Simon Wood’s career in food began back in 2015 when he swapped data science for his lifelong passion of cooking up unpretentious fine-dining cuisine, and he now heads up his own restaurant in Manchester.
Simon created Wood Restaurants – there are now two – in order to showcase his own style of unintimidating high-end dining with a focus on purity and simplicity. He and his team of talented chefs blend passion, creativity and some fine ingredients to create modern interpretations of traditional dishes that sing with flavour.
This stylish spot for modern British cuisine resides between Deansgate and Oxford Road stations in the pedestrianised First Street development. With its glass frontage, open kitchen and cool blue/grey tones throughout, it’s trendy enough to fit in nicely with the shiny newness of the area. Deep blue banquette booths provide comfortable seating that’s both intimate and convivial and allows for views of the chefs working their magic.
Wood exclusively offers tasting menus, taking diners on a culinary journey. Lunch menus are seven courses, while dinner menus are an even more extravagant nine. Wine flights are available to accompany the menu, carefully paired to bring out the best in each dish. The dishes themselves are playful, celebrating British produce in elegant and unusual platings. Fermenting and pickling are used here as well, ensuring as little is wasted as possible.
You might see 'best bits of the chicken' with lamb bacon, peas and beans, or Orkney scallop with sea vegetables and foam, before desserts like Exton Rose strawberries with buckler sorrel and cereal milk. To book your visit to Wood Manchester, simply fill in the details on the right. Simon Wood and the excellent team will be happy to accommodate dietary requirements, although they are unable to allow dairy-free and vegan menus.