Who doesn’t love a Sunday roast dinner. For me it’s the perfect cosy way to end a wintry walk, round off an autumn shopping trip or is just a great reason to get out of your PJs after a lazy Sunday morning. And, while Manchester has a huge choice of places to enjoy a roast on a Sunday, I have a definite favourite – Dakota Hotel in the centre of Manchester.
Dakota Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel based near Piccadilly Station in Manchester. The sophisticated modern styling of the decor combined with unusual industrial touches is right up my street! And the Grill restaurant pairs lots of dark wood with cosy leather booths, slatted dividers and stunning ambient lighting. It’s a beautiful place to dine, and the best part is it feels really spacious and relaxed – perfect for your luxurious Sunday dinner.
Their Sunday Lunch is served in the Grill restaurant 1-4pm every Sunday, and it’s a small but perfectly formed menu priced at £35 for 2 courses or £40 for 3 courses. Given the quality of food we’ve had here on every visit, this price is absolutely worth it! The food is delicious and filling, with just the right level of fancy. And while the starters and desserts do change from time to time, we are always pleased with the selection.
Before the starters come you are served a delicious appetiser of their signature Venetian Dip and crusty bread rolls. This is always a highlight of the trip for Craig – he absolutely loves this warm tasty dip! It’s such a treat, even though it is no longer unexpected!
On my latest visit I chose their Squash Soup as a starter, which was a little bit special due to the theatrical way this was poured into the bowl at the table, over the garnish of confit garlic, shallot and pumpkin seeds. It tasted incredible! Craig opted for the Ham Hock Terrine which he reported was also delicious.
The main event is the roast dinner of course, and this really does feel like something special. The choices are Roast Sirloin of Beef; Half Roast Chicken, Nut Roast, or Chateaubriand (£40 supplement). And all options are accompanied by a huge bowl of cauliflower cheese, plus honey roast parnips and carrots, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, buttery cabbage and gravy. I’m not even sure these photos do it justice because every single thing on the plate is absolutely out of this world, and so filling!
We’ve tried their delicious desserts too, but on our latest visit we were far too full. Yet because it was Craig’s birthday, they didn’t let us leave without a little sweet treat to mark the occasion, which was a lovely touch. (I can definitely recommend the Apple Crumble and the Sticky Toffee Pudding though!)
Overall we absolutely adore the vibe, the décor and the food at Dakota in equal amounts. Plus there’s a (not ridiculously overpriced) car park right next to the hotel making it much more convenient than a lot of city centre venues. If you’ve not tried Sunday lunch at Dakota yet, definitely add this one to your list!
English Rose from Manchester's Blog 