Skof a restaurant by Tom Barnes — Restaurant in Manchester

As I stepped into the restaurant, I was immediately struck by its clean, spacious elegance. The entrance is designed with a sense of understated drama—a gentle, slope leading directly from the street to the heart of the space. Every line felt intentional, from the precise lighting tracks to the seamless ceiling iron bars, creating an architectural flow that guides the eye naturally to the kitchen. Here, the kitchen extends boldly into the room, anchored by a pass that stretches out like a stage, drawing the dining room into its orbit.

The interior reveals a clever interplay between form and function, embodying a quiet masculinity through clean lines and sharp edges. The commanding structure of the pass and bar, alongside the geometric tiles, creates a sense of strength and precision that anchors the space without feeling imposing. Every detail felt both deliberate. Even the artwork in the bathrooms felt like a natural extension of the brand—a playful touch that reinforced the restaurant’s identity.

The service, too, was seamlessly intertwined with the environment, inviting us into the restaurant’s rhythm. Even from our table, strategically close to the pass, we had the privilege of observing every detail of the kitchen’s finely tuned performance.

What truly set this experience apart was the unique personality of the service. The team felt fully integrated with the restaurant’s identity, each staff member embodying its spirit with genuine warmth. Tom’s presence was palpable, his dedication woven into every moment of the meal. There were personal touches throughout, like a piece of handmade pottery displayed on the bar, crafted by a team member during a staff pottery class. This blend of craftsmanship and collaboration was a testament to the restaurant’s thoughtful culture, adding a layer of personality that made the entire experience feel cohesive and authentic.

The Lightly Set Miso Custard, adorned with hen of the woods mushroom, truffle, and a delicate mushroom dashi, was a highlight. The balance of umami was perfectly tuned, each mouthful of deep, earthy flavors. The truffle and mushroom brought a familiar yet intoxicating richness—an easy win for me.

The Ragout of English Grains, with maitake, dark beer, and ramson, took a more rustic turn, but with a delightful twist. The dark beer added an unexpected sweetness that flirted on the tongue, a playful contrast to the heartiness of the grains. Not to forget the Steamed West Coast Cod, was nothing short of pure elegance. Barney’s Tiramisu, an intense, buttery burst of cocoa that demanded your full attention. It was a fitting finale, leaving a bold, lasting impression.

Finally, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Tom and the entire team. Their warmth, skill, and attentiveness brought a rare and genuine touch to the meal, making it more than just dining—it felt like being welcomed into a creative, cohesive experience. It’s evident they’ve created something exceptional here, and I feel fortunate to have been...

We went for my mother in law's birthday. As a family we enjoy eating out ad especially love a good taster menu. We'd been trying to book in for months.

We were not disappointed!

The ambiance was brilliant from the moment we arrived. Staff were so attentive but also very casual and welcoming. Despite having the prestigious Michelin star the whole experience felt like fine dining with friends. The precision of the delivery, focus on quality service and the food and drink (which I will go onto later) were all of thr very highest calibre and quality, but done without any sense of pretentiousness or snobbiness. A well oiled machine but also so friendly and personable. Some places we have been have felt overly formal and restrictive but here you knew you were in incredibly sage and talented hands but also it felt like you could have been at a friend's house (albeit it friends who are clearly at the cutting edge of culinary innovation haha).

The food and drink....wow. I can't really put into words just how superb everything was. We elected for the 15 course meal and 2 of our party had the wine pairings, I had the non alcoholic pairings and our final member just had drinks they fancied. All paired drinks perfectly matched the dishes. I was especially impressed with my non-alcoholic selection. Sometimes it feels like less effort is put into these pairings but they were all unique and perfectly complementary to the dishes.

Each dish was an experience. We were expertly guided through the ingredients and cooking process and this added to the ambiance. As did having one of the dishes directly at the kitchen and explained by Tom himself.

It was difficult to pick a favourite as each dish was different and so well thought out. My personal highlights were the beef tartlet, cheese biscuit and broad bean snack, languostine, slow rib beef and the strawberry dessert. Even the odd dish that I personally didn't really enjoy was still a banquet of flavours, well prepared and balanced. Just a matter of personal tastes but the combination, flavours and qualities couldn't be faulted and I feel part of the experience of a taster menu is to deviate into experiences you wouldn't usually do and challenge your taste buds.

Our evening was spectacular and without a doubt the best taster menu experience we have had as a family. We may have a new favourite restaurant now...

This restaurant is leagues ahead of what has previously been available in Manchester. From the moment you walk in the front of house take care of everything. There is a relaxed atmosphere within and you can dress as comfortably as you like. The kitchen is open plan and for people interested in the whole culinary process, you'll be fascinated at how fluid and seamlessly the kitchen operates. If you are going here as a special treat, I recommend going all out and doing the full menu. Everything was cooked to perfection. There are some inventive takes on cocktails to start you off, and the wine pairing is a must. Some really fun and interesting wines to go with the sublime food. The thing that makes this place so special for me is you can tell every single member of staff you speak to clearly feels a valued member of a wonderful team, and that makes the customer experience so much more than just dining out. Tom Barnes is clearly a master of his craft. I have honestly never eaten food that tastes as good as you will be presented with here. I could talk all day about the flavours and the unique combinations, but to keep it simple, the Miso Custard is like a umami bomb, the BBQ lobster on sourdough is dirty-good, the grilled onion broth has more flavour than any liquid I've ever consumed, and the steamed cod is the best bit of fish I've eaten in a long long time. The stars I am rating this place should (and will) be...