Came here after wandering around the mall looking at food options. This place had no wait and an…read moreinteresting menu so we decided to give it a shot. Service was slow, but that's to be expected for how understaffed they looked. Pesto pizza was excellent and I would have given them 5 stars if the service was faster.

Came here for dinner and craving some carbs. My carbonara was average but it really hit the spot…read more The broccoli was very flavorful and had a kick to it. Price was very reasonable. They do seem to be understaffed. Even though there were plenty of tables available, it took a bit to be seated, to order and to get our bill. The staff was friendly. After we ordered though, the food did come quickly. Overall we had a pleasant experience here, it just took a little long.

Food: As a table of 7 it's fair to say we tried most dishes. They were touch and go. Some where…read moreamazing and some okay. All were priced fairly. The salmon pasta was a crowd favorite as were the beef meatballs. Service: Sadly the service is the reason for the lower review. While our waiter was so kind and funny and engaging, we were sadly met with long waits. Firstly we waited nearly 20 mins for a table. Then we waited approx 15-20 mins to place a drinks order after being sat. Then once the food had been served it took the server an additional 30 mins to ask if we wanted any more drinks. By the time we got dessert everyone had empty glasses and the waiter had given up asking if we wanted top ups. We were only offered two drinks the entire meal. Finally, after a long wait and sub par service we then noticed a 10% service charge had been added to the bill with no prior notice. As an American, I am always inclined to tip quite highly however after such poor service, I was appalled to see this added with no mention. Ambiance: we came to pesto for a family birthday meal and were met with a perfect family atmosphere for all ages (our group ranged from 17-70)

After a long day of shopping, I just wanted something cheesy and comforting!…read more We decided to go to pesto as my family is vegetarian. To my surprise, Pesto had many vegetarian options! We had the £11.95 per head lunch which gave us an option of 3 dishes which I think was a great deal. I had the Salad, Tuskish wings and penne pasta with grilled chicken. Salad dressing was really nice and flavourful and the penne pasta was decent as well. I personally am not a fan of chicken with skin on and so did not have enjoy the wings as much! I had a cappuccino later and the coffee beans were amazing! One of the best coffees I've had around this area! Overall I feel this is a decent place to dine with family and it's quite pretty too! Service was great! The four stars are only because of the chicken wings!

I'm not the biggest fan of Frankie and Benny's, it's a chain restaurant which takes on too much…read more Not satisfied with being an American or Italian themed restaurant, it instead tries to take on both. And I'm sad to say it fails pretty miserably in most areas. Nothing is outstanding, the service is pretty mediocre but that's the same in most of the Trafford Centre. It's kind of a good location being based in car park because it's not always as busy as the restaurants inside as people forget about it. The prices are OK but not cheap. It's OK for lunch but I really wouldn't head here for dinner. It's a jack of all trades, master of none.

Like other people have said, the service is V.E.R.Y. S.L.O.W…read more... The food was fine. I liked the atmosphere. Just prepare to sit for a while.

Came here with a friend for a catch up. Great food at great prices. We were slightly disappointed…read morethat they had run out of a couple of ingredients that were, in my opinion, needed in the dish. Additionally, once served our first drink and meal we did not see our server again. As you pay via phone they never came to drop a bill off. Sadly this left us with no drinks for the second half of our meal. Overall a satisfactory lunch

Disclaimer: ELH doesn't often do chains. But heck, Zizzi is a chain worth doing. Chain-wise you're…read morespoilt for choice when it comes to a shopping trip in the Trafford Centre, with some interesting localised options thrown in like ChaoBaby and Rice. But trundle we did across this mecca of restaurants, and Zizzi seemed to do the opposing options we were in the mood for - pizza and salad. Immediately we noticed just how sweet our server was, who instantly grabbed us our drinks and was very friendly and polite. It's actually laid out very nicely as Trafford Centre restaurants go, and veggies won't be hard pushed to find some great choices on the menu either. I opted for a superfood salad with puy lentils, butternut squash, goat's cheese, ribboned courgette and myriad other delicious ingredients. My companion chose a rustic pizza with some pepperoni and chillies, and we went for some garlic bread with cheese as well - I was intrigued by the fact that it came topped with caramelised onions. Oh, what a treat. When the food arrived the portions were staggeringly huge, putting to rest any talk of perhaps having gone to TGI Friday's just for the sheer heck and decandence of it. And that garlic bread was the star of the show. Flatbread smothered with tasty cheese and herbs and topped with onions that had clearly been caramelised in balsamic vinegar, just heavenly. My salad was amazing and the pepperoni pizza looked delicious and surprisingly authentic, with a thin crisp crust and plentiful topping. All in all, I felt it was indeed as good as it gets, a chain that clearly has high standards across the board. It only missed out on a fifth star because the drink glasses were so small!

I called in Carluccio's on a recent trip to the trafford centre, looking for a safe place to eat…read moresome gluten free food. Having bad good experiences with branches in Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly, I thought I'd give this branch a try. This branch is located inside The Trafford Centre's "Great Hall" and although it is meters away from the central, fast food part of the Orient, it is a much quieter place, making it a good place to have a bit of peace in the Trafford Centre, which we all know is more mayhem than a primary school reception class. The service here was reasonably quick, and the staff seemed nice / helpful, however this was mainly down to this restaurant being as quiet as a library, ironically in a shopping centre, as busy as the attractions in Rome. I ordered a GF Carbonara, having noticed they had a good gluten free menu, although it would have been nice to see pizza on the menu, as this is an italian chain, I still looked forward to having pasta gluten free, as it is something I rarely have. The pasta was quite nice, and it was better than the GF Carbonara I had on a recent trip to Rome (So nice job Carluccio's), I also found it to be very cheap for gluten free food and restaurants, costing around £8, which easily could have been 30 - 50 percent more elsewhere. I like the addition of parmesan cheese, and overall it was good quality. Even as not a big fan of bacon, I enjoyed it being added into my meal. This is also quite a nice restaurant in general, due to limitations with it being inside "The Great Hall", it does not consider the traditional Carluccio's layout, but seems a nicer place, and a little more high-end and posh (although as far as I'm aware the prices are the same!) If you're looking for a nice place to eat in the Trafford Centre, which has MOST items reasonably priced, I'd say here is your best shot, but still I can't give more than 3 stars due to some minor problems, and an issue when paying on my card, meaning I had to tick a box to tip when paying on my card (I only paid on my card to avoid giving a tip, but felt like I couldn't refuse when they was a waiter standing there and even pointed it out to me) UPDATE: After a recent visit, a downgrading quality of food where the pasta just tasted like stale, bland cardboard still for a high price with poor service from the floor staff and the manager who never even resolved my complaint or made any attempt to address it, I sadly feel this is now a place to avoid rather than to rush too, sadly warranting a single one star.

This was wonderful. The service was friendly, prompt and professional. We were reassured that our…read morefood wouldn't be long, as it was taking a little longer as the swordfish was being properly cooked. At one point a manager came out and explained to us that she wasn't pleased with the swordfish portion and so asked for them to make it again. We were impressed at this true passion for quality, and even more astounded that when our bill came, they half priced the swordfish as it took longer to come out than planned, even though we made no complaint! As for the food, the carbonara and the swordfish were both excellent and truly filling. For dessert we had the chocolate and salted caramel sundae which was wonderful, especially with the crushed amaretti biscuits, and the chocolate rum cake. The venue feels both like a restaurant indoors, despite having no walls, and like being outside thanks to plants and lighting, it's been very cleverly designed to work well with its surroundings whilst remaining comfortable and welcoming. The food, service, and quality was excellent. We'll definitely be back.

Pesto are a small chain of Italian restaurants with 8 branches in the UK, there branches tend to be…read morein rural locations, this one is probably one of their busier stores being in the Trafford Centre, one of the largest shopping malls in the UK, outside the city centre of Manchester. While looking for something to eat in the Trafford Centre, gluten free of course I decided to call in here but I was dissapointed with many aspects of the visit including the decor and overall feel of the store, the menu and the service. I asked about the gluten free menu, and a member of staff gave me a menu, this menu just seemed to be designed really poor, perhaps like it had been designed by a 5 year old, the selection was very poor, they did have gluten free pizzas with a really small selection of toppings, in a way it was set out like a kids menu which is quite disgraceful considering it was the only gluten free menu they had. I also was annoyed with the service, the woman just started at me while I looked at the menu, she seemed like she would have nothing better to do, she just seemed really off-putting, she seemed too confident that I would want to dine there, rather than give me time to take a look before I decided whether to eat or not, it felt like she was the wicked witch of the west plotting a demon plot on me as she started at me while I was browsing the menu, refusing to leave. The decor and inside of Pesto also seemed really poor, lacking and old fashioned and like a really bad back street Italian, it just seemed really old-fashioned and not very nice inside, due to the look of the store as well as the menu and the service, I felt upset and I felt the need to walk out, therefore I feel Pesto deserves a single one star, which I'm sorry to report considering this is Pesto's first review in over 5 years, which coincidentally was also a one star rating.

Italian tapas? Are you quite mad?…read more Not quite, it seems. Gone are the hearty large meals ordinarily associated with Italian cuisine, replaced with noblets and tidbits and slices and a series of small bowls. It makes sense when you think about it. Italian food is supposed to be languished over during a long, wine fuelled evening. Thus why not turn it into nibbly little portions? There's a great bread menu for starters, which I'd certainly advise getting involved with as you might find yourself going hungry with the smaller dishes. Especially if you're sharing. Sharing isn't always fair. Other nibbles include antipasti like olives, marinated mushrooms, prosciutto and cheese, bruschettas, potatoes and asparagus. The mini salads are a great idea if you're in the mood for a bit of everything, and the five inch pizzas are just darling. The likes of deep fried squid, smoked salmon and prawns make up the fish menu and you can get little meat tasters as well as miniature pasta dishes. If you go there absolutely ravenous, you'll fall victim to the same process as a sushi bar. You'll clean yourself out financially. Best go when you're in the mood for a light lunch, and that way, you might not feel as guilty about overindulging in the wine (so easily done when having tapas). The chain quality might not blow you away but Pesto's worth a try at least once.

It's looking increasingly unlikely that I'll be holidaying in Turkey this summer. To get over this…read moreunbearable disappointment (first world problems) I've been adamant in finding the best in Turkish cuisine Manchester has to offer. And boy have I found another gem for all fellow foodie Yelpers. Eccles isn't exactly on par with the city centre, Chorlton, Didsbury et al as a place foodies rush to in their droves. However, that might be changing very soon. Driving through Monton village felt more like cruising through the leafy suburbs of Prestbury than Eccles. Monton road is already littered with decent eateries such as Enoteca, Blind pig, Malt dog and Blacksticks amongst others. The addition of La Turka not so long ago adds considerable weight to the argument that this part of Manchester is fast becoming another foodie hub. After dining at La Turka I'll certainly rubber stamp that assertion. A friend of mine brought this place to my attention after I confessed my love of all food Turkish, so off we went having booked our table in advance. (I was told it's mega busy all week) The restaurant may not look very big from the outside but has over 100 covers and a car park at the back. The interior is very airy, spacious and carries a real holiday vibe (Always a hit with me) It was very busy as predicted but there was enough staff to keep things flowing smoothly. The kitchen was visible from our table and we could almost taste the delicious aromas. The attention to detail by the proprietors was reflected in the fact they spotted us as new diners and came over for a quick chat. The order to arrival time was exceptional but not as good as the food itself. Hands down the chicken livers were the best I've tried in a long time and the spiciness was perfectly complemented by our zesty second starter, Veggi stuffed mushrooms. The bread and yoghurt sauce served as a side was also fresh and delightful. What's more, the sweet chutney served with the livers was an innovative addition, I liked it. When ordering the mains, my decision was heavily influenced by the fact I was starving. A meat platter was swiftly ordered without much thought. As good as the other options probably were I was in no mood for experimentation and opted for a good old carnivorous protein fix. My friend ordered the seafood platter which probably won the aesthetically pleasing award, not that I cared. My plate of delicious meat may not have looked as good but it certainly tasted fantastic. The lamb chops were perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. There was just enough crisp without too much burn and the meat was well cooked and just the right side of tender. The chicken and beef kofte were also divine as was the red sauce served with it. Perhaps the portion of rice could've been a tad more generous but the generosity of the meat portion meant I withheld anything resembling complaint. The seafood platter was no mug either, although I only tried the mussels (which were heavenly) I have it on good authority it was sensational. After the meat sweats had subsided we bravely ordered a Creme Brulee to share (Even though there was absolutely no room left in our respective well fed bellies) I had a few spoons and was very impressed but not surprised. It was a great way to end the evening. The only slight downside to the evening was that some of the staff weren't on their game and looked a little young and inexperienced. I'm certain that with time the management will amend this slight hiccup. The food and atmosphere however was absolutely brilliant, and I've bookmarked this place for sure. So should you! A mere 5 miles or so outside Manchester, the car journey took around 10 minutes from Deansgate. The 33 bus from near Hilton Deansgate takes around 30 minutes. Which means it's probably closer (If not he same distance) than the likes of Chorlton and Didsbury to get to. I highly recommend it! I shall be updating the review in the near future after my second visit. A great little innings from Monton for Manchester, bravo! As a side note, they're now open 9am to midnight serving breakfast outside in their brand new terrace. So as soon as summer arrives (It's nearly July, better late than never) I will be here sitting outside having Turkish breakfast pretending I'm in Istanbul! I'll also probably return to check out what this belly dancing night malarkey is all about on the weekend.

I am not sure about the craze or the hype!!Please remember this is a vegetarian palate writing his…read morewits out!! If the word of mouth reputation has to go for any records, this place should be amazing! But it's not Yes, it's easy to locate, good friendly people making sure of your time goes well till T***** the belly dancer undoes all the hard work done from the rest of the crew! When it comes to food, it's salty!! I guess they spend more on salt. Why not, it's cheap and adds flavour! You will agree it does exactly the opposite and makes it not palatable if you forget you already added salt once to the dish! The end result not a good starter!! You might think it was a mistake, but if the mains come with a salt lake!! Well you got to question if they have a salt company and sell it at the restaurant!! Don't worry the baklava did not have salt!! Hence the 2 stars If you want to see belly dancing, surely there are other places..... and not T!