Bruco

Brilliant from the warm welcome fitting you in to a terrific counter sear, through superbly executed and generous plates, excellent cooking and bold, imaginative flavours and contemporary takes with real skill. Think this is my favourite Italian-inspired and based ‘new find’ since Eusebi. Fun, friendly expert service and a totally great relaxed Saturday lunchtime of high quality in all ways. Loved the timing of food coming out, and the open and honest menu descriptions and wine options. Remarkable fennel salad was a high start Point but some of the best treatment of broccolini and magnificent flavoursome, rich yet light lamb pasta special….the quality just kept coming. A brilliant place and one for a swift return. Ciao Bella!

Perfect. Excellent food, really reasonably priced, the service was lovely and friendly and the whole place felt relaxed. Great wine as well. We ate with the January offer and ordered as much as we could fit in - felt like we were ripping them off when the bill came!

me and my boyfriend went on a date here today and it was amazing :) the starter portion sizes were generous and really delicious. the lasagne was the best i've ever tasted and the pork cheek was so tender. the service was incredible from when we walked in until we walked out, we will for sure be back 🙂‍↕️

Second time back at Bruco after a year and it remains one of my favourite restaurants. The menu has changed a little, so we decided to try something new. The truffle arancini is still amazing, and the flatbread was great too. The Orecchiette with fennel, sausage, friarielli and chilli was a little salty, but the pasta itself was excellent.

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Had the BEST time here with my sisters! The food was absolutely unbelievable, genuinely still thinking about it. The wine and cocktails were delicious, and the restaurant itself is decorated beautifully with such a warm, fun vibe. The service was spot-on too. Every member of staff was friendly and welcoming, and they really made the whole experience feel special. There was one guy in particular (we think his name was Martin or Mike… hard to remember after a few bevs! He wore glasses) who completely made our evening. We were meant to head somewhere else after eating, but we loved it so much that we ended up staying and propping up the bar before our gig and honestly, it was perfect. Will 100% be back and have already recommended it to friends. Can’t wait to return… still dreaming about that food!

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I visited Bruco with friends for the 50% off food in January deal: it was by far the best place I visited this month. My Wild Garlic Mushrooms, Minted Lamb Ragu and Chocolate & Orange Tart made for a wonderful 3-course lunch. Flavoursome, agreeable portions and pleasing presentation. Everyone on the table was delighted- I tried some of the ribeye steak and started to wish I ordered it myself. Brilliant!

Bruco may be my new favourite restaurant in Manchester. I’ve visited twice now, once with my partner and once in a group of 6 and both experiences have been 5* The food is gorgeous and the staff are lovely. Bruco is in a fantastic location with lots of great bars around for a drink before/after your meal, I’d personally recommend the cocktail bars by the Marina 5/10 minute walk away. Can’t wait for visit number 3!

First time dining at Bruco good food, a great selection of wines, and lovely service. I will definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

+1

Here for a friend’s birthday, the decor is beautiful and the food (we tried 9 items) is delicious and wonderfully presented. It’s in a great location in Manchester, and very easily reached. The service is fantastic, the staff are attentive without being overbearing and are happy to answer any questions you have regarding the food. There was only one moment when the service wasn’t flawless, and that was when we ordered a surprise dessert for our friend while she was away from the table and before it arrived we were all given dessert cutlery (so the surprise element was over at that point). We genuinely did not mind this at all and like I say, this was the only wobble, the staff are fantastic. The menu is varied for different preferences, with good vegetarian options also. The watermelon and prosciutto salad featured thicker prosciutto than we were used to but it was delicious, the arancini and orecchiette were further highlights. The only element I would’ve changed about our experience is going to sound ridiculous, but we were sat at a bar table in the centre of the restaurant (very comfortable furniture) and it was a crystal clear blue sky sunny day - which meant the sun was directly in the eyes of the people at the far end of the table for the duration of the meal, as the front of the building is entirely glass. There are no blinds (they would have to be 40ft up so I am not surprised) so that was a little difficult to navigate but obviously I do not expect anyone to be able to control the sun (and it made the restaurant look even more beautiful). I would absolutely recommend this as a place to dine, and we will definitely be returning.

+1

Visited Bruco tonight without knowing much about it and wow, what a fantastic meal. The calamari was perfectly cooked, and the lasagne was incredible. Honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Absolutely superb. The mushroom starter was delicious, and the chocolate tart for dessert was rich, dark, and beautifully balanced with a hint of orange. The staff were attentive, smiley, and genuinely lovely to chat to, with great recommendations. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, but the service is excellent. I can’t recommend this place enough. Go! Go! Go! (And definitely order the lasagne)

Highly recommended. One of best Italian restaurants around, if not the best! Friendly staff and great service from Jack, food was amazing (arancini and prawns were great as well as swordfish) but everything was great. Finished off with a fantastic Affogato. If Tony Soprano was still alive he'd be here every day I think and what can you say that's the best recommendation you can get. Thanks to Jack and rest of the team we will be back again!!

+2

The food here is delicious. We particularly loved the meatballs and the arancini. Everything is covered with parmesan, which is great. Attentive and friendly service, will definitely be heading back!

Fabulous from start to finish. Great welcome, food, wine. Italian Tapas style restaurant - couldn't fault it Staff were really lovely, as was the food. Will be back soon.

So glad this has opened in the area. Really warm lovely atmosphere. The staff were super attentive and the food and wine was a real experience. We chose lots of the smaller plates as we wanted to try everything and we were not disappointed! Excellent wine selection too. We loved the orange wine.

If there is one restaurant you should go to in Manchester, this is it! To say they opened their doors only a few days ago you would never know. Bruco has everything just perfect. The food is unbelievable, the vibe is low key comfy, and all the staff were amazing. Very affordable too. We had such a good time, I will definitely be a regular here. Can’t recommend it enough!

This place is so good. The arancini and the lasagne are utterly delicious. Good wine and great menu selection with fresh seasonal dishes. Lovely atmosphere and attentive staff too… couldn’t ask for much more.

Absolutely lovely new spot in Ancoats! Went down on their third night open and loved it. Really friendly owners and staff, great vibes, and delicious Italian food! Highlight had to be the beef ragu lasagne, probably best lasagne I’ve ever had, alongside a beautiful negroni. Will absolutely be back and so glad to have this spot next door to us. Thanks Bruco

Cannot recommend this spot enough (and the tomato mascarpone pasta!) - the food is amazing and the staff are lovely. Buzzing atmosphere and can’t wait to come back!

A gorgeous spot for dinner, the lighting is perfect for a dinner date. The food is delicious - the gluten free options are too, there’s plenty. They made accommodations for my dietary requirements immediately, which made eating what I wanted to and enjoy so easy! Shania our server and all the other girls we spoke to were wonderful and really really helpful.

Fell upon this place and it was amazing,relaxed,dog friendly, lovely staff,amazing food and really reasonable. Even got a free glass on wine as it was the resultants first birthday! Will definitely be back!!!

Had a fabulous lunch with my family. The food was delicious & plentiful together with the wine & finishing with espresso martinis & an old fashioned. Will be back x

Absolutely brilliant. Best meal I have had in Manchester. Porchetta brilliant for a Sunday meal. Rest of the menu also delicious. Lovely wine. Well priced. Friendly service. Highly recommend.

We had our anniversary dinner here and the food was divine. The staff had great menu recommendations and the selection was so broad, we struggled to narrow it down! Will absolutely be back again

Visited here on recommendation and was blown away. The food was incredible and the ambience of the dimly lit, cosy setting was just perfect for a chilled dinner spot with friends. Impeccable service, great wine, can't wait to return.

food was lovely and so was the staff. we spoke to mike who was so lovely and recommended wine which was 10/10! ! worth every penny

The best meal we’ve had in a long time. Food was amazing and Mike was a great host (: Super helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back

Fantastic Italian food and wine at a reasonable price point. Love the pig cheeks, the roast carrots, raddichio and orange salad and lasagna. Lovely atmosphere great service. Would definitely recommend..

We had brunch and I think I liked everything. The food was delicious. The team was very welcoming and fantastic. The space is cool. Next time we are coming for dinner.

Lovely service and a great restaurant all round. Ambience was perfect, not crowded at all which keeps it nice and cosy. Food was amazing and the waitress gave good recommendations whilst talking us through the menu.

Oh my goodness what a find on a wet Sunday morning! A great welcome from the staff and excellent coffee. The baked eggs were very tasty and the tomato on toast full of delicious flavours. Really enjoyed the whole experience, especially the historical guide given by a member of staff! (Sorry didn’t get your name) Can’t wait to visit again.

Delicious food -we tried most of the menu- and a lovely setting, the main front of house gentlemen was brilliant, we really enjoyed his energy. Only negative was as it got to the c430-5pm mark there was a staff change and the food delivery did noticeably slow.

Hands down my favorite restaurant on the planet. As a native New Yorker, I find a second home here. Between the wonderful staff/ management and the atmosphere, it guarantees an amazing time. Oh! And what you are all reading this for, aka the food? Put it this way, I have eaten the lasagna cold in my hotel room because such a perfect dish should never go to waste. Ps. Get the arancini, or better yet come for lunch and get a pizza sandwich. I swear it won’t disappoint!!! Ethan and Mike, I will see you on every visit to Manchester!

The truffle parmesan arancini was excellent, with a well-balanced flavor profile. The pesto flatbread was also enjoyable—crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with pesto that wasn’t overly salty. Overall, a solid selection of starters. For the main dishes, we tried the octopus, pork cheek, and short rib ragu lasagna. The octopus dish included two portions—one was perfectly cooked, while the other was over-seasoned and overcooked, making it overly chewy. However, the butterbean salad underneath was a standout, adding a refreshing contrast to the dish. My recommendation would be to season and cook the octopus more evenly. The *Spezzatino di Pomodoro* (pork cheek) was too salty and felt one-dimensional. The pork itself was slightly gamey and overly porky in flavor. Switching to a red wine-based sauce might improve the dish, and the pork could also be more tender. The short rib ragu lasagna had a good flavor profile with spot-on seasoning. While not particularly surprising, it was a solid and enjoyable dish overall.

+1

Lovely ambiance and good service. However, the food was just okay. Some dishes, like the arancini, lasagna and steak (picture missing), were great, but some felt mediocre, especially tiramisu, cured meats and the sourdough (picture missing). It seems like they are good at hot dishes but fall short when it comes to cold dishes.

+1

Went in January with 50% off. The starter flatbread with mozzarella and tomatoes was lovely and so was the tiramisu but felt like some of the dishes were under seasoned. Atmosphere was nice but service could have been better. Overall, not sure we would come back when everything is full price.

It was a mostly okay experience, but the service let it down. Waiter strongly upselling, first to the most expensive glass, then to the bottle, then to the large glass. Then the plates were very rushed, barely finished the first starter when the second starter and main come out same time. Then they tried to clear the plates before our 2nd main came out, very long wait on that 2nd main but I would usually mind - except barely 5 mins after the second main we're told we have 10 minutes to leave because table time is quite short. Didn't even have a chance to order dessert, or maybe it's because we didn't order the bottle wine... Food overall was good, not great. Arancini balls nice truffle, and the short rib lasagna very meaty. But the gnocchi was terrible. It was sweet? Very sugary gnocchi, weird. Paired with butternut squash sauce? Couldn't even eat half of it. Also atmosphere quite cramped in a small space, not ideal. God, I miss sugo.

We enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere at the restaurant. We were the third table to be seated, but after our starters there was a fairly long wait before our main courses arrived. As the restaurant was full and offering a 50% discount in January, we understand that delays can happen. However, it did feel a little unusual that the table next to us received multiple starters and their main courses shortly after ours, while we had to wait noticeably longer for our mains. Overall, it was a good experience, and we especially enjoyed the lasagne. That said, the main reason for our visit during January was the 50% offer, to give the restaurant a try. While we had a pleasant meal, we would likely choose one of our usual favourite restaurants if booking again in the future.

Average at best. Was so excited about this restaurant. Love Italian small plates but this one disappointed. You know it’s not great when the drinks are the best bit of the meal. Service was fine. I can’t imagine Italians would rate this one. Focaccia was very basic. A simple addition like rosemary and sea salt would level it up. Truffle & cheese flatbread had no truffle, so why describe it as one. Arancini one of the nicer dishes but not really arancini more a croquette. The swordfish ravioli “special” was fresh and had a nice fishy flavour but lacked any real excitement. Also came in a watery sauce that had nothing to mop it up. Fava bean bruschetta was tasty and fresh but cold. Not exciting. Lasagne was just average and would rather eat an authentic Italian restaurant one. Just didn’t meet expectation sadly.

Average – So Disappointed! I had high hopes for this restaurant, but it turned out to be a bitter and expensive disappointment. The arancini weren’t really arancini at all — more like croquettes — though they were actually the best dish we had. The gnocchi were terrible: overpowered by black pepper in a tomato and cheese cream, and my plate only had 11 small pieces in total. The orecchiette sauce was watery instead of creamy. Broccoli were just okay, mushrooms were of not good quality! Why restaurant need to use supermarket quality mushrooms, still remains a mis(t)ery to me! Drinks ended up being the highlight of the meal, which says a lot. Overall, overpriced and underwhelming..m not an authentic Italian restaurant!

We came here with high hopes and left pretty disappointed. The food was ok but we sat down at 7:30 and we paid our bill early once we'd finished our food by 8:30 to be told they needed the table back in 5 minutes after we paid. We were planning on enjoying our wine and chatting but it wasn't to be! Wouldn't go back

Extremely underwhelming! Very sad to be writing this, but for our first visit, this place really let us down. The food was well below average. The caprese flatbread cost £10 and contained just three thin slices of mozzarella. It was very dry and not worth the price. The olives were alright but completely drowned in garlic. The wild mushrooms were so salty, with no depth or flavour. The short rib lasagne was good, but overall the dishes were very basic in flavour. The atmosphere is lovely, very cosy and inviting, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough to make up for the rest. Service also wasn’t great. It was slow and a little clumsy, and we had to ask three times for the bill. We had high hopes for this place, but sadly it was a letdown.

A "small plates" place charging full main prices. £18 for 2 scallops is a joke. Also the wine seemed to be warmer than room temperature which was honestly impressive.