Fenix Restaurant and Bar, Manchester — Restaurant in Manchester

An extremely disappointing and expensive evening, further spoilt by arrogant staff during the evening and the “experience manager” named Spyros when contacted after.

The table was booked at 9pm which in any circumstance is quite late, I also booked this 9 weeks in advance but they said that the only seating for “large groups” were 630 or 9pm which I found strange but anyway we expected to be seated promptly. As there were 7 of us we . A lady showed us to the table and she was obviously disgruntled and annoyed but due to the lack of communication we were very confused by this. The table was only set for 6 guests, they squeezed another chair in but forgot the plate and cutlery until asked several times. I asked the lady with long brown hair if I could hang my wet coat and umbrella in their cloak room and she sort of smirked at me and said “no it’s full”. I found this a bit surprising given that a restaurant of this stature and cover size had a full cloak room. However this wasn’t the worst part, she handed us the al a carte menus and I then explained that we had already ordered a set menu. I was feeling a little stressed at this point as I had communicated the menu substitutions and was worried that this wasn’t relayed to the restaurant staff. Her response was “I heard you all walked yourselves upstairs so we didn’t really know who you all are” in a sarcastic tone. We were completely shocked at this passive aggressive comment and this was the ‘welcome’ we got. I felt that was completely unnecessary, rude was poor customer service.

Not feeling that I trusted the staff at Fenix, I had the preordered menu at hand and when the food arrived I asked about the Fasolada spread and just as I imagined, the staff had no clue what I was talking about. So we were missing an entire dish - again no apology.

The main course came and god at this point I honestly thought it couldn’t get worse. One of the most prestigious and highly rated restaurants in Manchester, priced at a whopping £85.00 per head, serving us anaemic, cold, flavourless chicken breast and fish. It was the most disappointing dish we have had in our entire lives. Some of the chicken also looked slightly glazed, some just had nothing whatsoever (see picture)

The server came back feeling guilty and also then said that there was no more creme brulee - please explain how on earth this happened when I preordered our menu 6-7 weeks in advance? Appalling, but this was the least of the issues on the night

The manager never turned up, until 45 mins later when I asked for the bill. He came over, with no apology and said he heard that our experience wasn’t up to scratch and to reflect that he had taken service charge out the bill and 2 drinks…. I explained that service charge is discretionary and we were never going to agree to pay that anyway so that wasn’t a gesture of goodwill, but importantly, deducting 2 drinks does not reflect the awful experience from start to finish of the night. I was in absolute shock that this was suggested as the “best they can do” to rectify all the mistakes. He came back and removed one menu from the bill. At this point, my birthday was completely ruined and I didn’t have it in me to argue or explain anything anymore. We spoke to the other lady for 20 minutes and it resulted in nothing basically and I felt even bad for her.

We paid the bill and left.

To make matters worse, I contacted Fenix with the above concerns after to give them the opportunity to help this situation. I was shocked that the email from spyros was very defensive and additionally added the following:

“We also allowed pictures to be taken using flash (despite our usual policy prohibiting flash photography in the restaurant)”

By the way, the staff willingly took photos with the flash but I don’t know if Fenix want a clap for this and whether this makes up for anything?! Completely bizzare.

A truly awful experience, we expected so much better. I hope others don’t make the same mistake in wasting their money in this so called “fine dining”...

Myself and 2 other guests managed to get a reservation for the soft launch at Fenix, and were offered 50% off all food. The location is very good in a nice square that is easily accessible, central, and has nearby parking within walking distance. This is the most beautiful restaurant I have ever visited by far. The lighting is perfect, the decor is a mix of natural stones and plants like olive trees with more modern touches. The furniture is high quality and the whole place manages to curate a vibe that is very immersive. The service was excellent throughout - staff were very attentive and gave us a warm welcome, with no pretentious attitude like we have experienced in similar restaurants. The only negative I can think of is that tap water was only provided 1/4 of a small glass at a time leading to waiters needing to top us very frequently which we felt was borderline too much. The cocktail menu was 10/10 - looked very pretty with photos of each, prices reasonable considering the standard and lots of unique choices. The presentation of the drinks was insane - really cool glasses and they looked exactly like the photos. The taste of all of the cocktails was good, nothing mind blowing as the flavours weren’t particularly strong but would definitely come back here for a drink in future. The food menu was limited as it was a launch event but there was a good selection of items. We chose: Pita breads - really good - soft, pillowy and fresh Tzatziki - not actually on the launch menu but they made for us anyway, very smooth, delicious and fresh Smoked aubergine and feta salad - more like a dip than a salad, nice flavour good for dipping with the pita Halloumi tempura - good, light and soft didn’t have the rubbery squeaky texture halloumi can have and the yuzu drizzle was good Chicken Anticucho - flavour of the chicken was good and came with bread, however only had 1 very small chicken skewer - could easily have been 2, was too small to actually share Broken down tart - not my favourite dish, the pastry was very crispy and the tart was very thin - the lamb had a nice flavour but there wasn’t much of it and it was quite fatty Moussaka - really enjoyed the flavours of this, the short rib tasted like it had been slow cooked for hours and the sauce had a rich flavour, portion was small for nearly £16 Spicy Tiger Prawns - these were delicious, really large prawns with the heads and tails on, came in a thick creamy sauce, and the quality of the prawns was very good. Again the portion could’ve been bigger considering the price of £29 as we only got 3 prawns on the plate which works out at nearly £10 per prawn Beef Tagliata- this was my least favourite dish. The price was £34.90 so I expected it to be a larger plate - I was actually shocked at the size of the beef when it arrived, very small and thin. It did not taste like fillet. It was also cooked to almost blue - far too rare for me personally. The chimichurri was very good but didn’t make up for the lack of beef. Banoffee New Style - delicious and light, good mix of textures with some crunchy biscuit pieces, toffee sauce and banana cream - one of the best things I had here. The main drawback of this place is that the prices were absolutely insane. We paid 50% and felt that this was probably about right for the food we ate. We are more than willing to pay for good food but for reference ate at a Michelin star restaurant in Paris last week and paid €48 for 3 courses. That would get you one main course at this restaurant which would be extremely small, and while the food was good, it was nowhere close to actual fine dining standards. The portions for some of the dishes were very small, which becomes a bit of a problem when promoting a ‘sharing menu’ if there’s only enough for 3 people to take 1 small bite each. Overall, really beautiful restaurant with a fun cocktail menu which I would definitely recommend for a visit for drinks and photos, nice enough food but the prices are way too high for us to consider returning and...

Fenix truly delivered an exceptional experience from start to finish, leaving us utterly impressed.

Our evening began with a delightful bottle of wine at the bar. We were particularly charmed when the bar staff, despite a brief moment of uncertainty regarding the difference between Verdejo and Vinho Verde, promptly sought out the correct information. Their dedication to ensuring accuracy was genuinely appreciated. The bar's ambiance was wonderfully warm and relaxing, with the DJ's music perfectly complementing the mood without ever feeling overwhelming – a truly ideal temperament.

As someone who navigates dining as a gluten-free individual, I often find it a source of stress and limitation at other restaurants. At Fenix, however, it was an absolute revelation. Our waiter, Liam, was nothing short of phenomenal. He went above and beyond to ensure my dining experience was seamless and enjoyable. His extensive knowledge of allergens was incredibly refreshing; he took the time to guide me through the menu with such ease, almost anticipating my questions before I could even voice them. While the restaurant, understandably, couldn't accommodate direct swaps (such as pasta for potatoes, given the intricate preparation of dishes to this standard), Liam was quick to suggest excellent alternatives. Normally, I would feel a sense of sadness or restriction due to the lack of gluten-free breads and pastas, but the sheer depth and variety of flavours across the dishes meant I genuinely didn't miss them at all. That said, offering such options in the future would certainly be a fantastic addition. I must wholeheartedly recommend the aubergine with feta ice cream – it was truly divine, an out-of-this-world flavour combination!

Liam's attention to detail extended to every dish, meticulously explaining each component and even offering suggestions on how to best enjoy certain elements, which was a thoughtful touch that elevated the experience. The tempura halloumi (though not gluten-free, I was able to tolerate it) was another standout, simply exquisite. The ribeye steak and seabass were also absolute winners, with each main course accompanied by perfectly balanced purees or condiments that enhanced the flavours unbelievably well.

Liam's service was consistently exceptional throughout the evening. At one point, a fly landed in my wine – a mere act of nature – but he replaced it without a moment's hesitation, demonstrating his remarkable attentiveness and commitment to service. He was super friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and genuinely warm, making us feel completely at ease.

The atmosphere in the downstairs bar was quiet, relaxing, and calming. My only minor observation, which prevented a perfect score, was a subtle scent that unfortunately reminded me of urine. I would gently suggest reviewing the air freshening or cleaning products used in that area, as staff might become accustomed to it over time. Fortunately, this was not an issue upstairs in the restaurant, where the atmosphere was more lively with guests enjoying their dinners, yet still maintained a wonderful sense of calm and fun.

We would absolutely return to Fenix. A huge thank you to Liam for his incredible service and to the wonderful chefs. It's clear that immense thought has gone into crafting the menu and ensuring the staff are equipped with comprehensive knowledge, making for a truly memorable...