Cona Restaurant — Local services in Manchester

We had the pleasure of attending the soft launch of Cona Manchester, and it was nothing short of exceptional. As the second location of the renowned Cona brand—whose flagship in Bradford has earned a loyal following—this new Manchester outpost is already setting a remarkably high bar for fine dining in the city.

Even with a limited launch menu on offer that evening, the execution, flavours, and presentation were flawless—a clear sign of the culinary standard to come.

We began with warm, herby garlic bread and a bowl of beautifully marinated green olives—a simple, elegant welcome. The Wagyu Quesabirria tacos soon followed, boasting crisp shells, melted cheese, and rich, slow-cooked beef—every bite indulgent and satisfying. The King Prawn Tempura, coated in a sweet-spicy chili glaze, offered a vibrant contrast with just the right amount of heat.

For mains, the Dry-Aged Beef Fillet arrived perfectly cooked—blushing pink, melt-in-the-mouth tender, and served in a luscious peppercorn sauce that brought everything together. The Corn Fed Chicken was equally outstanding—chargrilled and juicy, served on a bed of earthy mushrooms and smoky shishito peppers, all immersed in a deep, umami-rich broth.

The Wagyu Black Label Burger was comfort food at its finest—succulent, cheesy, and topped with crisp lettuce and garlic aioli, tucked into a buttery toasted brioche bun.

We ordered every side—and we’re glad we did. The Truffle Mac & Cheese was bubbling and golden, laced with the unmistakable aroma of black truffle. The Tenderstem Broccoli with Kale & Red Chilli brought a fresh and fiery edge, while the Truffle Fries were irresistibly crisp and fragrant.

Dessert was a showstopper. The Sticky Toffee Pudding, drenched in warm caramel sauce and topped with clotted cream, was comforting and nostalgic. The Chocolate Fondant, with its molten centre and salted caramel ice cream, offered a rich, perfectly balanced finale.

Even at soft launch, Cona Manchester already feels polished, confident, and exciting. A phenomenal start for what is sure to become a staple of the city’s fine dining scene—we can't wait to return for...

From before even stepping into the restaurant, we received a courtesy phone call confirming our reservation and advising us of the most convenient places to park. Located in Ancoats, a popular area surrounded by other cafes and restaurants, we were welcomed into a fancy but relaxed setting, greeted by warm and friendly staff. We were a group of 3 who each ordered a 3 course meal from the Sunday menu, priced at £40pp.

Drinks: • Mango mojito • Peach mojito • Strawberry mojito Starters: • Truffle tagliatelle • Wagyu quesabirria with arbol salsa • King prawn tempura Main course: • Beef roast • Lamb roast • Chicken roast Dessert: • Manchester tart with strawberry ice cream • Sticky toffee pudding • Pistachio bakewell tart with pistachio ice cream

Service was excellent. Food was served quick and any issues were solved immediately.

In terms of the drinks, although refreshing, we felt they all tasted quite similar and weren’t really getting the hints of fruits. We asked for more flavour to be added to the drinks and they re-made them for us.

The prawns were drenched in a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy sauce, the tagliatelle was creamy and hearty and the quesabirria had smokey succulent meat enclosed by a crunchy taco. The roasts were simple but absolutely stunning. Flavourful and tender, each of the beef, chicken and lamb were accompanied by a fluffy yorkshire pudding, crispy potatoes, broccoli and a rich gravy sauce. The pistachio bakewell was freshly baked and served with the softest pistachio ice cream. The manchester tart we felt could have had more jam to breakdown the custard layer. The showstopper was the delectable sticky toffee pudding - sweet, rich and gooey.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Cona and cannot wait to be back to try more of the...

Dined at the Little Germany, Bradford location many years ago and always fondly remembered the meal. This experience in my home city of Manchester did not disappoint !

Understated, retro 60's Italian inspired decor with ambient lighting, clear view of the fancy kitchen and encountering eager staff was a good start.

The menu was clearly explained and special orders were taken for our groups celebratory birthday dinner despite the mid-week menu differing from what we expected (our fault).

Manager Rohail very considerately allowed us to try additional starters at no extra cost and very kindly explained the menu. The food was just wow. The burrata is a must try as is the pesto dip. Tempura prawns were perfection and the main courses more than satisfied our group. We could not stop eating. Best truffle chips I have eaten despite not being overly keen on truffle flavour in general. Food was all consistently brilliant.

Some may consider the prices a little high but you get what you pay for: very good quality food and a very memorable dining experience. Would...