CityLife

New openings: Rosso, Lal Qila, Zizzi

ONE of the most eagerly- awaited openings of the year takes place next week – and the swanky new place will be quickly vying for premier league status among the city’s Italian restaurants.

Rosso opens its doors on Saturday, November 21, in the former bank building at the top of King Street, which was once Establishment and later Karim’s Indian restaurant.

The owners of the 150-cover restaurant and bar – United star Rio Ferdinand and Manchester entrepreneur Adam Karim – promise a plush but relaxed feel to the Grade II-listed building.

The restaurant’s New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner menu includes dishes such as grilled fois gras with figs, apple and date puree and crostini and duck breast with morello cherries, flambéed in kirsch sauce.

***

Indian restaurant Lal Qila has already opened on the site of ill-fated Negresco, on Deansgate. Diners have previously not warmed to the location, originally a pub, but I think the opulent Lal Qila will get the best out of it. It will be the sister restaurant to places in Handforth, Bolton and Rusholme – one of the better restaurants on the Curry Mile.

The 170-seat restaurant is open at lunchtime from Monday and head chef Tariq Mehmood’s main menu includes dishes such as quails in a karahi sauce and a platter of seafood specials including fish tikka and crab claws.

***

Also opening later this month is Zizzi’s new restaurant in Didsbury, which complements outlets of the modern Italian chain in the Triangle and in Spinningfields.

Zizzi is on the site of another failed boozer, The Clock Tower on the corner of Wilmslow Road and Barlow Moor Road, and the internal décor has been inspired by the RSPB, as Didsbury, apparently, is the place it was founded. It opens on Monday, November 23.