.

The restaurant suggests 5-6 plates to share between two people to start, then there is always the option to order more throughout your meal. Plates include many tempting sounding dishes such as griddled cod served with black olives and butternut squash puree, and chargrilled lamb skewers with butterbean hummus and harissa yoghurt. There are also plenty of vegetable dishes such as roasted cauliflower with shabu shabu satay dressing, and chargrilled sweet potato served with mango, chilli and yoghurt.

You will find a good selection on the drinks menu including a gin list, mocktails and cocktails. There is also a good range of wine, sparkling wine, beer and cider.

Those with a sweet tooth may enjoy the dessert menu which features dishes such as sticky toffee cake with lemon and cinnamon cream, and a warm chocolate brownie served with butterscotch sauce, peanut and chocolate chip ice cream. This brownie is also vegan, you will find a good range of vegan plates on the menu.

Elgato Negro is a great place for an intimate dinner, or for group dining with plenty of seating and space options available.