Jardim

“Flames and flora” are promised by South Manchester’s South American-inspired grilled meat joint Jardim – Portuguese for “garden – and we’d also add in “fancy”, as Fazenda and Tast co-owner Robert Melman is the name on the Altrincham churrasco’s chequebook.

Jardim brings you the tradition and heritage of a churrasco, the grill cookery popular in Brazilian, Uruguayan and Argentinian cuisine, along with Brazil’s rodizio-style all-you-can-eat style of restaurant service. From Parmesan and truffle fries to roasted vegetables, the sides are unlimited and prepared fresh by the chefs to compliment perfectly the cuts of meat you choose – there’s also a cold counter for bright salads and a selection of cheese. Local produce is a big deal and it’s all about the finest cuts of meat: marinated chicken thighs, curacao chicken hearts (a delicacy down Brazil way), minted lamb, spicy or non-spicy chorizo and gammon, served with or without pineapple, your choice. But it’s not really a churrasco without beef, and the steaks on offer are as follows: picanha (a Brazilian speciality that’s full of flavour), rump and sirloin at lunch, then, alongside these on the dinner service, there’s fillet, fraldinha (a flank steak that’s cut against its intricate marbling for extra texture) and ribeye. We’re not going to lie, it’s unlikely to be the place to pick for a date with your new vegan squeeze, but there are a few non-meat choices, including fresh fish and vegetarian choices such as handmade tortelloni parcels stuffed with cheese and tomato. There is also room to accommodate kosher and halal diets; just mention it when making your reservation.

Desserts include the likes of handmade crème caramel, and there’s a whole host of cocktails to get your laughing gear round – in fact, you don’t even need to eat at all, as the bar area with its living wall and chic tiles and outside Terraco provide the perfect backdrop to a drink or two.

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