After all, it can’t be that hard, right? All you have to do it whack it in a pan for like five minutes? WRONG. Unless you’re a chef, you’re never going to master the art of creating a perfectly-pink and expertly seasoned steak. I’m sorry, but it’s just not happening! Don’t make the same miSTEAK again- just leave it up to the professionals.
Hawksmoor
As written by GQ, “There’s nowhere else that combines steaks of this quality with drinks of this calibre.”- I mean, who can really top that? Deansgate’s Hawksmoor aspires to cook Manchester’s best steak- but it’s up to you to decide whether or not they’re all talk. As you’d expect, Hawksmoor serve the usual; Rump, sirloin, fillet, T-bone, chateaubriand and many more, but what they do offer which makes them stand out from the rest is the option of an insane amount of sides. From macaroni cheese to carrot & swede mash to buttered English greens, Hawksmoor know exactly which flavours will compliment your steak perfectly. I’m literally hungry just reading the list.
Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
0161 836 6980
thehawksmoor.com
The Lowry Hotel
Don’t worry folks, you don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy their mouth-watering food, but a steak and a spa day does sound pretty good. Salford’s award-winning restaurant sources its steaks from one of Manchester’s best butchers, meaning the meat has been bred and reared to absolute perfection. Cooked on a Josper Grill, you can expect a cut of meat that is seductively pink on the inside, but exquisitely char-grilled on the outside. Basically, me after a sunbed. But for real, you’re going to struggle to find a sirloin this good elsewhere, so don’t even bother looking!
The River Restaurant, The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH
0161 827 4041
thelowryhotel.com
Brassica Grill
Despite being open for less than a year, Brassica Grill in Heaton Moor bagged the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award, which basically means their food is THE SHIT. However, unlike most restaurants with a Michelin award, you don’t need to take out a second mortgage to afford a big fat steak from this joint. To put things into perspective, you can munch on a juicy piece of meat with sides for as little as £12.50- and the taste will still turn you on. I can’t decide what’s more delicious… the menu or the price?
Brassica Grill, 27 Shaw Rd, Stockport SK4 4AG
0161 442 6730
brassicagrill.com
One88
Head on down to Whitefield, or perhaps you live there already, and get your meat sweats on down at One88 who offer an array of glistening, juicy steaks just waiting for you to scoop up and melt in your mouth. All of their steaks are locally reared, and their aged fillet steak is pretty much orgasmic. One88 also host regular Steak Nights, where a couple can get a 10 oz aged Rump Steak each served with Chips, Onion Rings, Tomatoes, Garlic Butter and a Bottle of Red or White Wine for only £30. £15 quid each for all that – excellent.
One88 Bar and Kitchen, 188 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 6QF
0161 280 0524
one88whitefield.co.uk
Gaucho
I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit in a restaurant that is decorated head-to-toe in cow print? Talk about 90’s throwback! But aside from the retro décor, rumour has it that Gaucho, on St Mary’s street, makes one hell of a steak! Once you’ve chosen your cut, your steak is actually brought out to you raw for inspection before cooked for what we like to describe as a ‘meat casting’. Best bloody casting I’ve ever been to… And, if you’d like to invite a big group of mates or perhaps some work colleagues, Gauchos have a private dining area called the ‘Wine Room’ which is available for shin-digs of up to 12 people.
Gaucho, 2A St Mary’s St, Manchester M3 2LB
0161 833 4333
gauchorestaurants.com
Manchester Smokehouse & Cellar
Not everyone is cut out for fine dining, or perhaps you’re just not keen on the price tag that comes along with it. I for one certainly am not! But thankfully, Manchester Smokehouse & Cellar are here to rescue us from the pretension of fine dining to deliver us superb steaks in a relaxed atmosphere. If you haven’t already guessed from the name, MSC endeavour to create that real BBQ flavour by cooking their steaks on an Argentinian grill using only wood and charcoal embers. In other words, you get that real smoky flavour that’s hard to find. Plus, all of the steaks have been aged for 35 days, meaning you’ll probably be able to cut it with a spoon. The steaks have been raised ladies and gents!
Manchester Smokehouse & Cellar, 18 Lloyd St, Manchester M2
0161 832 0393
manchestersmokehouse.co.uk
Grill on New York Street
If you’re looking for variety, you have certainly come to the right place, because the Grill on New York Street has 12 steaks on the menu- seriously! From sharing cuts to premium fillets or classic rumps, you can rest easy knowing your money is going to be well spent. And don’t forget about the ‘steak extras’- they alone will leave your mouth watering and your belly rumbling. From grilled lobster to Red wine & Shallot sauce, you’re guaranteed to sink your teeth into a steak with a little somethin’ extra.
The Grill on New York Street, New York St, Manchester M1 4BD
0161 228 1444
blackhouse.uk.com
El Capo
Of course, Mexican cuisine isn’t exactly famed for its steaks. No, they reserve fame for the humble taco, the mighty burrito and that amazingly spicy smoked pulled pork that they pile high everywhere to make the world a better place. El Capo though have decided to buck this trend and offer a lovely bit of steak, which is part of their Monday Night Steak Out every week. Pop in and you can get yourself a huge hulking piece of Argentinian steak for two, with two sides and a bottle of wine for only £12.50 each. Perfect for the Monday pick-me-ups!
El Capo, 12 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
0161 237 3154
www.elcaponq.co.uk
Fazenda
Pretty much the best Brazilian meat-on-a-skewer restaurant in the city, Fazenda provides enough protein to fill a wrestler’s unitard, all within a relaxed and rather elegant setting. The concept is the same as any other Brazilian meat restaurant you’ve been to; there’s a sides bar featuring a selection of salad, bread, meats and the odd hot dish, all to be enjoyed alongside the juicy meats that are brought around and placed on your table with samurai-like accurateness. It’s all you can eat, and once you’ve given a bit of their rump or sirloin a try – you’ll be there for hours.
Fazenda, 1 The Avenue, 2 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3AP
0161 302 2043
fazenda.co.uk
