Carluccio’s

Staff are ultra friendly, very accommodating when having a meeting.
Venue is very clean, food is nice and drinks are as expected.

A pre-​theatre menu saved having to decide on what have from the main menu and delicious sounding specials. I had planned the two course set menu for £10.99 but a pudding proved too tempting so pannacotta for an extra £3.50 was a good choice and enough to satisfy the dessert urge. A glass of house red for a further £3.50 with a double espresso too and it was a good value and filling/​tasty meal for under £20.
Fresh, tasty and served by very pleasant and polite waiting staff. Although dining alone, I did not feel at all self– conscious as can sometimes happen.
And I’m full too — no need for sweets at the theatre now

Came here for breakfast before a meeting…
I tried the granola and yogurt. Great portion size. The staff were lovely.
Brilliant menu choice and the coffee is fab so I ended up grabbing another Americano to take away on my way out. Would like to try there again for lunch when the weather is better as Spinningfields can be a great spot to people watch!

Carluccio’s is always a good bet when you want a laid back coffee at a low cost — served in a fairly chilled and cool location by staff who are friendly and professional.
I’ve had a few coffees here and there at different branches over the years but this Spinningfields one is probably the best bet for coffee at the weekend in the area with Caffeine and co always shut on a Saturday now. I’ve never had the food but it looks ok and the real bonus of this place is that there’s a large outdoor space (maybe 40 seats) so as you can chill out and read the paper while enjoying some fresh air.
They have an Italian deli inside selling imported delights — definitely a nice little bonus. My double espresso was £2.
A chain but one that isn’t too bad to hang out in as it’s a fairly pleasant experience.

Yes it’s a chain however i do like Carluccios the one in Spinngfields is especially good in the warmer weather as you sit outside and it does feel like you are on holiday rather than in Manchester! It was a warm Saturday evening when i visited so we opted to do this.
As I had signed up for the newsletter i had a voucher for a bottle of house wine priced £14.95. If you’re not a wine fan the you can get 2 large bottles of beer instead.
Was with a friend so went for one of the anti pasti sharing platters for starter. Opted for the veggie one which had olives, roasted peppers, roasted courgettes, artichokes, green beans, rocket, focaccia, a mini baked ricotta and an aubergine dish with chilli and pine nuts! There was a lot more on the board than i was expecting and to be honest it probably would have been enough and would make a great lunch dish.
I had however also ordered a seafood risotto, this wasn’t on the menu (the risotto of the day was asparagus and i wasn’t really feeling it!) but the waiter said they could do me a risotto with another flavour so its worth asking.
Risotto was full of lovely seafood (they weren’t shy with the prawns and the squid which was great!) and was nice and creamy and not too salty. Was a huge portion and i couldn’t finish it all although it was really lovely.
After that mammoth eating fest no room for pud although they did sound nice. It’s also worth remembering that they have a little deli in this Carluccios and do take away espresso and sandwiches.

After some drinks at BarCa post-​Manchester 10k (I didn’t run, for the record!) my friend and I headed to Carluccio’s for a bite to eat and to take in a bit more sun.
It’s a nice area to sit outside and watch the world of Spinningfields go by; you get to see everyone from families on the lawn to the ladies dressed up for the evening ahead.
Service was friendly and efficient, explaining the fixed price menu and various options from the main menu. We went for a bottle of wine to share, and I wolfed down battered vegetables — peppers and courgettes, my favourite — and the chicken escalope with rocket.
Not the most stand out meal I’ve had in Manchester but, for a chain, it’s reliable. You know you’re getting good food in good surroundings.

Well a pretty average night out… which given the standard you come to expect of this chain is REALLY disappointing. Food was good but everything else let it down. No atmosphere (although to be fair it was 630pm on a Tuesday night… so I wasn’t expecting anything too lively!) Service was really, really slow… even taking a drinks order was about 15 minutes after we sat down. High point for me (and therefore I gave it three rather than two stars) was the amazing meringue, cream and fruit desert… would definitely recommend that! Given the range of really good restaurants in the Deansgate area then I’d go elsewhere next time if looking for a good meal (I may just return here for meringues!)

I love Carluccios and I collapsed in here mid Christmas shop for a desperately needed hit of caffeine and sugar.
The waiter was so helpful and friendly, he immediately brought over my drink and made me feel really welcome.
I was only in here for this quick coffee but the interior at the Spinningfields branch is great and the little deli they have with a selection of goods allowed me to buy my last present while I was there. Great staff and good coffee with a chilled out atmosphere.

Eaten there twice and food is always a disappointment, don’t like paying for restaurants when I can cook it better! On the bright side their take out coffee is a bargain at £1!

The day of the duck race. The day of Good Friday. The day of Adam’s birthday. We had a nosey at all the breakfast menus in the windows of the eateries in Spinningfields and Carluccio’s offered the best.
We chose the bread bin breakfast which was a croissant and a selection of toast with jams and butter for about £4 and scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast for about £7. Both were delicious. Didn’t get round to looking at the full menu or the desserts menu but based on Sarah-Anne’s review I will take a trip back to explore it!
The restaurant is well laid out and spacious with tables through the middle and sofa style seating around the edge which soon filled up in the 50 mins we were in there. There is a little section where all the food is on display for take out which is really well presented and really inviting.
The staff were pleasant and they offer a 10% yellow card discount!

Fresh lemonade was great! Pasta was very average as was the Nicoise salad. Nice fresh focaccia.

I’ve been here a few times, always really friendly staff. They have a nice variety of dishes, good atmosphere and the food come out quickly.
Only problem i’ve had there was once my main dish was cold, this was address immediately and the manager came over to have a chat while it was sorted. They always have lots of staff around, but they don’t always know the dishes that well.

I go here mainly for take-​out coffee, because it’s the best I’ve had anywhere, and it’s a POUND!
Add in a choice of rich or smooth blends & friendly staff make it great for a daily cup.
I’ve not yet been in for food, as it’s a bit pricier than I generally like to spend on a workday lunch, we keep meaning to go because the menus are full of fantastic looking (& smelling) traditional Italian fare.

I once read an article on the Carluccios chain which suggested that it was like ‘McDonalds for the middle classes’, and in some ways, that’s kind of true, but in others, a bit of an insult. It’s true in the sense that it’s a bit of a staple — a place where you might consider for lunch if out in town shopping and wanted to stop for a quick (ish) bite, but on the other hand, it’s got more about it than that. It is, to be fair, a restaurant, rather than a fast food chain (I think Starbucks and Costa would be better comparisons for the previous quote). The food is generally very good and fairly authentically Italian. They always have some interesting, seasonal specials on the board and everything is well seasoned and presented. The desserts are excellent too (albeit quite expensive) but they always come in enormous portions so I think they’re worth it. The only downside seems to be staff management. I’ve been to both the Spinningfields and Trafford Centre restaurants and they both seem to employ vast numbers of people who don’t seem to do a lot. They’re very pleasant but always take an age to do anything and typically seem to forget your requests. Other than that it’s a great place for lunch or early evening dinner.

Top end Italian grub. Probably the best way to describe this beast of Italian cuisine. Fresh ingredients, minimal fuss and big flavours are what hit me reading the menu. The staff are courteous quick, the prices are well pricey and the food is good. Breakfast sees Carluccio’s stocking croissants and bits all that form a true continental breakfast and lunch and dinner is all about the pasta, sea bass, hams, parcels bruschetta etc etc.
Carluccios in spinning fields is still finding it’s feet it would seem though in other respects as my starter decided to arrive without a serving plate so I just sort of ate it across the table (nice). Additionally it seems inexperience with the staff is having dilapidating blows to potential customers. Just try it and see.

Recently I was lucky enough to get hold of a two for one on main meals coupon for Carluccio’s and after promising I’d try the food proper once I’d reviewed the deli, I thought it was high time to get involved. And do you know what? For a chain, it ain’t half bad. I’ve just been banging on about how rustic food like Italian or Spanish doesn’t really work in the chain format, but this is actually pretty darn nice, except you might feel a bit pretentious attempting to order everything in Italian.
You can’t come here and not try the savoury bread tin if you’re a bread fiend like me, with its focacccia, ciappe and grissini and olive oil. Delish. And although I’ve been spoiled by Gaucho’s mussels, these put up a good fight especially when accompanied by all that great bread for dipping. Salads and soups are refreshing and reasonably priced, but my favourite dish has to be the tasty and charitable penne giardiniera, 50p of which goes to Action Against Hunger. This makes you feel slightly better about gorging yourself on pasta with deep fried spinach balls, chilli and courgette, and so far Carluccio’s has managed to pack away an impressive £380,000 for the charity. It clearly works.
Aside from the soups and salads, if you’re there for a quick bite there are three paninis to choose from and while you won’t find chips on the menu you can always have some yummy rosemary potatoes on the side instead. Probably far healthier. It’s a colourful, light and airy stop on the Spinningfields route and I’d say it’s one of the better chain restaurants I’ve sampled. Plus, you can’t beat that deli for gargantuan olives and naughty Italian sweet treats. Speaking of sweet treats, I’ve never been massive on Italian desserts but Carluccio’s chocolate bread and butter pudding? Yes please. There’s a full children’s menu too for the anklebiters, and the ambience of the place is very family-​friendly.

Being a big fan of Carluccios food, delis and design, I was keen to try out the new Manchester outlet in Spinningfields.
I can’t say I love the location — it’s too empty at the moment and the spaces that are occupied are by unimaginative chains like Giraffe and Café Rouge — but the restaurant itself is great. It’s shaped like a circle with comfy leather seats around the outside and lots of intimate tables and chairs scattered around. It looks out onto a spacious square too — which in true Christmas style is currently occupied by a carousel! — and is decorated with multi-​coloured chairs and kitsch homeware.
When my friend and I arrived about 6pm it was relatively quiet but by the time we left, ninety minutes later, it was half full with couples and groups of ladies catching up. The service was excellent and the food from the bread basket, olive oil and balsamic to the main dish of pasta and spinach balls was exceptional. It might struggle in the winter months when everyone hibernates but in the summer, I imagine it will be packed around the clock.
And of course, they currently have mouth-​watering Panetonnes and chocolate covered figs in the shop!

This is the best restaurant in Spinningfields. A big statement to make? Not really. I have my reasons, read on if you want to know more…
First of all; the dessert menu!!! You have to experience this for yourself to believe me but oh my word, if you like pudding you will be very happy here!
Secondly; Carluccios seems to be the only restaurant in Spinnigfields that sticks to it’s opening hours and stays open after 9pm during the week. I know I seem to have a bee in my bonnet about this but it just annoys me.
Another thing I love about this place is that it is unashameably authentic. I can’t pronounce a word on the menu, it’s how Italian restaurants should be!
The restaurant also has a shop based inside it too selling a wide range of Italian food and products as well as a huge selection of wine. Expensive but really good if you’re cooking for someone and you want to cheat!

Went there for lunch yesterday but been a couple of times before. Firstly if you are going for lunch this is not the place if you are in a hurry!
Menu is good well presented italian with a decent list of specials above the open kitchen. Staff are friendly, have to say in my experience the staff have won the day as they are pretty good and seem to take a real interest. Food portions are a little small and prices are at the top end for this kind of thing. Decent coffee (witha a choice of bean?) and a good location with plenty of outside seating for hot days.

Expensive for what you get. However its a nice place for a coffee /​cake /​sandwich /​glass of wine & has a bit more atmosphere than some of the places in Spinningfields.