Without question, this is the best restaurant in Ramsbottom!! Chef Rachel's dishes are a delicious…read morecombination of great ingredients, cooked and seasoned to perfection in a wood burning oven!! After a lunch of Spanish Shrimps (flown in from España!!) and Fried Hake, Chef Rachel talked us into coming back for dinner, as they were expecting a shipment of special Spanish beef (I wish I could remember the name!!). The beef is butchered on site and served "blue." Having never had a steak served "blue," I was a little apprehensive, but willing to try. We were not disappointed! It was a memorable meal like no other we have ever had!! Absolutely unique and delicious steak!! This is a don't miss dining location!!

Went here last night and it was great food. We went for a set menu which was tapas and also paella…read more Not sure about all the names of the tapas dishes but they included meatballs, seafood salad, potatoes with tomatoes/salsa, diced pork, sautéed mushrooms, breaded crabclaws and paprika chorizo. About 12 tapas dishes into total plus the paella. Set menu was £16.50. If you don't want paella, its about £2 cheaper. The only problem with tapas is that there are so many dishes, you always run out of space quickly. You have to quickly eat dishes so you can make room for others. The food came very quickly. Good job as we were all hungry. The paella came about 40 minutes after we ordered - a good sign that it was cooked from scratch. Overall a very good evening. It was very busy and a group were actually sitting on the tables situated in the sort of "lobby" area at the bottom of the stairs near entrance (and near the entrance to toilets). I assume they were given the option if they wanted to sit there. I have heard El Rincon is very popular and you always have to book a table. There is quite a bit of football memorabilia on the walls and, as Emma-Louise H has also mentioned, I have heard that Manchester United have visited in the past. El Rincon is actually not situated on Deansgate as it has been mentioned on some places. Its actually on a small dark street parallel to Deansgate - which you could argue looks a bit dodgy especially when it was all dark and wet last night - typical Manchester rainy weather!! El Rincon is not the easiest place to find and I would imagine doesnt get much passing custom.

The 2014 winner of the 'That's not how I expected it to be inside' award definitely goes to El…read moreRincon. Had it not been for the trusty map app we'd probably have struggled to find it, (it's on the corner of Longworth Street, which is off St Johns Street, which is off Deansgate...). Head through the doors and you descend stairs that resemble a London Tube station's with a central hand rail. At the bottom, a small replica of Picasso's 'Guernica' painting is high above you, with a traditional-looking tiled restaurant sign on the back wall. Turn a corner and you're met with a cavernous space, double height ceilings and a huge bar (where you can sit and eat at as well). I'm certainly glad I booked as it was very busy and throughout our meal there was a constant stream of customers (some 'winged it' and were seated where they could find space, one small group ended up sitting in the entrance area!). We could tell it was a popular place so were looking forward to getting stuck in. As a group of seven we didn't need to trawl through the menu as we had a choice of two set ones (opting for the slightly more expensive, but we got two extra tapas dishes plus a paella; and it was only £2 per person extra). Jug of sangria poured, the first of fifteen dishes started to arrive (I'm not going to list them all so don't worry), but lots of tapas faves were included, as well as some I hadn't heard of before. I thought pretty much everything was delicious (though still not convinced by artichokes...). As I've said a few times now I love shared dinners, so tapas is perfect. We all really enjoyed our time here and I'll certainly be back again for more.

I have to say, I didn't think Pinchjo's was very good which seems to put me at odds with basically…read moreeveryone else that has been there including my two fellow diners. So maybe I am just wrong. But let me explain. The prices were great - all the dishes were £2.50 - £3 (I think this is a Monday - Thursday deal) which frankly is so cheap these days it's almost not worth complaining about the food. However, I really didn't think the food was that great. Calamari and patatas bravas were just ok. The calamari came with something that was supposed to be chilli and garlic mayo but which tasted like thousand island dressing. Good quality plain alioli would have been much better. Patatas bravas were a little soggy, obviously there's a sauce on them but they should retain some crispness rather than being drenched in it, generally. Maybe this is just the house style. Gambas pil pil I thought kind of had a strange taste which I suspect was something to do with the oil. You get five prawns which is a good portion size but overall this dish was disappointing, especially when compared for example with the incredibly good gambas al ajillo at Tapas Brindisa in London Bridge (to be fair, those cost £8.95 - for a small plate!) Finally the tortilla. Tortilla española is one of my favourite dishes in the world. Done well, it is one of the most delicious things you will ever eat, despite its simple ingredients. One time I had a tortilla in a baguette, which was one of the biggest and best meals of my life. Unfortunately I almost immediately afterwards went home to my host family to find out that grandpa had slaughtered a goat from his farm for me, which I then also had to eat. This tortilla, however, was really bad. It was very soggy, it had no flavour, you could barely tell there were potatoes in it, let alone onions. Maybe there weren't onions in it at all, actually, but then don't call it Spanish omelette. It was basically just egg and what looked like spinach. What I can say for it is that there were 3 slices, which was generous. The restaurant appearance and atmosphere is nice and service was pleasant and I was impressed when our server came over to apologise for the food being delayed (we hadn't been waiting inordinately long at that point). But overall I guess we did wait quite a while as we weren't really sharing it was a bit awkward when 2 people got most of their stuff way before the other 1. Not that big a deal though really.

As someone who has lived in Spain for a number of years, I'm always quite wary of tapas bars in the…read moreUK that claim to have British twist. I'm a classic purist, believing that if something has worked for centuries there's no need to modify a winning formula. The thing about Pinchjo's though, is Jo's enthusiasm and charm, which translates directly into the food he prepares and the atmosphere of the decor. It really does look like a basque bar with its classic bar seating and traditional wooden furniture. The latin music immediately lifts your spirits and it's clear the staff here are enjoying themselves, they're so friendly and smiley. The food, based on Basque pintxos (tapas mounted on little rounds on bread), I have to admit, are welcome modifications to classic dishes. Yes, I take it back. The chorizo cooked in white wine was sublime, as was the pan-fried red mullet with salsa verde. Washed down with my favourite South American beer, I was a happy chappy indeed.

I like this Spanish restaurant, it's definitely got "character" - by that I mean, it allows me to…read moreenjoy a glass of wine and then giggle like a schoolgirl when I try and pronounce the name: Ree-ho-HA! Much to the consternation of my dining partner! Thankfully, aside from the name, there's not much else you can have a go poking fun at. The food is superb and varied - there's the obligatory paella, and yes on one occasion making go-with-what-you-know choice I dined on it (highly recommended!) but there's also a range of chicken, fish and many more typically meaty Spanish dishes to selecy from the menu, that you could may I add spend at least the better part of 20 minutes perusing. Tapas ranges from £1.95 - £4.95 Bare floorboards and intimate dining make you feel part of a tiny world of gastronomic happiness, On a dark winter (or summers) night, mixed with candle light and the aroma of a heady bottle of Alta Rio Reserva, you would need little more to be feel transported to Las Ramblas

This has got to be one of the biggest tapas menus I've seen outside of London...and Spain! It's…read morenice to see they've got the kind of dishes I've been pining after since my return to Blighty. Firm favourites include Costilla (marinated spare ribs), Albondigas (Spanish meatballs) and Mejillones (mussles marinated in wine, lemon and herbs). Apart from the tapas menu, they also have some very traditional dishes on the A la Carte menu including Chuletas de cordero (grilled marinated lamb chops) and Cod catalana (cod fillet suated with garlic, shallots, cream and wine topped with parmesan cheese). Surely this is run by a Spanish family. Delicious.

Easily one of the best tapas restaurants in Greater Manchester, Levanter has a great drinks menu…read more(vermouth, sherry and Spanish beer available as well as a solid and inexpensive wine menu, including a very drinkable white rioja) and an appealing selection of food. We enjoyed everything we had, namely the chorizo with honey, pig cheeks, sheep's cheese (great chutney), Galician octopus, liver, and boquerones (exquisitely flavoured). Service was excellent, very swift and attentive. Can't wait to go back and try sister pinxto bar Baraxturi!

When Neil C. said to me 'We're going to go and eat 1kg of steak' I grabbed my keys and ran to the…read moredoor. A short drive away in Ramsbottom lies Lavanter - a specialist tapas and small plates eatery so good that just being inside the place makes you feel like you're holidaying in the Basque region of Spain. It's really lovely. The restaurant is small, but that's what I like about it. To start we ordered a mixed seafood platter and some mixed olives - both outstanding. For the main course we did in fact order 1kg of beef. We chose our steak from a plate brought to us by the chef. He explained where the beef had come from, how it was raised and how he's going to cook it for us. It was cooked, as it should be, rare and seasoned and served on the bone. We also had some padron peppers and a tomato salad to accompany it. I can't fault the food here at Levanter, the service or the experience. If only every restaurant was like this and cared about their food as much as these guys do!

I have been to Lunya quite a few times - after it being recommended as the most authentic Spanish…read morerestaurant in Liverpool. I honestly just love it - every time the food tastes amazingl

*The* place for Catalan cuisine. You can both dine in the restaurant or buy genuine ingredients to…read morecook at home. The Joan Miró-inspired decor is very nice. Well worth a visit!

Berry St. has become a hub for small restaurants and bars and Roja Pinchos sits well amongst the…read moremayhem. Your palate will be convinced you have wondered into a bar in San Sebastián or Vitoria-Gasteiz and you will be gagging for a shot of txakoli to go with your pintxos. Simple ordering principle means you choose short sticks @£1.50 or tall sticks @£3 and they will serve up whatever is fresh on the day. If I could find fault here it is relative to the service suffering when they are particularly busy but, even though the kitchen may choke, the Spanish waitstaff are brilliant and take the time to make sure you are kept updated. From the alcohfrolics point of view they have scored a Bullring bullseye with their locally made Gin & Cava cocktail bar downstairs and having draught Estrella Damm and Alhambra scores massive points for those yearning for some Basque ambiance. I have been here multiple times now cos, as you already know, I like a side of food with my drinks and the small plates they serve are more'ish and authentic. Don't forget to finish off with some Cava & the Churro's and all you will be missing is some Spanish sunshine on your face :) #Olé,OléOlé,Oléééééé

Delicious!!! Everything was so good. This was the first time our kids (12 and 14) have tried Tapas…read more Although they were hesitant they tried everything we ordered and they loved it! The service was fantastic as well. Super friendly and helpful. So good. We are just visiting from the States or this would be a regular stop for us. We were so full but we tried the desserts ... AMAZING!!

Called the restaurant an hour in advance and requested if they can seat 12 of us the same evening…read more They were able to accommodate us within an hour so that was awesome! They were so nice and gave the table a round of champagne! Someone got lucky with my extra one! This place was upright amazing! Our service was phenomenal thank you to Claudia and her team! We've pretty much tried everything on the menu from the cheeses to the tapas to the paellas and the desserts. I will list the dishes we had and rate accordingly! Asparagus and cheese 5/5 Eggplant dish 5/5 Octopus dish 10/5 Potato bravas 5/5 Seafood paella 3/5, potent odor and the rice wasn't well done Chicken Paella 4/5 Trip of cheese 4/5 Meatballs 5/5 Ham Croquette (per my friend) 5/5 Chicken confit 5/5 Torrija dessert 100/5 Rice pudding 4/5 Chocolate layers 3/5 Churros 5/5 This restaurant is a fancy establishment and I highly recommend to everyone out there if you want to enjoy a great evening with family/friends.. please make a reservation and definitely come here.

We found Iberica on Yelp, and we could not be happier. First, the neighborhood is the place to be…read more Lots of people, things happening, good music. We sat inside, upstairs by the window. They first brought a dish of some of the best olives I have ever had. We had s bottle of rosé sparkling wine to start, along with tomato toast and a board with 3 meats and 3 cheeses. The flavors were incredible. For shared plates, we ordered 3 off the special Galician menu. The white asparagus was wonderful, a little of the sea asparagus on top gave just enough salt for the creamy sauce and crumb crunch. The octopus was also incredible. The potatoes were perfectly cooked, with tender pieces of octopus on top, all swimming in butter and topped with paprika. Finally, the scallops were served in the shell, with a crunch, spicy, peppery topping. The service was awesome, with a special shout out to Claudia, she could not have treated us better. Thanks for the digestif! A definite recommendation.

Formerly the Saffron…read more I took my family and my parents along last night to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Having seen it change hands towards the end of last year I thought I would try somewhere different, especially after reading the reviews of the Wilmslow restaurant. Car parking is not a problem with spaces to the front and along the side. I had booked a table for 4 adults and a child at 7pm, thinking it may be quiet ish. Upon entering it was packed with only a couple of seats for those waiting. Thankfully as we settled down to wait, we were shown straight to a table set for 4 at the back left of the dining room. The table would at best be comfortable for 2 adults giving them some elbow room and space for the accompanying dishes that would no doubt be served, let alone 4 adults and a child. We then had to pull up an additional chair positioned at the end as it was only set for 4. We asked to move and were shown to a circular table to the left of what we found out to be the very busy main entrance to the kitchen after they had cleared it down. The dining room was fully seated. The walls and ceiling in our close proximity showed signs of an obvious recent water leak, as the white paintwork was stained with brown water marks. The glass partition that separated us from the kitchen walkway was spattered with food and there was the constant clank of cutlery as it was dropped into the large hopper behind our heads. Adjacent to our table was a large party of 22+, all the tables pushed together. The atmosphere was loud, colourful and I have to say overpowering given the general background din (people shouting to be heard) and the continuous clatter of the food trolley transiting back and forth past our table at very frequent intervals. I found out in the morning that it had left samples of several dishes on the back of my coat. Service was prompt, courteous and drinks were quickly brought to our table, though we had to wait 10 minutes for menus. The starters and mains were brought in good time and I have to say the food was fantastic. My father approved and that is praise indeed. Sadly due to the close proximity of the large party my wife was continuously asked if she could move to allow party members up to get away from the table and then back in. Given the closeness (battery hens) she couldn't just move her chair but had to get up, move her chair each time somebody came and went. During our meal a large party of beer infused gentlemen were seated at anther larger circular table on the other side of the kitchen access way. They didn't stay long as one possibly two of them started to racially abuse staff members. The staff were brilliant and quickly ejected them from the premises. Once we had finished eating and drinking I asked for the bill and waited several minutes. When it arrived I thought it would be quicker to pay at the bar. However 4 members of staff there, 1 pouring drinks, 1 wondering which was the £40 bottle of champagne and the other 2 busy counting covers. Not one paid me any attention even though I had my silver platter in hand displaying my bill and debit card. Finally (4 minutes) a waiter asked if I needed anything and I paid. There was no cursory conversation about our experience, "everything all right sir, did you enjoy your meal, was this your first time here, hope to see you again etc" It was the curtain close that could have been a fantastic evening. To summarise, the restaurant is a converted 19th century pub and as such the layout does not lend itself to spacious dining given the number of tables and chairs squeezed in. The number of patrons packed in leads to excessive noise, busy staff coupled with the clanking dining cart equalled for us a painful eating experience. I have to say though the food was excellent and I would use the take away service if I lived nearer.

One of the most delicious Indian meals. We come here twice a year when visiting family in Lowton…read more Each time we arrive we are welcomed warmly by the owner and have excellent service. The food is always some of the tastiest and memorable. Highly recommend at least trying this place.