‘Home of the Big Manc’ says the garish logo for this mini Manchester-based chain of US-style grill and burger joints – the brainchild of business Renaissance man Franco Sotgiu, who runs Solita alongside co-owner Simon Pogson. Colourful pop-art interiors, neon signs, and the restaurant name in circus-style lights set the tone for an ever-evolving menu that taps into a rich seam of Americana. Decent local ingredients give the food broad appeal (the signature steak is 40-day dry-aged Cheshire rib) and the kitchen also applies an idiosyncratic approach to big-chain fast-food classics that yields the signature Big Manc among other homages. Hefty starters such as the ever-popular deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese balls or a pulled pork sundae may limit your ability to attack the buttermilk fried chicken burger or Lone Star hot dog, topped with smoked brisket chilli. Still, in a crowded market that has attracted many amateurish players, Solita is fully pro.