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Open Restaurant Group will open Counter Manchester on Monday 9 November, bringing chef Andrew Sheridan’s latest restaurant to the Island Building on John Dalton Street.
The 60-cover restaurant will be the group’s first site in Manchester city centre and its second in Greater Manchester, following the opening of Arcadian in Didsbury in September.
At the centre of the restaurant will be a four-to-five-seat chef’s counter positioned directly at the pass, giving diners a view into the kitchen.
The interiors will also feature four-metre elm trees, curved booth seating and a brass wine display.
Sheridan’s menu will place British produce at the centre of dishes drawing on flavours, ingredients and techniques from cuisines around the world.
Among the opening dishes will be Beef Tartare Pressed Croissant, combining aged beef with crispy pressed croissant, smoked oyster mayonnaise, wasabi and pickled shallot.
Tuna Pizza will feature a crisp sesame base with raw tuna, avocado, jalapeño and smoked soy, while Scallop Hash Brown combines crispy potato with scallop brown butter satay, green chilli and lime.
The grill section will include Satay Spatchcock Chicken with peanut satay, fermented chilli, coconut, burnt lime and crispy shallot, alongside Turbot Steak finished with brown butter, green chilli and preserved lemon.
Side dishes will include Gravy Fries with beef dripping, bone marrow gravy, smoked cheese and crispy onion, and Mac & Cheese Brûlée with smoked cheddar, parmesan crust and gochujang.
The dessert menu will also reference Manchester.
Vimto 1908 will combine Vimto jelly, baked yoghurt, vanilla sponge, blackcurrant, raspberry and custard, while The Manchester Glory will feature vanilla custard, raspberry, coconut ice cream, banana, toasted coconut, whipped mascarpone and cherry.
The drinks programme will be led by Jake Nutt, who returns to Open Restaurant Group following a period at two-Michelin-starred Ynyshir in Wales.
Andrew Sheridan, Chef and Co-Founder at Open Restaurant Group, said: “For us, great cooking isn’t about sticking to rules or defining food by where it comes from. It’s about taking the best flavours, textures and ingredients from around the world and bringing them together in ways that surprise people. We start with great produce, take inspiration from different food cultures and have fun with it, creating dishes that are bold, playful and full of flavour.
“Manchester is creative, loud and full of character, and we wanted Counter to reflect exactly that. It’s a place where great food meets a sense of occasion, without ever taking itself too seriously. Whether you’re joining us for lunch or dinner, we want Counter to feel like a natural part of the city, somewhere you come back to time and time again.”
Counter Manchester will open at 12pm on Monday 9 November.
Associated Articles
The Counter Set to Open in Manchester This September
Provides direct background on the original plans for Counter Manchester, including the Island Building location, Andrew Sheridan’s culinary direction and Jake Nutt’s drinks programme.
Arcadian Opens in Didsbury as Open Restaurant Group Expands into Greater Manchester
Provides direct context on Open Restaurant Group’s expansion into Greater Manchester, with Arcadian becoming its first restaurant in the region when it opened in September.
Arcadian Opens in Didsbury as Open Restaurant Group Expands into Greater Manchester
Open Restaurant Group to Reach 10-Site Milestone by End of 2026
Provides wider context on the group’s expansion strategy across the North West and its plans for Counter Manchester as part of its growing restaurant portfolio.
Open Restaurant Group to Reach 10-Site Milestone by End of 2026
