"Turning a drab concrete shell in Stretford Mall into an inviting dining room isn’t easy, but Stretford Canteen has pulled it off with flowers on every table, an eclectic playlist that bounces from Kevin Morby to Kraftwerk, plus water jugs and vintage signs that feel lifted from a brocante in the south of France. The excellent modern European cooking shows in small details: tarragon mayo for dipping irresistible panisse into, oyster mushrooms laced with vermouth alongside a crisp potato pave, and the shiniest umber sauce on a frankly perfect steak au poivre, where ex-dairy sirloin is crusted with its ruby sheen still visible underneath the gloss. Desserts are homely and pleasing, too. It might feel a little DIY, but that’s precisely what we like about it. photo credit: Tajda Ferko photo credit: Tajda Ferko photo credit: Tajda Ferko photo credit: Tajda Ferko Pause Unmute" - Joel Hart