Numero

The trend for establishing restaurants within casinos has been on the rise in Manchester in line with the modernisation of the industry’s image and the more relaxed attitude to gambling. Bingo halls and even bookies have a much improved public face compared to 10 or 20 years ago and both the national lottery and internet poker sites have turned us into a nation of casual gamblers that play for fun.

Numero is situated with Manchester 235. Membership can be applied for swiftly upon production of a driving licence or passport, and there is an 18 years age restriction, so not a place for a family meal. Bear in mind that it is at the Hilton’s side of the Great Northern Warehouse and not the Peter Street side. The interior has a seductive charm to it although it maintains a stylish simplicity. Some of the structure retains the industrial influence that a converted warehouse would, but they have added black leather seating, cherry wood tables, discreet lighting recessed into the high ceiling and a few artworks.

Onto the food. A king prawn salad starter will set you back £7.95, or try the Fregola con Capesante, which is Sardinian pasta with scallops, mint and spring onion (£5.50). However, eating Italian is always about the main course, the secondi. The options that caught our eye were the Tonno al Balsamico (tuna with mash potato and a cucumber salad for £13.50) and the Filetto di Branzino alla Vernaccia (seabass in carrot and courgette with a white wine sauce at £14.95). This being an Italian menu, there are of course the standard pizza and pasta options, including the chicken calzone pizza (£6.95), spaghetti bolognese (£4.75 for regular sized, £7.95 for large) and a Milanese risotto (£4.50/£7.50). Having gorged on so much pasta, bread and cheese it’s sometimes a struggle to fit in a dessert but that’s why there are regular sized main course options. Too many of these were based around diary or coffee products for our liking, so we go for the orange fruit sorbet, which is nice and light after the heavier main course ( also light on the wallet at £3.00) and the chocolate cake (£5.50) which is apparently baked fresh on the premises.

For something a bit unusual and to help celebrate payday, on the last Thursday of each month Numero have an evening themed around a region of Italy that includes 5 course and wine for £30.00 per person.