New this year on the Spinningfields block is Scene. A restaurant inspired by the street food flavours of India, Pakistan and Southern Asia.
It’s a deceptively large restaurant occupying a prime river side location, which is due to be converted for alfresco dining in due course.
Attention to detail has been paid with the decor, and there is much to catch the eye as you are shown in to the restaurant.
Don’t forget the restaurant rules, which all diners are politely encouraged to abide by, although I fear that in writing this post I am explicitly breaking the last one!
We were seated close to the open kitchen, which gave us a chance to watch the dishes being created. Although it was busy, it didn’t feel crowded, and the staff were very attentive.
The menu is specially crafted to encourage you to share your food. There are a selection of street food plates, which would be a great way to sample lots of different flavours.
On another occasion these will be top of my list, but this time round, simple popadoms and pickles were all we needed to nibble on while we made our selection from the exciting choice of mains.
Larger meals are also created for sharing and the Desi Dhaba is a speciality that we just had to try. Served in a hot metal balti straight from the stove, it certainly looked impressive. We ordered the Scene Handi Gosht, which was lamb cooked on the bone in aromatic spices, and opted for rice and naan to accompany it.
The curry was extremely tasty, and the succulent lamb fell off the bone. I’m not sure my palate is sensitive enough to taste the difference between this and another lamb curry, but that wouldn’t put me off ordering it again. And the menu suggests you can share it with up to 4 people so it would be an ideal main course if you’ve filled up on street food first.
We visited for a quick bite after an exhibition in town but Scene would also be a great place to linger over your food and enjoy a glass of fizz or a cocktail with a group of friends.
Scene: 4a Leftbank, Irwell Square, Manchester, M3 3AN, Tel: 0161 839 3929 or for Takeaway: 0161 839 3929
You can also reserve a table online.
If you love Indian food, be sure to check out my list of the Best Indian Restaurants in Manchester.
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