Harden’s Guide names two Manchester restaurants in top 100 in UK for 2023

A Manchester restaurant has been named among the 10 best in the UK by a respected foodie guide. The Harden’s Top 100 list for 2023 has placed Adam Reid at the French in the city’s Midland Hotel as number seven in its annual survey of the country’s best eateries. It’s a big jump up from the 2022 guide which saw the upmarket restaurant ranked at a still-respectable number 40.

Manchester had the third highest number of entries in the overall respected annual restaurant guide, with 47 featuring in the foodie bible, which is is now the only UK restaurant guide sold in bookshops based on feedback from normal diners rather professional reviewers. It’s also available on Apple and Andriod app stores. It was beaten only by Edinburgh and London.

Of The French, reviewers praised the tasting menu with comments including: “It’s not all serious plates, with some playful dishes offering something a little different and intriguing” and hailed it as “the best culinary experience in Manchester”.

Mana in Sawmill Court was named as 73rd in the top 100, a drop from the top 10 last year with some people commenting about price increases and value for money. However, other diners praised its “fabulous airy space within the foodie hotspot that is Ancoats” and ‘knock out flavours’ and ‘attention to detail.’

Others which feature in the overall guide but which did not make the top 100 include The Alan hotel, Bundobust in Piccadilly, Canto in Ancoats, and burger joint Almost Famous in Edge Street.

Peter Harden, co-founder of Harden’s, said: “The North West is home to some of the country’s most renowned restaurants and consistently performs well in the Harden’s Top 100 due to the high quality, diverse nature and depth of what’s on offer.

“Interestingly, it’s also an area where, like London, restaurant price increases have caused some guests to question whether they still see the same value in the overall proposition when dining out. What is an enjoyable experience at £100 per head can soon lose its lustre when prices as good as double.

“Restaurants are currently facing increasing costs from every angle so it’s no surprise these are being reflected on menus, but some of our polled results and diner comments this year show that customer expectations are struggling to keep pace and it’s easy for restaurants to begin to fall out of favour as a result.”

Harden’s Top 100 for 2023