There are many jewels in the crown that is Manchester’s King Street, and Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat is no exception. Housed in the former site of a Jamie’s Italian, the three-storey “authentic Asian eating house” takes inspiration from the drinking dens of 1930s Tokyo. As such you can expect chic, dark wood interiors, exotic lighting and exciting cocktails to accompany the menu of primarily Japanese dishes. As with the Mayfair branch, the offering is fairly decadent, so if you like sushi, wagyu and black cod, this is likely the perfect spot for you.
Diners can expect a similar cocktail list to the Mayfair site, which pitches familiar drinks with an eastern twist. A must-try is the lucky negroni, a cocktail decided by a roll of the dice (or rather three rolls). Each roll determines which of the six gins, bitters and vermouths will be used, meaning there are 216 possible combinations. Elsewhere you might see a more classic barrel-aged old fashioned or gimlet-esque ‘shiso smash’. Alcohol-free options are also available, including the likes of a lychee and lemongrass lemonade or coconut, mango and lime cooler.
Raw dishes are a staple here, with options like wagyu beef tataki with truffle ponzu and wild herbs, sliced yellowtail with wasabi and apple or tuna tartare with kimchi and shiso. From there, you’ll find plenty of dumplings (such as smoked brisket and yuzu mustard bao or pork and ginger gyoza) as well as an impressive sushi selection. The sashimi selection is the star of the show, featuring salmon, yellowtail, akami, chu-toro and sea bream, while rolls include fan-favourites like salmon and avocado or spicy tuna. From the grill, expect punchy combos like monkfish and bacon skewers with honey kombu spiced lamb chops. If, however, you’re just stopping by for drinks, there are bar snacks such as padron peppers with holy basil and spicy edamame to accompany the cocktails.