Manchester’s very best Caesar salads

A decadent, boozy dining hall serving up hearty European food like bratwurst and schnitzel, Albert’s Schloss’ Caesar salad understandably has a Bavarian twist. Their version comes topped with generous strips of chicken schnitzel and tossed with both capers and anchovies, as well as chunky croutons. A substantial salad to measure up to the substantial steins.

This Thomas Street pub is more than just an excellent boozer, though it is indeed one of those. A combination of cosy pub and pavement sun trap, it’s great for a mid-week lunch, not least if that lunch entails their Caesar salad, a portion of skinny fries, and a pint of whatever you fancy. Theirs is quite a trad take on the salad, with a creamy dressing and an avalanche of parmesan on top. No anchovies here, but bacon delivers a smoky punch. Honestly, you can’t fault it.

Known for their top-notch pub food served in one of the most historic pubs in the city, The Black Friar have included a Caesar salad on their small but perfectly formed lunch menu. Their take on the classic features chargrilled chicken, anchovies and Grana Padana, and it’s as pretty as everything else in this picturesque pub, which is to say, very pretty indeed.

The Con Club, out in Altrincham, don’t know the meaning of doing things by half. Everything from their roast dinners to their cocktails are presented with heaps of glamour and outrageous attention to detail. Their Caesar salad is no exception, presented in a sculpturally vertical form with loads of anchovies, crostini and crispy chicken skins. Consumed under the disco ball or out on the sunny terrace, it’s a thing of beauty.

Known for unfussy, old school excellence, it goes without saying that Hawksmoor do a really good Caesar salad. And what better accompaniment to an absurdly good steak and chips than a wedge of romaine lettuce topped with anchovies, homemade Caesar dressing, croutons and Doddington cheese, which is Britain’s (very tasty) answer to parmesan. A more decadent way to consume salad, we couldn’t think of.

Leaning into all things ‘girl dinner’, super cool Deansgate Square restaurant Medlock Canteen recommend their Caesar is best consumed with a side of chips and a cold diet coke. Known for their exceptional roast chicken and relaxed vibes, this is a place to salad in style.

Tartuffe manages to blend down-to-earth cooking with some of the most stylish surroundings in Manchester. Honestly, it’s wall to wall swoon-worthy decor in there. Their Caesar is a bit of a signature, served with rotisserie chicken, pickled anchovies, crunchy croutons and a cloud of parmesan shavings. This is the type of salad you eat alongside oysters and a charcuterie plate. Bravo.

It seems like the secret to a great Caesar is being obsessive about chicken. The Trading Route is yet another spot on the list who cook perfectly tender rotisserie chicken day in, day out. Their Caesar comes as a sandwich, on focaccia of course, or naked, as God intended. It’s simple – cos, croutons and plenty of that shredded chicken. Their only deviation is they use a schmaltz dressing, made of rendered chicken fat, which doesn’t sound particularly salad-y, but it is rich and delicious.

The Smithfield Social recommend adding halloumi to their Caesar salad, which is obviously not standard practice, but they also recommend washing it down with a bottle of Prosecco, so anything goes really. Add in some truffle fries and a sliver of post-work sunshine, and there’s nowhere else we’d rather be.