A subterranean oasis; this Manchester institution is back and better than ever.
Australasia has been a staple of Spinningfields for many years, and now returns with a fresh new look, and even fresher menu.
Head Chef Lucie Sainerova, is serving up incredible flavours from the Pacific Rim, with a focus on open-flame cooking and the best local produce and seasonal ingredients designed for sharing.
As you walk down the steps into the restaurant, it’s a very impressive sight; warm but bright, with a live pianist, stunning bar area and a luxe dining room.
Once seated and while reading the extensive menu, we shared a plate of soft Japanese milk bread, covered in lashings of whipped wasabi chimichurri butter.
Accompanying the bread, I had the perfect aperitif ‘Solstice Ritual’ which combines Aperol, Casimigos Blanco tequila, grapefruit juice, pineapple soda & lemon juice; garnished with a slice of grapefruit brûlée.
One sip and I’d completely forgotten I was sitting just below the mania of Deansgate on a Friday night, and instead had been whisked away to a Beach club on the Pacific coast.
Snapping back to reality, it was time to decide what to order, a daunting task when the menu is as enticing as this one.
To start we chose two sushi dishes, the Gunkan Selection including tuna, quails egg and salmon, and the Alaskan King Crab Dragon Roll, with avocado & alphonso mango. It was some of the best sushi I’ve had in a very long time, particularly the tuna.
With a few more Solstice Rituals interspersed between bites, we excitedly received our main courses; Beef Ribeye Steak which was perfectly seasoned and cooked, along with the Gochujang Miso Black Cod, served with a Korean pepper sauce and presented inside a leaf.
The cod was a standout dish for me, moist with a sweet tangy flavour. Accompanying the mains we had Kombu Salt fries with truffle mayo, and charred tender stem broccoli with burnt sesame topping.
After finishing our mains, neither myself nor my friend thought we could manage a desert, but once again a quick read of the menu got our appetites back on track.
We had the chocolate fondant paired with black sesame ice cream, and the Churro S’mores made with cinnamon sugar churros, torched Italian meringue and hot chocolate sauce. If you have a sweet tooth, the S’mores are a must try!
Whether you’ve been before, or have always wondered what lies beneath that glass pyramid, now is the time to go down under to Australasia.
Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3AP