Sexy Fish

Everything about Sexy Fish is a statement. Situated in the Spinningfields-Deansgate hive of 5* 21st Century luxe, intentions are clear from the moment you arrive. The doormen wouldn’t look out of place in an historic hotel, and interiors give a strong nod to Greco-Roman antiquities combined with sci-fi flourishes. Nude statues, floor to ceiling pillars of light, and an illuminated onyx circular bar are just a few examples. The music matches the vibe, with beats pulsating as the tables fill up, although this place is really all about the incredible Japanese cuisine.

Sexy Fish boasts of its seasonality, and rightly so. Menus change as the year unfolds, meaning new dishes are added to the set menus and a la carte relatively regularly, and the evening tasting experiences also switch up from month to month, starting at just £29 for a dinner tasting menu. To give an idea of what you might expect, though, there’s a heavy leaning towards sushi, sashimi, tempura and robata grilled recipes, with the spicy tuna maki, prawn gyoza, smoked salmon bao bun, chicken yakitori skewers, spicy beef tenderloin and A5 wagyu cuts all standing out when we paid a visit. Although this barely scratches the surface of the extensive offering.

With two courses from £21 and three for £25, lunch here can be reassuringly priced although the immersive atmosphere, which is part way between foodie and disco, certainly encourages you to stay for longer. That almost definitely means exploring the unity cocktail menu, an exclusive selection of drinks named after their core flavour — strawberry, pineapple, sugar snap pea, and so on available as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options as well as the dedicated Whisky Menu. At which point you can really get lost in it all. These points aside, Sexy Fish offers a bottomless brunch on Sundays, and for the real high rollers the late night menu comprises rare and vintage tequilas, vodkas, rums and cognacs, among other spirits as well as a specially curated selection of snacks.