Harden's says

The team behind El Gato Negro have opened a second 110-cover site in the city. Canto is in the Fairbairn building in Ancoats, and the in-part-cork-walled space serves 'modern Portuguese' cuisine inspired by chef/patron Simon Shaw’s travels to Lisbon, as well as head chef Carlos Gomes’ upbringing in Porto.

survey result

Summary

£34
    £
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

This “really good tapas” spot in Ancoats is “hugely popular”, so “booking is a must”“the only drawback is that tables are reserved for 1.5-hour slots, so it’s difficult to make a night of it no matter how much you spend on wine!”. Billed as a Portuguese follow-up to Simon Shaw’s El Gato Negro when it opened five years ago under head chef Carlos Gomes, the venue now describes its food puzzlingly as ‘Mediterranean tapas’ – which would exclude the many Portuguese dishes on the menu…

Summary

3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

This “buzzing place with a fine selection of Mediterranean tapas” is Simon Shaw’s follow-up to El Gato Negro, where he pioneered Hispanic cuisine in Manchester. The “laid-back atmosphere”, “authentic food” and “great wine list” all impress, while head chef Carlos Gomes adds a taste of his native Portugal to the mix.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Canto?

Cutting Room Square, Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5DH

Restaurant details

Highchair
Yes
No dress code
112

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Always   £20.00

Tapas / Dim Sum

Main Pudding
£9.00 £3.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £28.00
Filter Coffee £0.00
Extras  
Service 12.50%
Cutting Room Square, Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5DH
Opening hours
Monday5 pm‑10 pm
Tuesday5 pm‑10 pm
Wednesday5 pm‑10 pm
Thursday12 pm‑10 pm
Friday12 pm‑10 pm
Saturday12 pm‑10 pm
Sunday12 pm‑10 pm

Best Portuguese restaurants nearby

Tamp Coffee
Sandwiches, cakes, etc restaurant in Chiswick
£29
    £
3
Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
Lisboeta
Portuguese restaurant in Fitzrovia
£78
 ££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
Casa do Frango
Portuguese restaurant in Shoreditch
£56
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
5
Exceptional

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Bundobust
Indian restaurant in Manchester
£35
    £
3
Good
2
Average
4
Very Good
Yuzu
Japanese restaurant in Manchester
£37
    £
3
Good
3
Good
2
Average
Sakura
Chinese restaurant in Manchester
£36
    £