Food ~ by Arthur Epstein Love at Rosso
G
oing to a restaurant for the first time can be tricky. I don’t know
about you but I find it hard enough to choose from the menu even when I’ve been before. Sometimes, no matter what I finally pick, I always end up with food envy. This happens more often than I’d care to admit. Whenever possible I try to get hold of a copy of the menu before I get there, at least that way I can address my selection dilemmas in the comfort of my own home or on a tram on my way there. In my mind, a good restaurant should always provide you with a good menu choice but not too many options that you are going to end up with the dreaded “I should have had that…”
It was a familiar story on Wednesday 29th February (the date is important, it’ll make more sense later). I was invited by the lovely people at STYLEetc for a meal at Rossos in Manchester and, having never quite found the time to go before, I gladly accepted.
So, in time honoured tradition, I sought out a copy of the menu online in the hope of avoiding my usual indecisiveness. Thankfully, this was a menu that I was not overawed by, it’s a good balance. I didn’t feel like there was too much to choose from and at the same time it is certainly not a small selection. A few options immediately caught my eye. The ‘Pappardelle con rag di coniglio’ (flat pasta with a rabbit ragu), the ‘Anatara selvatica con prugne (roasted wild mallard with balsamic plums) and the ‘Agnello con menta e pepperoncino’ (marinated rump of lamb with chilli and mint). Main course decision over, I glanced the starters and desserts and thankfully also found a few options – the white chocolate cheesecake sounded too delicious to resist. Would it be acceptable to ask for my dessert as a starter?
Safe in the knowledge that I would not be sat at the table “umming and ahhing” too much, I made my way up King
50
Street towards the delightful Grade II building in which Rossos is set. Upon arriving we were greeted and immediately asked if we would like drinks before moving to our table. Having heard good things about the cocktails it seemed like the perfect opportunity to sample them for myself. Once our coats had been taken, a very nice touch for all guests by the way, no need to worry about where is suitable to hang it when eating, we made out way to the bar. Inside was not what I expected at all but is perfectly in keeping with the exterior. A fantastic high ceiling, low hanging lighting all set against a Victorian building interior and red and black colour theme. The artwork mainly centres on the Rat Pack, with the celebrity photo wall as expected, though not out of place, focal point. By the way – the cocktails are as good as I had heard! Try the Singapore Sling and Serendipity.
The attentive staff brought us menus (I refrained from telling them that I already knew it from
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