Erst

Been a long time coming and it certainly lived up to expectations! The beetroot, cuttlefish risotto and beef fat flatbread were stand outs. Louis was fantastic, incredibly friendly and tailored wine recommendations to our preferences. Delightful evening!

We went to Erst for a belated anniversary dinner—a visit we’d been eagerly anticipating—and it truly lived up to our expectations. We ordered the scallop crudo, beetroot ajo blanco with green chilli, cold roast pork collar, and chicken liver pork ragù cavatelli. The progression from light to rich flavours was clearly intentional and thoughtfully arranged. The scallop crudo was incredibly fresh and vibrant, a perfect opener that awakened our palates and set a refreshing tone. The beetroot with ajo blanco was another standout—the creaminess of the ajo blanco paired beautifully with the earthy beetroot, and the green chilli added a gentle layer of complexity without any heat, enhancing the dish in a subtle, elegant way. The pork collar was melt-in-the-mouth tender, with a beautifully balanced sauce that brought everything together. The only slight drawback was the cavatelli, which we felt was a little over-seasoned compared to the rest of the meal. We finished with the pistachio polenta olive oil cake with crème fraîche, which was a lovely, understated dessert—light yet satisfying, with a delicate balance of nutty richness and creamy tang to round off the meal. Overall, it was a delightful experience. The attention to detail in both the food and the menu’s structure really impressed us. We’re already looking forward to coming back when the menu changes to try even more.

This is the best kind of restaurant that's really all about the food. Relatively simple dishes, every one packed with flavour and quality ingredients, nothing pretentious or overly expensive. Best dishes were the rump, beef fat flatbread and the beetroot, other dishes were delicious too though. The atmosphere and service were also top notch, relaxed, friendly and funny whilst still attentive and smart. If you're weighing up Erst vs any more expensive taster menu restaurants for a special occasion I would heartily recommend it. We had a great time and will be back with friends and family.

Well, that was definitely worth the weight I’ve been talking about coming to this place for well over a year now after hearing many people recommend it The venue itself is cool with a great vibe The food is just another level The service is really friendly and the server is really know what they are talking about And the client, they all seem to be the friendly so that wants to speak to each other while seated A definite must on this menu for meat eaters and vegetarians is the beetroot I am still thinking about the bread 24 to 48 hours after consuming it I have to head back soon to try the other two flavours Honestly, some really unreal food not ridiculous either didn’t break the bank really happy we went can’t wait to return

Such a great place. Food is so simple, but delivers so many beautiful flavours. Service was very attentive. Never felt rushed but always noticed. I’m not a fan of wine, but when in Rome… good wine list with a helpful server to find a suitable wine for both the meal and personal taste. Favourites during my visit had to be the Game Chou Farci, Gnocco Frito and the Beef Fat Flatbread. Would recommend this for any visit to Manchester.

Louis is the best , he def enlightened my experience with erst. His smile and kind words makes me wanna come back again . Food is great and vibe is nice, but Louis is def the key that makes my meal so enjoyable

november 2024 finally back in manny trying everyones favourite natural wine bar erst. out of the 2 flatbreads we've ordered, the one with red pepper felt more flavourful as the one with beef fat is a bit 🤷‍♀️ (could neither taste the fat nor the chillies whoops 🙊) also not the biggest fan of their gnocco fritto 🤔, they're served cold (intentional?) so can't really enjoy the fried bit and the ricotta and squash are both just very light and plain flavoured ingredient on a soft fried gnocco is just a bit... venison tartare and ox skewers are both quite good. hogget leg not as gamey and tough as i thought they would've been 👌🏼 and you know olive oil and chocolate are my dessert buzzwords so they are going in my belly for sure 🔥 - grilled flatbread, beef fat & urfa chili - grilled flatbread, red pepper & oregano ✨ - gnocco fritto, squash agrodolce & ricotta - venison tartare & girolles ✨ - ox heart skewer & ras al hanout butter ✨ - hogget leg & puntarelle alla romana - olive oil cake, ricotta ice cream & candied cedro ✨ - chocolate sorbet, sea salt & olive oil ✨ would revisit: maybe reservations: yes price range: £50-100 pp

Delicious small dishes. Nice variety & good vegetarian options. We sat at the bar and the staff kept an eye on us giving us a good service. Would come back! The only downside were two women behind us who seemed to be there for drinks not for food but were very drunk already. Didn’t feel like the place for such a night. Hope the staff take that into consideration. Other than that, excellent restaurant and you could tell everyone was working hard.

Really liked Erst! At the standard of nearby Elnecot but with a individual range of small plates - my friend adored the courgettes and curds and the mussels, flatbreads and crispy potatoes were great too. I was sad to be too hungover to try the orange wine - but will definitely be back. Disappointed to be one of only two tables occupied on a Saturday lunchtime - Erst deserves to be packed. Service was helpful and friendly, although I think some patrons will be irritated by the fairly slow pacing of the small plates - warn them if you are ravenous!

My favorite spot in Manchester. Incredible wines, spectacular food and service plus a relaxeed and welcoming atmosphere. Make sure you try their bread (best in the city).