With newcomers like Avalanche Manchester seems to be developing its very own Latin Quarter says Janet Reeder
Manchester seems to be going through its very own Italian renaissance, especially the former banking district at the top of King Street
Croma, Piccolinos, Jamie’s Italian, Rosso the newly opened Pizza Express have helped to transform the area into the city’s Italian Quarter and arguably one of the most authentic is Avalanche, a smart restaurant on Booth Street on the old site occupied by Lime.
Step through the doors and this is a deceptively large restaurant created for everything from intimate dining for two to noisy family get togethers. We went on a weekday when the restaurant was relatively quiet, although our attentive waiter evidently mistaking us for two party animals assured us that the restaurant can get much livelier towards the weekends.
We assured him back that we didn’t mind too much as we were able to concentrate on the menu which is crammed with gorgeous Italian favourites. It all started brilliantly with warm, crisp and utterly delicious tomato pizza bread served by our Italian waiter, who told us he’d been in Manchester for 15 years but had worked in Rome. In fact over the course of the meal we learned quite a lot about him and it soon became clear that he was a complete professional.
For starters, we chose Grigliata di Verdure Assortite, which was a plate generously filled with marinated grilled vegetables, fresh breads and Italian cheeses. We shared bits and both loved the slices of courgette and the strong cheeses. Our second starter was Gamberoni Piccanti - pan fried king prawns finished with spicy tomato and herbs sauce, served on toasted bread which was another generous portion tackled enthusiastically.
My main of Risotto alla Primavera was exactly how I imagine mama would make it, the ultimate comfort food while my fellow diner found that his Costolette d’Agnello alla Menta (Lamb chops marinated with garlic, olive oil chilli and mint, served on a bed of pickled cabbage, finished with mint sauce) met all his expectations although he personally isn’t so keen on that great British favourite, mint sauce, so he felt that let the dish down a bit.
We went down the traditional route for puddings, polishing off a Tiramisu and chocolate cake with ice cream - well the Italian community in Manchester’s Ancoats were responsible for a thriving ice cream industry that survives to this day.
Avalanche has taken over from where Stock left off serving up an authentic experience alongside dishes that make you long for hot days on a sunsoaked hillside overlooking an Italian vineyard. bring it on!
Avalanche Booth St, Manchester M2 0161 237 1101 www.avalancherestaurant.co.uk
