Harvey Nichols & Second Floor Manchester

Not as good as London or Leeds. Too sterile. Plus having to wait 30 minutes plus for a cocktail is not what you expect. Could have shaken the bugger myself in that time. So thought we would get some bar nibbles whilst we wait — but apparently they ran out yesterday!!! It’s Harvey Nichols for gods sake. Ok never mind we’ll get a meal. But oh no, they have ran out of steak!!! Come on its 4.30 on a Saturday how can you not be stocked!!! Anyway, 2 stars as the champagne is great, the saving grace.

I made a reservation at the Harvey Nichols Brasserie for my own birthday meal, as to go somewhere a little more special than usual and was not disappointed. They were offering a deal through Manchester Confidential for 3 courses and a cocktail for £20. Sounds too good to be true. It wasn’t!
The experience starts well with the side entrance, which has an elevator to whisk you straight up to the Brasserie and by-​passing the rest of the store. A warm welcome awaits, and they will hang your coat up if you wish. The best tables in the house are arranged so that the seats are facing the windows with spectacular views over Exchange Square.
Obviously, at the price, the menu isn’t going to be too extensive, though I did enjoy the options I chose. For a starter I had Chicken and Mushroom soup. This was the perfect addition to warm up a cold January evening. A tasty soup with whole mushrooms and a good amount of chicken. I ordered a side of bread & butter which was sufficient for 2 people. For my main course I had Ox Cheek with straw potatoes. This was the most tender beef I think I’ve ever had, it was cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful. My dessert was a Rice Pudding Dim Sum. This consisted of little pastry parcels with rice pudding inside, topped with some strips of Rhubarb. I really enjoyed it, perhaps more than I expected!
Service was attentive, but not pushy. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening there, it made my birthday feel really special. I’d definitely recommend for a special occasion. I would also recommend anyone to book ahead, as I had done. I was surprised that for a Monday evening in mid January, at one point every table was taken.
To finish the meal off I ordered coffee and a brandy, which are obvious additions outside of the special offer deal. Despite this, the total bill was less than £63 for 2 people.

Had a really pleasant evening here with friends. For £45 we got a cocktail master class where were learnt how to make a tom collins and a classic mojito as well as tasting the different spirits they contained.
Then we had a 3 course meal in the restaurant. Food was good and there was a good choice of starters, mains and dessert. Service and sides were added to the bill.
This is the second cocktail master class I’ve done in the 2^nd floor restaurant and I’ve enjoyed them both very much

Had the £30 set menu with friends. The main was pleasant, dessert had yups and downs, but the eest was poor, they surpised us with an additional service charge and they tried more than a dozen times to upsell me on the disappointing cocktail that came with my meal. Genuine waste of money.

If you have ever been to Harvey Nichols is Manchester then you will know that it’s a much better shopping experience than the typical high street stores. This store is not popular amounts all age groups instead of just the older rich generation that I believed only shopped there. As you expect it has all the best designer labels and jewellery and some amazing things that I can only dream about. The staffs are very polite and at times overly keen to help. Although I can understand that because the prices are quite extravagant. In saying that if I had the money I would shop here all the time because they have some great designs that you won’t find many other places in Manchester