Now an established Londoner, I was delighted to revisit an old haunt of mine – Manchester. Having spent the best part of five years of my life at Dental school I was eager to see how things in the city have changed since I left. What better way to experience the new Manchester by staying and dining at the Dakota.
Standing proud in the heart of Manchester is the Dakota Hotel and Grill which reopened in July. It was clear upon arrival that the buzz of Manchester was well and truly back with Dakota the central hub of it all.
The Dakota grill pride themselves on making the very best of seasonal produce.
But first, drinks! The Bobby Dazzler cocktail is not to be missed with a mix of tequila, basil, watermelon, lime and almond. Blessed with the type of good weather often rare in Manchester, we could not resist a drink on the newly built terrace that was just completed over lockdown.
Boasting a Mediterranean vibe in the day with beautiful hanging foliage and soft décor as well as delicately hung lighting, it becomes the place to relax and catch up with friends. However, by nightfall the spot becomes a trendy New York style roof terrace bar with a retractable roof and heaters.
We were then whisked away to the main restaurant oozing chic, dark wood tones and dimly lit candles to give the vibe of a cool speakeasy. To kick things off we were treated to a goats cheese and tomato dip with fresh warm sourdough. Our starter of tempura prawns are cooked in a crispy light batter complimented with a fresh chilli and spring onion salad underneath.
For main course, we went with a lamb rump and I’m glad we did. We dined on a Sunday so this was a nice change from the usual Sunday roast. Dakota does well not to overwhelm the main features of the dish, instead delicately complimenting roasted seasonal vegetables. Can we just also appreciate the gorgeous plates.
We also tried a peppermint and milk chocolate cheesecake, a fitting way to conclude lunch at one of the newest and coolest Manchester spots.
To discover more, visit: dakotahotels.co.uk
Imagery courtesy of Dakota Hotels / Millie Bevan.
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