Dakota Grill Manchester

Dakota Grill Manchester is the work of former Malmaison owner, Ken McCollough and it is as dark-hued and handsome as the successful boutique hotel chain. It’s an inviting place with flickering candlelight, very retro-sexy – sure to be the setting for many a first date. Will sparks fly?

Sparks are certainly flying behind the bar with some very good cocktails. Every hotel bar needs an excellent cocktail list (after all no-one heads to a cocktail bar to drink pints of Stella) and Dakota more than obliges with classics and contemporary options as well as an excellent collection of whiskies for a post-prandial snifter.

The focus at Dakota is on steaks which are very good – all grass-fed, 28 day-aged, hand-cut Aberdeenshire beef cooked over hot coals. You’ll also find dishes like loin and tartare of red deer with gooseberry or monkfish and prawn curry. It’s not really a place for vegetarians.

The puddings are excellent although pretty old school – examples include sticky toffee and pear pudding or chocolate delice with peanut butter ice cream. Heavenly.

Dakota Grill also serves brunch and afternoon tea and also offers private dining. There is an outdoor terrace too with a lighter menu.

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