Confidential recommends 15/06/2011

If you’re looking for inspiration on where to dine out in the days ahead, here’s a reminder of some of our favourites...

The Market

MarketThe restaurant that began the Northern Quarter. Before the bars and indie shops, before the designers and the other dining places, the Market began the Northern Quarter revolution more than twenty years ago. It’s always looked the part too, a gloriously cute interior, with the grace of another age and fine modern British menu to match. From the menu try dishes such as Twice Baked Goats Cheese Souffle, Atlantic King Prawns or Pan Roasted Gressingham Duck Breast

104 High Street M4 1HQ T: 0161 834 3743

TNQ

TNQHigh Street turned into a foodie headquarters when TNQ joined the Market Restaurant in the mid-noughties. The simple, stylish dining room is complemented by an exciting menu from Head Chef Anthony Fielden that combines big robust flavours with strong ingredients over dishes that bring in European flavours combined with sturdy British virtues. It attracts a good-looking crowd of Manchester movers and shakers of all ages. Sample dishes might be Roast rump of Cheshire lamb with peas, new potatoes, mint butter and an olive jus or Barry Pugh's sage scented suckling pig with a cider and Dijon mustard sauce, seasonal greens and fondant potato

108 Hight Street M4 1HQ T: 0161 832 7115

Epernay Champagne bar & cafe at Manchester Airport

EpernayThe path to the plane usually means the monotony of the airport buying magazines you don’t want and endless checking back pockets to ensure you haven’t lost your boarding pass. Epernay lightens that load by offering a stylish and contemporary space in which to escape the hurly-burly outside while enjoying some of the trademark champagne, a simple coffee, a meal or snack. The menu includes croquet Monsieur and Beauf Bourguignon

Terminal 1, Manchester Airport

Bistro 1847

Bistro 1847The first serious vegetarian restaurant in the city centre. Bistro 1847 combines a colourful and vivid interior with witty fixtures and fittings and softening drapes. The food from Wendy Swetnam is the best of vegetarian, a celebration of meat-free food with innovation and flair, but underpinned by excellent cooking. And the name? It celebrates the year the Vegetarian Society was created, a movement which was centred in Manchester – the HQ remains in Altrincham. Dishes such as beer battered halloumi, sweet potato chips, fresh garden peas and a selection of homemade sauces £11.95 are superb. Pudds such as.....are equally good.

58 Mosley Street M2 3HZ T: 0161 236 1811

Simple Bar and Grill at the Light

SimpleSimple and Grill define casual dining at their best. There’s no formality in these places, just an easy-going, laid back atmosphere, that allows you to throw off daily pressures and settle back into a conversation with friends or loved ones. Simple is a Northern Quarter stalwart and has a cosy, intimate atmosphere, while Grill is sharp, modern space. Food choices include Chicken Pot Pie and BBQ Ribs 

20 Church Street, Manchester, M4 1PN T:0871 231 7755