
Canto
Advertisements
Quick info
About Canto
Canto is a tapas restaurant on Cutting Room Square in Manchester, the younger sibling of El Gato Negro. The kitchen cooks Mediterranean-inspired small plates, including mushroom croquettes with black garlic aioli and ox cheek served with celeriac purée. Roast dinners are the latest addition to the menu and are served all day, which gives groups a sit-down option beyond tapas. Staff bring food and drinks to the table, and the sangria comes in an alcohol-free version as well. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Family-friendly
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
Advertisements
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention mushroom croquettes, ox cheek, pork belly and bottomless brunch.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention mushroom croquettes, ox cheek, pork belly and bottomless brunch.
Customer Review Summary
Mushroom croquettes are the dish diners name most, one pairing them with black garlic aioli, and the ox cheek with celeriac purée is called incredibly soft. Pork belly, cod fritters, calamari and pan con tomate also draw praise, and one reviewer says the pork belly and tomato bread taste like Spain and Barcelona. Two reviewers single out the bottomless drinks, and the sangria, including an alcohol free one, gets good words. Service is a steady highlight, described as attentive and friendly. Value is the main reservation. Portions are generous, but a few call the dishes overpriced or a little dear, and one found the flavours flat and paprika heavy. Specific misses include a sea bream whose orange basil butter sauce tasted slightly bitter, soggy patatas bravas, and whole, undeveined shrimp. One group seated near the front door felt chilly because people kept leaving it open, and another said a meat dish arrived well after the rest. Staff finding a small table for a walk-in without a reservation, and telling one group they were welcome to stay past their allotted time, stand out.
Customer Review Summary
Mushroom croquettes are the dish diners name most, one pairing them with black garlic aioli, and the ox cheek with celeriac purée is called incredibly soft. Pork belly, cod fritters, calamari and pan con tomate also draw praise, and one reviewer says the pork belly and tomato bread taste like Spain and Barcelona. Two reviewers single out the bottomless drinks, and the sangria, including an alcohol free one, gets good words. Service is a steady highlight, described as attentive and friendly. Value is the main reservation. Portions are generous, but a few call the dishes overpriced or a little dear, and one found the flavours flat and paprika heavy. Specific misses include a sea bream whose orange basil butter sauce tasted slightly bitter, soggy patatas bravas, and whole, undeveined shrimp. One group seated near the front door felt chilly because people kept leaving it open, and another said a meat dish arrived well after the rest. Staff finding a small table for a walk-in without a reservation, and telling one group they were welcome to stay past their allotted time, stand out.
Featured reviews
- Luzia Buechler
“The service, especially the really attentive people here, is extraordinary!! Was the really most best restaurant in Manchester!! Little example: we came here, whitout a reservation, an the man at the desk said, there is unfortunately no more table available, but then he looked for a little table for us. Great just great!!!!”
- Carla Shepherd
“The service was excellent, water Inc sparkling was complimentary and I had an alcohol free sangria which was very nice. The dishes, presented well, came out fairly quick but the meat dish my wife ordered came 30 mins after everything else. The portion sizes where great however I feel the prices didn't reflect them. They tasted nice but it wasn't anything spectacular. The cauliflower sauce base tasted like carrot soup but the cauliflower itself was nice. The broccoli was lovely with a hint of chilli, the mushrooms where very tasty, the Mezze was a bit to much like mouse and didn't have any texture. My wife said the chickens was ok. Everything had an overall paprika taste and didn't really offer anything of excitement. We payed the bill which had a 12.5% tip already added. Overall it did have a nice quiet atmosphere but was just average and a bit flat in flavour.”
- Liv Davies
“Went with the girls last week for a catch-up and a drink. The table next to us ordered a seasonal starter - a packet of salted crisps with prosciutto and parmesan all over it! It was insane! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu!! Xx”
- Deniz
“we ordered about 10-11 dishes. it was a bit of a hit or miss. i really enjoyed the fried olives. it came with a lovely lemon sauce. the mezze platter was okay, nothing crazy. the mushroom croquettes were very nice. the shrimp in mango sauce was whole and not deveined so it wasnt pleasant but the sauce was nice. the pork belly was ok. padron peppers were good. patatas bravas were soggy and the sauce tasted like spaghetti sauce. jamon croquettes also good. the sangria was also good and service was friendly and fast. overall good but not great and definitely overpriced.”
- Tinnie
“Would’ve been a 5/5 if we didn’t order the sea bream. The tapas were all really well executed. My personal favourite was the mushroom croquettes, the black garlic aioli was the cherry on top. Highly recommend the ox cheek with celeriac purée too, incredibly soft and it just melts in your mouth. The pan con tomate, calamari, and cod fritters were all excellent as well. Dog friendly is another plus! The only disappointment was the sea bream. Personally, I don’t think the orange basil butter sauce worked with the fish as it gave it a slightly bitter taste. Sea bream is quite delicate, so a lighter and fresher sauce like cherry tomato, basil, garlic, and olive oil would complement it much better.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“El Gato Negro’s younger sibling; serving up fast-paced, exciting Mediterranean-inspired tapas, paired with great service in a relaxed, friendly environment. The latest addition to the restaurant are roast dinners, served all day Sunday.”
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Family-friendly
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Offerings· 9
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dining options· 5
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Highlights· 4
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Atmosphere· 4
- Casual
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
- Family-friendly· 2
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Location
Restaurants near Canto
- 0 mi
garlic bread appetizer, triple pepperoni pizza, burrata
- Elnecot4.51,3830.1 mi
sunday roast, soup and sandwich lunch deal, tuesday steak night
- Soul & Surf Mcr4.32830.1 mi£20–30Wheelchair accessible
lobster tail, long wait for food, small cramped space
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CantoOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.51,100 | — | £30–60 | mushroom croquettes, ox cheek, pork belly |
| Rudy's Pizza Napoletana - Ancoats | 4.87,554 | 0 mi | — | garlic bread appetizer, triple pepperoni pizza, burrata |
| Elnecot | 4.51,383 | 0.1 mi | — | sunday roast, soup and sandwich lunch deal, tuesday steak night |
| Soul & Surf McrWheelchair accessible | 4.3283 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | lobster tail, long wait for food, small cramped space |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Restaurants nearby
More to explore in Manchester

545 places
Restaurants in Manchester
Photo: MyLahore Manchester · 4.7 · 21,838 Google reviews
See all 545 restaurants in Manchester
4.7 · Tattu ManchesterChinese restaurants
67 places
4.7 · Bird of PreyFast food restaurants
26 places
4.5 · eastZeast Riverside - ManchesterIndian restaurants
22 places
4.9 · Circolo Popolare ManchesterItalian restaurants
34 places
4.5 · L'Antica Pizzeria da MichelePizza restaurants
20 places
4.6 · Nùr Cafe ManchesterCafes
118 places







