Evuna

It is a curious fact that cities seem to divide up their cuisines by district. In Manchester, it would be self-defeating to look for a good Chinese outside of Chinatown. If you are drawn to local produce or organic food, you get on your bike to Chorlton. If curry is the flavour of the month, chances are that you are more than familiar with the delights of Rusholme. And if you want Spanish? It has to be Deansgate.

Dominated by the fantastic Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish cultural centre offering everything from Spanish lessons to tango nights, the stretch of Deansgate between Peter Street and Castlefield has quietly become the centre of all things Spanish. And just a few doors up from the Instituto Cervantes sits the best Spanish restaurant in town – Evuna.

Combining easily the strongest list of Spanish wines in the city with a menu that remains faithful to its Spanish roots, Evuna is popular for both meals and wine-tasting events. The interior is a cosy yet contemporary mix of dark wood and exposed brickwork, set off with flourishes of crimson and the shine from perfectly polished glassware, making it perfect for romantic meals and catch-ups with friends alike.

The restaurant stocks over 600 varieties of Spanish wine, all hand-picked and shipped over direct from Spain by the owners, and the quality and variety on offer deserves a review of its own. The waiting staff think nothing of guiding you through the selections, offering tasters of various wines until you find your ideal flavour.

This affability and attention to detail is one of the restaurant’s biggest features. It is equally evident in the menu, which covers both tapas and main meals (that can be shared between a table as tapas, if you prefer). Of course the standard choices are here and those hankering after tortilla, potatas bravas, calamares or paella will find their appetites utterly sated. However, alongside these are more unusual dishes. We recommend the bolillos de merluza rebozados (hake orry deep fried with tomato salsa at £5.50) or the yemas de asparagus blancos con queso fundido (white asparagus with mushrooms, onions and cheese at £4.95) as tapas. Both dishes are bursting with flavour and beautifully presented.

The main dishes are similarly attractive. You haven’t eaten at Evuna until you have tried their house speciality, the seabass in rock salt crust with seasonal vegetables (£15.95). The fish breaks into moist flakes with the lightest of touches, perfectly complimented with vegetables that are packed with bite and flavour. If you want something even more decadent, we recommend the pechuga de pollo al vino (chicken breast with sun dried tomato and date sauce, again served with seasonal vegetables).

Of course, none of this comes cheap and if you aren’t wrapped up in a wine-induced glow by the time you leave, the hit to your plastic may smart. But then, quality costs. And with fantastic attention to detail, a stunning menu, great wine, expert service and beautiful surroundings, it is worth every penny.