The French, Manchester.

If you have a terrible memory as I do,  it's easy to forget how good a restaurant is if you've not eaten there for well over a year. As it is with The French. On this occasion we went for lunch and the £50 for 3 courses deal they have on (with a few extras). This represents excellent value for money for a restaurant of this quality. We were impressed yet again by the food which is even better than I remember it. The service too is always on point. We are treated more like returning members of the family by the whole team here especially manager Kamilla (effortless charm and ultra efficiency personified).

Crispy pig trotter and belly, hay emulsion. Well moist porky bites.

Seaweed cracker, fresh crab, radish.

Beetroot with goats cheese, walnut and pineapple weed.

Grilled courgette flowers with lamb's sweetbreads, peas, pea juice and ramson capers.

Ox in coal oil, pumpkin seed, kohlrabi and sunflower shoots. We opt for the three courses but there are a few additions! You cannot go to The French without eating the signature dish. It's always a pleasure to eat and remains one of the best dishes in the city.

Holker Suckling Lamb with lamb sweetbreads, chard, carrots, lamb juices with garlic. This is probably the finest lamb we've ever eaten (from Holker in Cumbria).

Cheese Trolley.

Poached cherries and sweet cheese, hazelnut and oxalis. The desserts were an improvement on previous trips.

Macerated strawberries, yoghurt mousse, strawberry glass, toasted oats, sweet cicely.

Coffee and treats. Wines. Furmint, Istenhegy, Arvay 2011 Tokaji, Hungary 2011.
Vina Tondonia White Reserva Bodegas R. Lopez de Heredia Rioja Spain, 1999.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Grand Veneur, Rhone Valley France 2010.
Schloss Vollrads, Auslese, Riesling, Rheingau, Germany, 2009. 

I said the same when The French opened and this visit reaffirms our belief: in our opinion there is no finer restaurant in Manchester in terms of service and food.  
3 course lunch, sparkling cocktail, glass of wine, coffee and treats.
* Paid up front. Bill reimbursed by Bookatable.co.uk. 
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