Solita, one of Manchester’s most popular bar and grill restaurants (/dirty burger joints) is set to open the doors to its second venue in Didsbury this Thursday.
With a nod to its urban sister, Solita Didsbury on School Lane in Didsbury Village has been designed with feature lighting, bright colourful accents and a flash of neon. Luxurious banquettes, booths and tables and chairs provide 140 covers over two floors and a south facing alfresco dining terrace offers the perfect people watching opportunity.
Bespoke artwork commissions adorn walls on both floors; ground floor from world renowned Manchester illustrator *Stan Chow, the official illustrator for New Yorker magazine. The upper floor features a Manchester themed 10 metre wall mural by Manchester’s most respected muralist and graffiti artist Russell Mehan.
The menu echoes favourites found at the Northern Quarter restaurant, which is recommended in the Good Food Guide. Signature burger creations such as the Manc-Hattan and grain fed Angus steaks star with new burgers expected to be announced on opening day. Solita’s weekend brunch offer, **loved by controversial critic AA Gill, also makes the menu. In a slight departure from Solita northern quarter, diners at the Didsbury restaurant can also opt for a lighter touch with choices including charcoal grilled chicken, grilled fish of the day and seafood skewers.
Co-owners Franco Sotgiu and Simon Pogson opened Solita on Turner Street, Manchester in 2012, aiming to deliver an American grill with a dash of Italian flair. Less than three years on, SoLIta Manchester has firmly established itself as a hit with diners and social media loving foodies. In fact many of the invitations to the pre-opening party on Wednesday 17th were given to fans that entered a competition to win an invite via twitter, stating why they deserved to attend. The lucky winners will attend the party alongside friends, family and Solita’s new commercial and residential neighbours.
Commenting on the forthcoming launch, owner, Franco Sotgiu said:
“We’re excited; at last we’re almost here. We took our time, hoping to get it just right. We had to completely gut the kitchen and the interior has been transformed. As for the food –we’ve added to the menu, which we know is loved in Manchester but we wanted to add a lighter touch too. Of course we’re looking forward to bringing our burgers south of Manchester, we have some exciting new ones to reveal as we open. We’ve been busy in the development kitchen too – early taste tests have suggested our new lobster and sweetcorn hushpuppies could be the star of the menu and we’ve created what we think is a rather special new dessert –Jaffa cake ice cream pie with Grand Marnier sauce.”
Solita Didsbury opens 6pm 18th September and will open seven days a week, from noon until late during the week and from 10am ‘til late at weekends.
Check out solita.co.uk for more info
Images by Carl Sukonik
