CityLife

Me and my girlfriend booked a meal at the restaurant for our 3 year anniversary. I rang to make a booking and the receptionist, Katie, was very pleasant and helpful which gave me a good feeling about this place.<br /> <br /> Upon our arrival we were greeted and told there was a slight wait for the table and invited to wait at the bar. We had some fantastic cocktails whilst we waited for about 10 minutes.<br /> <br /> When we got to our table we were informed about the special steaks which sounded absolutely delicious. We instantly ordered our food and re-ordered the amazing Mojito's we had just guzzled down. Our steaks came just in time for another round of drinks. <br /> <br /> All the food and drinks were fantastic, unlike the slight hangover the next day. :(<br /> <br /> Overall a fantastic experience and gorgeous food!! I will definately be attending this Grill again and hopefully for a few more cockails!!<br /> <br /> Food 5/5<br /> Drinks 5/5 (from what I can remember)<br /> Service 5/5<br /> <br /> Thanks, Mickey Johnson

GRADO is nominated for wine list of the year, (as well as newcomer) in Citylife.co.uk Manchester Food and Drink Awards. Winners will be announced at Monday’s Gala Dinner in the city’s Palace Hotel.<br /> <br /> Throughout the festival, Mon-Fri, lunch and between 5pm and 7pm, the paul Heathcote-owned Spanish restaurant on New York Street, behind Piccadilly, is showing its credentials with a four-course tapas and wine matching menu, costing £22 per person. <br /> <br /> We cheated by ordering an extra helping of Pimientos Padron, those ticking time bomb, salty green chillis from Galicia that became so popular for a while M&S stocked them.<br /> <br /> Grado’s are the real thing, in ever batch a mouth scorcher. Painful but sublime, I got the hit this time.<br /> <br /> Gambas la Plancha with aioli (grilled prawns with garlic mayonnaise were charred and sweet dipped in their slick emulsion and slightly overwhelmed the wine match, Mas Macia Cava Gran Reserva 2003, which is £5 by the glass on the wine list. <br /> <br /> I found the next wine, Albarino Orballo 2007, nowhere to be seen on the usual wine list, slightly soapy but this trendy white’s mineral edge coped well with decidedly spicy stuffed squi with chorizo and tomato.<br /> <br /> Tangles of stewed piquillo<br /> <br /> Tangles of stewed piquillo peppers provided another authentic spice quotient to swirlsd of slow cooked lamb belly. A comforting Rioja Crianza 2004 from Monte Real was perfect with it. <br /> <br /> Monte Real Reservas are among the pricier items on this all-Spanish list, but if you want a splurge here, they come highly recommended. <br /> <br /> Boutinot wines provide the very superior Fernando de Castilla wines. I’ve been to their Jerez bodega (owned by a Norwegian!) and there isn’t a dud wine. Among the pick is their Perdo Ximenez (£5.50 a glass), that sweetly medicinal marvel that may be the world’sa greatest chocolate wine.<br /> <br /> Expensive though it is, in Andalucia they spoon it over vanilla ice cream. Here, to finish a gorgeous simple lunch it partnered a deep chocolate mousse with plump marinated raisins. <br /> <br /> A lovely lunch and a reminder of the range of offers across the city that underpin the festival headline events. And don’t take place in a tent!<br />