Sharing Plates and Cocktails at El Gato Negro Manchester

Manchester gives you plenty of choice when it comes to Spanish tapas, so a restaurant needs more than a good address to stand out. After our Saturday visit to El Gato Negro on King Street, we'd put it firmly among the places worth making plans for.

This place can get busy, so make sure to book a table in advance. Once we were in, we were guided to a booth opposite the kitchen, which turned out to be a particularly good spot. Watching the talented chefs prepare the food in an organised and disciplined way added another layer to the visit. Around us, a lively mix of diners gave the room a proper Saturday buzz.

A Hugo Spritz suited the mood nicely. Bubbly and refreshing, with those delicate floral notes you'd hope for, it was a delicious companion to an assortment of tapas.

The charcuterie board gave us plenty to talk about: Jamón Serrano, Manchego, chorizo and La Peral blue cheese. The last two were the standouts. With several things to try on one board, it was telling that the chorizo and blue cheese were the ones that held our attention.

Then came the meatballs. Large, tender and sitting in a rich tomato sauce. They had that fresh, homemade character that makes you appreciate a familiar dish all over again. Tapas might mean small plates, but these certainly weren't shy on substance.

The calamares brought a different pleasure: a crisp, well-coated bite, arriving warm with lemon alioli alongside. Between those and the meatballs, there was plenty to keep us happily occupied. The kitchen sent dishes out at a comfortable pace, leaving time to enjoy what was in front of us without the meal dragging.

The accommodating staff helped, too. Despite the lively room, the whole visit felt easy—the kind of meal that lends itself to a long catch-up with friends.

El Gato Negro is on the more expensive side for tapas, but the food made a strong case for spending a little more. In a city with no shortage of good Spanish restaurants, this one comfortably holds its own. We'd happily return.

Find it: El Gato Negro, 52 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LY. Visit the restaurant’s website for reservations and current menus.