The Lowry Hotel Manchester is a former Rocco Forte hotel. This means that the culinarian standards at the property are very high. We took the opportunity and enjoyed an amazing dinner at The River Bar & Grill. We opted for a set menu for 24.95 pounds (~ 35 Euro / 38 US-Dollar) which comes with three courses and a mandatory 10 percent service charge.

Dinner at The Lowry Hotel Manchester was nothing we planned with when travelling to Manchester. However, as I’m a member of Leaders Club Unlimited, we took the opportunity to try out “The River Bar & Grill”.

The Lowry Hotel Manchester

The restaurant presents a set menu each month which usually focuses on dishes with regional and seasonal influences. In August, for example, the focus was on lighter food.

Starters at The River Bar & Grill

Our dinner at The River Bar & Grill started without an amuse bouche which was a little surprising for a restaurant at this level.

Set-Up for dinner at The River Bar & Grill

However, this at least meant that the starters were served very quickly. Sabrina opted for the “Salmon & leek cannelloni, apple, fennel and Balsamic” while I had the “Pressed rabbit, gazpacho and quail egg”.

Salmon leek cannelloni

Pressed rabbit

Both dishes were served in a very simplistic way, but had a very good taste and were especially good due to the little touches.

Main dishes at The River Bar & Grill

Dining at The Lowry Hotel Manchester was not only something we wanted to experience, but also to enjoy. Therefore, I was really looking forward to a good portion of the main dish as I went running for 10 kilometers just before.

Cod supreme

In this regard, the “Cod supreme, chorizo crust, butter bean ragout, and samphire” was no disappointment. The dish was somewhat surprising for a gourmet restaurant, but had a strong taste and was absolutely the right thing after a long run.

Open wild mushroom ravioli

Sabrina’s “Open wild mushroom ravioli, hazelnut and basil crumble” was also totally satisfying. Definitely a dreamy dish for everyone who is a fan of pasta!

Desserts at The River Bar & Grill

Our dinner at The River Bar & Grill at The Lowry Hotel Manchester was concluded by a choice of four different desserts. As we tried cheeses and ice cream all over the world, we opted for the two specialty desserts.

Dessert

For Sabrina, the choice of “Peanut butter mousse, rich chocolate pudding, cocoa meringue and peanut clusters” was a no-brainer and she was not disappointed at all. The different tastes of the items was an amazing finish to the dinner at The River Bar & Grill. At the same time, I was not sure what to expect of the “Plum and vanilla bean, shortbread biscuit and crème fraiche ice cream”.

Dessert

This definitely sounds less rich than it actually is. However, the taste was totally amazing, so I finished the large bowl. I still feel like the specialty desserts of a restaurant are always the best ones!

Bottom line of the dinner

Just a little more than an hour after we arrived at the restaurant, we ordered the bill. The reason for this somewhat fast dinner was the quick and efficient service which made our experience a very good one. I think there’s no need to lose any more words about the taste. If you’ll find yourself in Manchester sometime soon, you should definitely give dinner at The River Bar & Grill a try!

Find more amazing dining experiences in our “Specials” section!