Porta Salford

Following successes in Chester and Altrincham, this Porta opened its doors in late 2018, bringing a taste of Spain to sunny Salford with its simple but elegant and super-authentic tapas dishes and laid-back surroundings in a former bank on Bexley Square.

Lots of bar stools and casual small tables aim to create a busy, buzzy atmosphere, where decent wine, sherry and food add to the unpretentious feel. The menu is described as “enthusiastically Iberian”, representing many tapas bar classics, from salted Valencian almonds to fat Gordal green olives, croquetas del dia (prawns one day, spinach and mushroom another) to charcuterie, and ox cheek to Andalucian-style fried squid with aoili.

The grill gets a good look-in, with the likes of sardinas a la plancha and gambas a la plancha, and the specials board changes daily; think albondigas en salsa, Morcilla de Burgos black pudding topped with a fried egg, mussels cooked with ham and fino, and tender Presa Iberica pork teamed with a mojo verde sauce. Everything is handmade in house and Porta co-owner – along with his brother Ben – and head chef Joe Wright works with the team to perfect the recipes for every item on the menu.

Sweet treats range from pastel del nata custard tarts (stealing from the Portuguese) to chocolate mousse with honeycomb, or just order a Pedro Ximénez or Oloroso Dulce.

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