MFDF Fine Dining award

The twentieth Manchester Food and Drink Festival has come to a close, and it’s been another couple of weeks of celebration and success for all involved, and a chance to reflect on just how incredible the food and drink culture is in Manchester in 2017.

El Gato Negro has been involved all the way through this year’s MFDF; firstly as Simon featured as one of their 20 Gastro Icons; then by hosting a successful pop-up evening on the first weekend at Festival Hub.

Finally, as this milestone festival ended with the one of the highlights of the industry calendar, our team had an excellent and excitable time amongst industry colleagues at the prestigious Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards at the The Principal Hotel.

We were overjoyed to be announced as winners of the ‘Premium & Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year’ category. El Gato Negro had been nominated alongside some of Manchester’s best and most exciting establishments and so we were incredibly honoured to have been selected as this year’s winner, especially after we won the ‘Best Newcomer’ category in 2016.

Many thanks to everyone who supported and voted for us this year, and to our incredible colleagues… we couldn’t have done it without you!

Premium & Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year at MFDF awards

 

 

Bib Gourmand 2018 We’re over the moon to have been awarded a prestigious Bib Gourmand for the second year running in the 2018 edition of the Michelin Guide. After gaining a Bib in our first year of operation, retaining this accolade is a real honour. As the only Bib Gourmand holder in Manchester, we’re very proud of the recognition El Gato Negro has gained in offering exceptionally good food at moderate prices.

Chef patron and creative director Simon Shaw said

“We’re absolutely blown away to have been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the second year running in Manchester. It’s an incredible team effort and a fantastic achievement for all, we’re looking forward to raising a glass together to celebrate.”

This is the latest in a string of achievements for El Gato Negro, which this year was recognised as one of only two Manchester establishments in the National Restaurant Awards 2017 as well as featuring in the Waitrose Good Food Guide 2018.

We would like to thank all our staff and suppliers, as well as our loyal customers and friends in the industry for all the support and hard work… without you we wouldn’t be celebrating this recognition today. Congratulations to all the establishments who have also retained or gained awards and accolades in today’s Michelin Guide announcement: we’re honoured to be in such august company.

Full menu on all three floors

FULL MENU

You’ve been asking for it since we opened last year, and we’re finally able to offer it… as of today you can now enjoy our full dining menu across all three floors of our beautiful home in King Street.

Previously we offered a more streamlined menu on the ground floor, but customers have consistently asked to be able to choose from all the dishes on our full menu. We’ve listened, and now we’re offering our full menu for downstairs. We will maintain the seating on the ground floor exclusively for walk-in customers and phone reservations only, which should ensure customers have more options than ever to dine at El Gato Negro.

We’ve also extended our lunch service hours; we will now be accepting orders between midday and 3pm on Tuesdays–Thursdays. We still serve straight through on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and open at 5pm on Mondays to allow for staff training and downtime.

El Gato Negro menu Sept 2017

SET LUNCH OPTIONS

(available Tuesday–Friday, 12 until 3pm)

We also now offer a set lunch option in the restaurant, based around a representative selection of our dishes. Whether you’re looking for a quick working lunch, or you’d like an introduction to some of our signature dishes, the set lunch is ideal. Dishes included on the set lunch are indicated by a symbol on our menu.

Choose any 3 indicated dishes for just £15

———————————————

We’re starting September with this updated service offering so more of our customers can enjoy our food, with more options, and for longer. We hope you can join us here in King Street soon to enjoy even more of our hospitality.

If you’d like to book a table please call us direct on 0161 694 8585 or make a reservation online.

We’re delighted to announce that – after their incredible popularity last year – we’re now taking group bookings for Christmas 2017. Secure a table for your party now, and enjoy a memorable seasonal occasion at El Gato Negro! 

These group bookings are for between seven and sixteen people, available from November 13th to December 24th, and you’ll be able to enjoy a specially designed menu from our kitchen as the centrepiece to your visit. Click here to view the food menu. We are able to cater for any dietary requirements, please notify us when booking.

We also offer a tiered selection of drinks packages to complement the food menu.

£15 per head

  • Arrival glass of cava, or bottle or beer
  • Half bottle of house wine per person

£30 per head

  • Half a bottle of cava on arrival per person
  • Bottle of house wine per person

£40 per head

  • Cocktail on arrival
  • Half bottle of Cava per person
  • Bottle of recommended wine* per person

We are also able to create bespoke wine packages on request.

To make a reservation, use the contact form on our booking page, or call one of our team. Bookings are available for 12pm, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm time slots. There is a £10 per head non-refundable deposit to be made when booking. We require 48 hours notice for any decrease in party size.

* Full selection of recommended wines available on request

Relish book and tote bag in restaurant
When chef patron Simon Shaw shares one of his recipes, they’re seized upon by customers wishing to recreate some of the magic of El Gato Negro at home. That’s why we’re delighted to announce the release of Relish Publications ‘North West Second Helping’ cookbook, featuring original recipes from the region’s finest chefs and restaurants, including three exclusives from Simon.

This is the third time we have been featured in a Relish book: originally in Relish Yorkshire Second Helping in 2010, then Relish North East And Yorkshire in 2013. Now with our move across to Manchester in 2015 we’re eligible to feature in the latest North West edition. Is this a first, representing both sides of the Pennines?

For the first time the cover of this deluxe hardback book is exclusive to El Gato Negro, featuring the facade of our converted townhouse on King Street by night. Along with a wonderful selection of recipes from many acclaimed establishments in the region, this edition showcases Simon’s recipes for:

  • Gillardeau oysters, yuzu juice, wasabi tobiko and pickled cucumber
  • Hot & sugar cured Cornish mackerel with celeriac and pink grapefruit salad
  • Turron mousse, pear, basil, almond brittle

This bespoke-jacketed book is on sale only from the restaurant for £20, and comes paired with an exclusive El Gato Negro cotton tote bag, making this the perfect treat for yourself, or an ideal gift for anyone who appreciates fine food. We hope you enjoy the read as much as the dishes!

After extensive polling, testing and trialling chef patron Simon and head chef Richard have refreshed our restaurant menu, introducing a selection of delicious new dishes taking advantage of seasonally-available produce.

Great news for graduates! We’re open throughout Mondays – including lunchtimes – on Monday 10th, 17th and 24th of July, specifically to provide the perfect option for a graduation celebration in style with friends and family. Of course it’s also another option for anyone to enjoy sun-soaked lunches on Monday, including from our popular new Menú Rápido.

El Gato Negro is the ideal location for celebrating graduation on any day of the week, enjoying our acclaimed food and drinks in the surroundings of our beautiful award-winning restaurant. Plus there’s a free glass of cava for the graduate with any pre-booked table, to add some extra sparkle to the celebration and toast their achievements.

We’ve even created an exclusive cocktail for the special occasion, available throughout July. The Graduation is a mix of raspberry-infused Manchester Gin, cherry-infused bourbon and cava, garnished with raspberry dust, coconut and bourbon-soaked cherry. At just £8.50 this is bound to graduate with first-class honours!

For more information or to book a table, please phone our dedicated host team on 0161 694 8585 or book online.

The Graduation Cocktail at El Gato Negro

Prize draw for Hospitality Action's Charity Polo Day

We’re running a free prize draw to win two tickets for Hospitality Action’s inaugural Charity Polo Day on Sunday 25 June at Cheshire Polo Club. El Gato Negro is helping raise funds for this distinguished industry charity and our Chef Patron Simon Shaw is one of three award-winning chefs volunteering their services to create a glorious lunch. You can read full details of the event here.

To be in with a chance of winning two tickets for this grand day out, just fill in the form below. No questions, no complications: it couldn’t be easier!

(Update: this competition has now ended. Thank you to everyone who participated!)

Terms and conditions

  • The prize for this draw is for two tickets for the event on Sunday 25th June
  • The draw cut-off date will be Monday 19th June at 9pm
  • The winner be selected randomly and will be notified by 3pm on the 20th June
  • If the winner is not able to attend, another name will be selected randomly and offered the prize.
  • No cash alternatives will be offered

El Gato Negro and our chef Patron Simon Shaw is proud to be supporting Hospitality Action’s inaugural Charity Polo Day on Sunday 25 June. Held at the beautiful Cheshire Polo Club in Little Budworth, near Tarporley, this is a superb opportunity to raise funds for the leading charity in our industry, which celebrates its 180th birthday this year.

Simon will be one of three award-winning chefs from the North-West (along with Sean Sutton, Head Chef at The Alderley Restaurant and Andrew Nutter of Nutter’s Restaurant) who are volunteering their time and resources to create an incredible three course meal for guests during an afternoon of polo.

The event begins with a Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Champagne and canapé reception on the lawns of the prestigious Cheshire Polo Club, before the chef’s lunch is prepared. Guests will then watch a fabulous fast-paced polo match –The Henbury Cup – prior to ending the day with an afternoon cream tea in the marquee. It promises to be a glorious celebration of the best of British gastronomy and tradition.

Unique auction

That’s not all. As part of a fundraising auction to be held on the day, Simon is also offering his services for a unique experience, with one-to-one training and a meal for the successful bidder. If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy a personal chef and the magic of El Gato Negro at home, this is your chance to bid for an incredible one-off experience.

I’m offering a tutored cookery lesson and dinner, for up to six guests, at a location of your choosing. El Gato Negro will provide my services, all the ingredients for the demonstration and the dinner, plus staff. Wine and other drinks would be provided by the successful bidder.

Competition

We’re also running a free draw to win two tickets for the event: please click here to enter.

Tickets to the Polo Day are great value at just £85 per person or £800 for a table of ten and are selling out fast. Please click here or email Astrid astrid@hospitalityaction.org.uk for more information. 

Attendees also receive an Annual Social Membership Package for the Cheshire Polo Club, which includes entry for a car and up to four people to watch polo every weekend throughout the 2017 season, allows free entry to The Wirral Ladies and National 6 Goal Tournaments and is worth £50.

Hospitality Action logo

Yesterday Simon and the team headed to London to join the great and good for the 2017 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards at the Hurlington Club in London.

After the surprise and honour of our debut placement last year at 81 the team celebrated an even higher ranking of 78th in the UK on this year’s prestigious industry list, one of just two Manchester restaurants.*

El Gato Negro at 78 in National Restaurant Awards 2017

Chef Patron Simon Shaw said

“It’s been quite a journey over the past year and the success we’ve enjoyed so far has been nothing short of phenomenal. As a restaurateur, you have to gain a trust with your customers and I’m continuously blown away by the demand to dine here.

“Now the challenge is to keep the menu fresh and the specials exciting.  We have no plans to sit back on our laurels thinking we’ve made it. This is just the start of an amazing journey.”

Being recognised in the tenth year of this extraordinary list of the nation’s best – as voted by 180 industry experts from across the UK, including chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, critics and other experts – is an incredible honour. Thanks to everyone who helped us to reach this position, whether it’s our colleagues, suppliers, supporters or customers.

You can view the full awards list here on Big Hospitality.

* Congratulations to Gary and everyone at Hispi in Didsbury for their debut at #54 on the list!