Stock Restaurant
The Stock Exchange, 4 Norfolk Street, Manchester, M2 1DW
Tel: 0161 839 6644

Whether dining for a special occasion or simply a lover of good food then I heartily recommend Stock. As a complete dining experience, it is simply excellent.

Housed within the historic building previously used as The Northern Stock Exchange it oozes Edwardian resplendence. On entering the huge dining room with its impressive domed ceiling, you are instantly struck by its scale and opulence, but with clever lighting the restaurant manages to convey the building’s magnificence whilst creating a suitably intimate ambience.

Although the dining tables were close together I never felt impinged upon by other diners’ conversations, even though the restaurant was very busy. The service was excellent and the waiting staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Stock’s A La Carte menu is extensive and sumptuous. Created by owner and head chef Enzo Mauro it draws mainly from traditional southern Italian cooking. Specialities include homemade pasta, seafood platter and steak Fiorentina.

For my starter I chose the homemade Gnocci in a pesto and tomato sauce. The sauce was rich and tasted wonderfully fresh, perfectly complimenting the soft fluffy pillows of Gnocci. I decided to attempt the legendary steak Fiorentina as my main.

The meat was carved in front of me and tasted divine. It melted in the mouth and was perfectly accompanied by a variety of fresh vegetables. Be aware that the meat is served quite rare and also its sheer quantity can be overwhelming. This is a dish meant for two people to share and was simply gargantuan, even for two.

After allowing time to let the meal settle and whilst enjoying the jazz band, I perused the dessert menu. Again full of traditional fayre, I decided upon the baked lemon tart. Wonderfully zesty, the perfect palette cleanser after all that delicious food.

As for wine, Stock boasts one of the best-stocked cellars in Manchester and has won awards for its wine list. There are almost 100 different wines stocked with prices ranging from £18.00 to £122.00 for a bottle of champagne. I had a glass of pink champagne while I waited for my starter, the perfect start to my meal.

Stock is an award winning family run restaurant, which effortlessly infuses feelings of splendour and comfort. The magnificent building combined with hearty traditional Italian food makes for a very special dining experience indeed.