Tast Catala — Restaurant in Manchester

Finding myself in Manchester with a rumbling tummy I headed to King Street with some vague memory that the Manchester evening news had raved about a couple of restaurants here. After having been refused entry to one as it was completely full I peered through the window of Tast with some trepidation as it was almost empty and its somewhat austere modern canteen-like decor was a little offputting. So too the delicious but ambitious sounding menu (so often undeliverable) However on entry all doubts dispelled by the warm friendly reception. I sat at the smart bar watching the chefs prepare the food. House lager was excellent. First 'course' was a tiny morsel of duck liver pate. Apparently the menu was created by a Michelin starred Catelonian Chef and this is one of his signature dishes. All I can say is WOW! A taste of foie gras with notes of chocolate and raspberry, absolute genius! The next course was a beautifully cooked crunchy and grease free ham croquet. Unfortunately this was filled with a tasteless mush. Whilst this may have appeared a little below par if eaten on its own, after following the duck liver this was a catastrophic dip in quality. We were back on form with the next offering which was an oyster with various cheffy enhancements. Again tastebud blowing freshness and iodine sea flavours. Next a Japanes steamed bun filled with slow braised beef. Again WOW! Warm soft bun filled with glutinous melting beef, unctious juices running down my chin..excuse me while I take a moment. Last course was the octopus. I'm afraid this dish just doesn't work. After an initial incredible blast of sherry foam, the slightly too salty and too large chunks of (tender) octopus completely overwhelm the other ingredients and after a few mouthfulls it becomes a little boring. Disappointing. This restaurant offers amazing, borderline ground breaking food but at this level every dish has to work, hopefully they'll take this on board. Despite this I will definately be going back. This is some of the best food I've ever eaten, period. (I don't really know what that means, it's American and...

Left a bad Tast in my mouth.

We’ve had drinks at Tast a couple of times before, but have never dined. Menu has a reasonable selection, although prices seemed everywhere.

Waiter was great, very attentive. Explained the menu and advised on how many dishes to order. Prices seemed confusing, snacks & bites ranged from £4 - £32, for tastets ranged from £8 - £22, the Catalan rice dishes (Famous signature Catalan style rice) were all at £24, even the seasonal vegetable version.

We opted for 1 Deli and small bites, 2 vegetarian Tastets, 2 seafood Tastets and a seasonal vegetable Catalan rice. Dishes came as and when they were prepared, one or two dishes at a time.

Food is fined, underwhelming, disappointingly small portions, some dishes lacked seasoning or taste, others were fine, presentation over quality. Prices did not match the portion size or quality of food.

What was laughable is the price of the Tastets I order and got served. Duck egg, fried squid in a potato soufflé with tartare sauce at £14, what arrived is a dish with 5 small pieces of squid and some chunks of potato on a runny fried egg!

King prawn and Mediterranean curry at £21 is a joke, a couple of prawns cut up into bits, served in a curry sauce with chunks of baby corn and okra. Overpriced for a small portion of over cooked prawns in curry.

The main dish! The Catalan style rice arrived on a shallow baking tray, a thin layer of crusty rice garnished with a few bits of singed vegetables and several randomly placed dollops of mayonnaise. £24 for a supposed sharing plate, which is the equivalent of two side portions.

I wouldn’t recommend Tast for food, far better places to eat with a reasonable price tag for better quality food. God, as much as it hurts me to say this. Even the tapas at Las Iguanas is better than the rubbish we were served at Tast, and at a fraction of the price tag.

Won’t be coming back, and I don’t think we’ll even bother having drinks...

Starter was acceptable. Although the tomoto toast was £5 for what was essentially 1 tea cake sized piece of bread cut in half and 2 Baby tomatoes cut in half on each slice. Waiter was good. Manager was sarcastic all though they gave us a full refund even though we had 2 drinks and we said we would pay for the starters and drinks.

The main problem was the main, the pork rib mushroom rice.

3 x Pork ribs the size you would get at a chinese takeaway as a starter which where baby ribs, dry risotto rice reduced down and under cooked and you would scrape off the bottom of the risotto pan. The manager tried to blag us saying this is how they cook it in Catalan. We said thats not how its cooked and its just a complete Joke that there is 3 ribs. We sent it back and essentially said we where not willing to oay or have any other main, especially when she was sarcastic and asked if we wanted to see desert.

That main meal was for 2 people at £43!!!

We went Thaikhun down the road at spinning fields.

The other Tapas place up the road El Gato Negro thats of similar price was packed and is far superior and we could see why. Tasts menu is lacking and tbh does not representative proper Catalan cooking.

The atmosphere in Tast was pumping marbella style music, not conducive again to Catalan type restaurants. Literally couldnt hear the conversation properly.

In all a poor experience for myself and my partner as we are well travelled and have tasted proper catalan cooking.

I just wouldnt waste your money. Another couple over heard what we where saying and immediately left after seeing the resulting food.

Cost of living crises and they are putting out subpa dishes in one of the most food conscious cities in the...