A Manchester restaurant has become one of 20 in the UK and Ireland to be awarded a coveted Michelin award.
The Sparrows, nestled underneath railway arches in Red Bank in Manchester's Green Quarter has been awarded the prestigious Bib Gourmand. The list was revealed today, ahead of the anncounment of the new starred restaurants on Monday.
In January, the spot, famed for its European pasta and dumplings, was added to the January edition of the Michelin Inspectors' Favourite New Restaurants. At the time, Michelin said "Manchester’s dumpling and pasta lovers should make haste to The Spärrows", and praised its dumplings, assorted pasta dishes and "excellent" pierogi.
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Named after Bibendum, the Michelin Man mascot, the Bib award was created in 1997 and is given to restaurants for "good quality, good value cooking". This year's top 20 Bib Gourmands list was dominated by restaurants in the south-west of England, with The Sparrows appearing as the only North West-based restaurant to make the cut.
Commenting on the new Bib Gourmands, Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said: "As chefs in Great Britain and Ireland face rising day-to-day costs – from the raw ingredients they purchase to the energy they use to keep their kitchens and restaurants running – it is heartening to see many of them also finding inventive ways to create affordable menus and keep costs down for their guests, while still offering creative and exciting culinary experiences."
The Sparrows originally opened on Mirabel Street in early 2019 before expanding to a unit under railway arches in the Red Bank near Victoria train station. While the modern, central European restaurant might be a little off the beaten path it has become a popular haunt for both locals and national food critics, with Jay Rayner hailing it a "glorious carb-fest" when he last visited.
Offering a variety of European delicacies including Russian pelimeni and Italian gnocchi, the restaurant was launched by Polish-born Kasia Hitchcock, a sake specialist, and her partner, chef Franco Concli from Italy. The restaurant takes its name from one of it's house specialities, Spätzle, which translates as 'sparrow', a type of European dumpling popular in South Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
If you arrive to The Sparrows come nightfall you may initially struggle to find it, but once located and inside, diners can expect delicious dumplings and pasta paired with Japanese sakes, Italian coffee and Austrian wines. Tuck into simple gnocchi with butter and sage, or a plate of Polish Pierogi with sour cream and finish with a puddings like the brownie, panna cotta or Tiramisu.
While Mana in Ancoats run by chef-patron Simon Martin, is the only restaurant in Manchester to hold a coveted Michelin Star, several others have appeared in Michelin's recommended list of restaurants. In the list you'll find The Sparrows, alongside city centre dining spots such as Mana, Adam Reid at The French, Erst and Another Hand.
While Michelin has not issued any information of Bib Gourmands that have been removed, there are 116 Bib Gourmands in the guide this year, down from 122 last year, of which 20 are today's new additions. The full online listing will be published on Monday, 27 March when the Michelin Stars for 2023 are revealed.
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