The minute images of the Tattu interiors started appearing on social media, I was instantly itching to check it out. A sucker for contemporary-fusion design, I had high hopes for this new addition to the Spinningfields food scene.
After pushing myself at the Great Manchester Run on the Sunday and collapsing on the Spinningfield lawns looking pretty drab, it was nice to return the next day on a more glamorous note.
The Location
First off, it’s not the easiest place to find if you haven’t checked the map. I assumed it was in the heart of Spinningfields with the other food joints, but Tattu Manchester is actually tucked away round the back of Carluccios; lookout for the large anchor door handles.
The Restaurant
Now the place is called tattu. The menu is Chinese, with a modern twist. So understandably, I envisioned being surrounded by oriental – body art inspired furnishings. When we walked in and glanced at the downstairs bar area, I was completely thrown, where exactly did the nautical theme come from??? Not complaining mind… It looked spectacular. I had a quick nosey round: low lighting, bare bulbs, strong wooden seats, plush leather, lots of thick rope and as you look up by the windows… two large suspended anchors. Loved it, but I was struggling to link it all together.
After checking our coats in we walked upstairs to our table. This was more like it. Tattoo artwork on the walls, Large cut-out metal screens adorned the windows and the famous cherry blossom tree stood proudly in the centre, reminding me of the one at Sushi Samba. A tree, which I’ve read has had the dried blossom petals attached by hand, that is some serious dedication and it is worth it, a true piece de resistance.
The important bit (food)
Boasting ex-Hakkasan chefs, I was looking forward to some quirky dishes. An all-muslim bunch, we scanned through the menu and singled out our vegetarian and pescetarian options (thankfully, there’s a decent amount on there).
We chose a selection of dishes to share, ordering an extra round once we’d determined a couple of favourites. The lobster prawn toast was definitely one of the moreish dishes on selection. The sea bass spinach parcel is also one to try, biting into it released an explosion of spices onto my taste buds and somehow it constantly changed as I carefully chewed… a very interesting dish.
The desserts were really special, beautifully presented and all extremely unique. We ordered four from the six they had on the menu, each one resembling a food sculptural masterpiece. The Silk Road looked the most phenomenal but the best flavours for me, was the Year of the Goat, goats milk ice cream?? YUM!!
The price
As this is an upmarket Spinningfields eaterie, the food is on the pricy side, but let’s be honest, we expected that. This is definitely the kind of place you pick for a special night out, occasion, or as it’s in the heart of the city, it’s a great one to impress clients.
The verdict
As mentioned above, Tattu is on the pricy side so it’s not the type of place we could frequent often. However it doesn’t disappoint on quality food and atmosphere so I’m sure this won’t be our first and last. It has the wow factor, a solid menu, fabulous interiors… throw in some good monthly offers, and it could be a winner in my eyes.
There’s one thing that still plays on my mind and continues to intrigue me… where did all the maritime details come from? It’s something I look forward to questioning the next time we visit.
Click here to visit the Tattu website
