Date spot in Manchester
This & That
Grab a plate of rice and three curries at the no-frills Northern Quarter canteen that's been feeding the city for decades.
Soap Street, Northern Quarter
Address: This & That, 3 Soap Street, Manchester M4 1EW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Why it's a good date: You queue, point at what looks good and sit down at a plain table a minute later. The curries change through the week, so it's worth coming back, and it sets you up well for a wander round the Northern Quarter after.
More from our Manchester guide
Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
Tib Street, Northern Quarter
Address: Northern Soul, Unit G20-21 Smithfield Building, Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share a couple of loaded grilled cheese sandwiches at the little cheese-toastie shop in the Northern Quarter.
Why it's a good date: Proper comfort food for a cold afternoon, and fun to split two and compare. It's a daytime place that shuts early most evenings, so make it a lunch date before the shops.
Lily's Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne
Address: Lily's, 85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Take the tram out to Ashton for a vegetarian Indian feast at the family restaurant that grew out of a cash-and-carry café.
Why it's a good date: It's been run by the same family since the 1970s and the cooking is the reason people make the trip. Order more than you think you need, share it all, and pick up something sweet from the counter on the way out.
Nell's Pizza, Kampus
Minshull Street, Kampus
Address: Nell's Kampus, 20 Minshull Street, Manchester M1 3EF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Split a giant New York-style pizza at Nell's in the Kampus garden quarter, a few minutes from Piccadilly.
Why it's a good date: The slices are huge and the room is relaxed, so it's an easy, cheap dinner before a gig or a film. Kampus has some nice spots for a drink afterwards too.