Winsome — Restaurant in Manchester

Northern hospitality meets thoughtful British cooking at Windsome, the latest addition to Manchester’s evolving bistro landscape. Helmed by chef Shaun Moffat (formerly of Manteca, Shoreditch), this modern British bistro places quality British produce at the heart of its offering — and the ambition is evident from the first bite.

I spent my night off dining at this newly opened venue, and it proved to be a worthy culinary escape. The evening began with their now-signature bread and butter. A warm, golden brioche bun — airy, rich, and slightly sweet — paired with an impeccably whipped cultured butter. Buttery, light, and indulgent, it was a beautiful start, especially when paired with a crisp glass of Soave.

For the first starter, I opted for the scallop dish served with pine berry, cucumber, and coriander leaves. While the scallop itself was of outstanding quality — large, meaty, and fresh — the overall composition lacked clarity. The dish leaned too heavily on fat, and the sauce, which was explained as a ceviche-style marinade, felt underwhelming and a touch muddled. A promising idea, but not quite refined.

The second starter, however, was a triumph. A grilled petit violet artichoke rested on a bed of goat’s curd, crowned with three vibrant varieties of cherry tomatoes and generously dressed in fragrant olive oil. Despite a few slightly undercooked bites of artichoke, the dish balanced boldness and elegance. The tang of vinegar and creamy curd brought out the best in the seasonal produce — rustic, yet elevated.

For my main course, I selected the pork chop with white onion and pork jus, accompanied by a side of jersey royal potatoes. The pork was well-seasoned and juicy, though the fine slicing and absence of a deep char led me to believe it might have been sous vide and lightly grilled. While tender, it missed the smoky edge one might expect from a grilled chop. The white onion was a standout: soft, sweet, and deeply comforting. The jus was rich, glossy, and expertly reduced.

The side, however, was a misstep. The potatoes served weren’t jersey royals, and were noticeably under-seasoned and slightly undercooked — a rare inconsistency in an otherwise composed plate.

Dessert brought things back on track. A honey cake, warm and moist with a bold yet balanced honey flavor, was paired with a subtle and creamy rosemary ice cream. An understated but intelligent way to end the meal, letting familiar ingredients shine through finesse and restraint.

Service was warm and attentive throughout the evening, and it was refreshing to see a smiling chef in the open kitchen — a clear indication of passion and pride. The playlist was well-curated, though the volume occasionally made it difficult to interact with the front-of-house staff.

In all, Windsome shows great promise. With a few refinements in execution and a sharper focus on balance, it could very well become a standout in Manchester’s bistro scene. I look forward to returning and seeing how this confident...

We had an absolutely phenomenal meal at Winsome last night, easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had.

There were three of us, and we sat down at 8:30pm to a buzzing, vibrant atmosphere and fantastic music playing throughout the evening. The ambience was spot on, lively yet relaxed, making it perfect for both groups and couples. The decor is minimalist but clearly high quality, letting the food and service shine without distraction.

The food was just exceptional. We shared a feast that included:

Rock oysters Bread & butter Cold cuts XL Tarbet scallop with wild garlic XO sauce Brixham crab with rocket and mustard cress Sea trout with cucumber, buttermilk dressing & fennel Knutsford lamb chop with aubergine relish Hake with spring garlic, wild garlic & vermouth sauce Mixed grill (duck this week), perfectly cooked sliced duck breast, duck heart salad, duck ragu on fried bread (unbelievably good), and duck liver parfait donut with pickles

We finished with fresh-from-the-oven Madeleines (off-menu, but if you know, you know), rhubarb jelly set on custard and last but certainly not least, bread & butter pudding with brandy butter and cream.

Every single dish was beautifully prepared and bursting with flavour. The freshness of the ingredients really stood out, it’s clear the kitchen is led by what’s best and seasonal from their suppliers. I love that the menu evolves regularly to reflect that.

Service was just as impressive. The team were incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, making the whole evening feel relaxed yet special. At one point, a member of staff noticed I still had some amazing sauce left on my lamb chop plate and brought over two fresh bread rolls with whipped salted butter (completely unprompted and at no extra charge!) so I could enjoy every last bit. That kind of thoughtful touch says everything about the service here.

Booking was easy, dietary requirements were checked and catered for without fuss, and we even had the chance to chat with the head chef, Shaun. He was so genuine, generous with his time, and happy to share more about how they work. We weren’t the only ones keen to show our appreciation, at least two other tables went out of their way to stop him and heap well-deserved praise.

Winsome is doing something really special, and every part of the experience, from food and drink to atmosphere and hospitality, was absolutely worth every penny. Can’t...

Winsome is an absolutely cracking addition to the Manchester dining scene serving perfectly executed grub of the 'modern British' persuasion. We went there for Thursday lunch to celebrate the wife's birthday and and although it was, unsurprisingly, a bit lacking in buzz, we spent a splendid couple of hours working our way through some generously portioned food. We settled on the set menu option with two courses for £35, both choosing the Middle White Pork Chop - which was as excellent a piece of meat as I have had in some time - as a main while sharing my starter of Chioggia Beetroot with Curd and her dessert of Honey Cake with Rosemary Ice cream. We supplemented this with bread, a couple of oysters each (to tease the palate, you understand) and a plate of 'cold cuts' which turned out to be slices of some incredibly tasty rare beef. The only slight disappointment was the bread. For £3 each we would have expected something more than a single and unremarkable brioche roll. Our feast was moistened by an excellent Hondarriba Zuri an unusual, and very quaffable Spanish white, although not exactly a snip at £48 a bottle. It's a shame that they have only one wine below £40 and although the quality of the offer is very good, that's a bit toppy for my liking - surely cheaper wines are available that would meet the hgh standards of the place?. Service, from our two servers, was delightful, made even better due to the fact that one of them had spent her childhood in India, where we spent 5 years of our life. We were chatting so much the other staff assumed we were bosom friends who had know each other since forever! Overall then a great place for a treat - it's not cheap - and we will certainly revisit. Long...