Rosso Restaurant

Spring Gardens, Manchester

Rosso is one of Manchester city centre’s leading eating establishments. The glitzy Italian restaurant is owned by former Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand and, since opening back in 2009, has become a favourite celeb haunt, with hordes of famous names regularly using the venue to host parties. The A-List guest list has included the likes of One Direction, Little Mix and many of Ferdinand’s former team mates.

I waited for a long time to try this distinguished Italian for myself. When I finally made it, last Christmas, it was absolutely worth the wait. Following the festive season, Rosso closed for refurbishment, in which the decor and colour scheme were completely overhauled. The original red and black colour scheme was stunning. The Grade II listed building is a former bank, so the ornate interior is already breathtaking, and was made even more awe-inspiring by the red and black design. ‘Rosso’, after all, means ‘red’ in Italian, and, of course, red and black are the United colours.

Following the revamp, the sophisticated red and black have been replaced by an entirely white backdrop. The design remains identical, it’s simply all had a splash of rather sophisticated paint. If I’m honest, I don’t like it nearly as much. It seems to have lost some of its character and charm. 

Predictably, on a Saturday night, it was packed to the rafters, with every table occupied and the bar area bustling. Our table was booked for seven o’clock. As it was early enough, we only had to wait a matter of seconds, but by the time we left, over two hours later, they were 16-deep at the bar and the wait times were significantly longer.

Red or white, the food is still just as outstanding. It was the first time I had dined a la carte, as last year we had the Christmas Lunch menu – which was sensational, but more on that later. It’s an abundant menu, with everything you’d expect to find in a top-notch Italian, but you’re not overwhelmed by too much choice. 

For starters, I had Gamberoni Alla Rosso: plump king prawns poached in lime and chilli butter, served with garlic and dill crostone. King prawns is one of my favourite starter choices, and these were the juiciest, most succulent king prawns I’ve ever tasted. £15 may seem expensive for a starter, but for five of these humongous prawns, it was worth every penny. The crostone (Italian toasted bread) was a wonderful accompaniment, making it more substantial, although a second piece wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Gamberoni Alla Rosso

Choosing my main course was stressful. I was unsure whether it should be pasta or a meat/fish dish. Pasta is my automatic go-to meal of choice in an Italian restaurant; I generally don’t consider anything else. I had Tagliatelle Con Gamberi E Pollo: ribbons of creamy tagliatelle with chunky garlic chicken, prawns and wafer-thin courgettes. It was my perfect kind of pasta: rich, creamy and flavoursome. It may have been a case of prawn overload, but I have no regrets, it was delicious. It was a very small portion, however. Priced at £18, it may have contained a generous handful of perfectly cooked prawns, but the portion size definitely needs increasing ever so slightly. In contrast, the Linguine Al Frutti Di Mare, with garlic, cherry tomatoes and assorted shellfish, was just £2 more expensive for a portion that was more than double in size.

Tagliatelle Con Gamberi E Pollo

Dessert was a Gianduja cheesecake. Gianduja is an Italian chocolate and hazelnut spread. The chocolate cheesecake was coated in a layer of solid chocolate, and was served with a homemade chocolate truffle for that extra little indulgence. Inside the chocolate shell, the cheesecake was the perfect texture. The dark chocolate covering complemented the rich, sweet centre, and the biscuit base was crisp and firm. 

Gianduja Cheesecake

If you’re celebrating a birthday, it’s worth letting them know, as the lucky individual receives a complementary dessert of profiteroles topped with toffee mascarpone and hot chocolate fudge sauce.

There’s no denying that Rosso is truly outstanding. It’s easy to see why it’s one of Manchester’s most popular restaurants. It may be expensive, but it’s a unique dining experience that you won’t forget in a hurry. Alongside the bill, we were given a sneak peak at this year’s Christmas Lunch menu. Having dined a la carte, you realise the incredible value of the festive special, at just £25 for three sumptuous courses. I’m already looking forward to returning to Rosso to kick off the festive season in style.

Rosso offers superb food, stunning surroundings and excellent service, making a special occasion extra special. 

Website: http://rossorestaurants.com/