Harden's says

The "kitchen in an arch", much loved by The Observer's Jay Rayner (he called it "extremely small but perfectly formed") serves continental pasta, dumplings and spatzle.

survey result

Summary

£49
   ££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

This “unusual and unique find”“hidden away in a railway arch near Manchester’s Victoria Station” – offers “a wide selection of pasta and dumplings from south Germany, Switzerland, Alsace, Austria and the German-speaking parts of northern Italy”, washed down with an interesting variety of beers, wines and Japanese alcoholic drinks. Even the occasional critic who finds it “not entirely to my liking” concedes that “the very interesting menu has good and unusual food”. The same team is scheduled to open a sake bar and shop called Suzume.

Summary

£48
   ££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Launched in 2019, this “German/Austrian-by-way-of-Japan and under-the-arches spot” near Victoria Station is well “worth the wait” (snagging a table in the pint-sized 12-seater being quite the effort) for its European pasta and dumplings, including in-house speciality spätzle alongside pierogi etc. Expect an eclectic experience that's “paired weirdly well with sake… then schnapps!”.

Summary

£22
    £
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

In a converted railway arch near Victoria Station – opposite the now-sadly-defunct Umezushi – this little 12-seater specialises in different varieties of pasta and dumplings from all over Europe: many of course of Italian inspiration, but including, for example, Polish pierogi. It opened after the survey had started in April 2019 – too late for feedback – but the word on the street is that it’s very good.

Summary

£22
    £
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

In a converted railway arch near Victoria Station – opposite the now-sadly-defunct Umezushi – this little 12-seater specialises in different varieties of pasta and dumplings from all over Europe: many of course of Italian inspiration, but including, for example, Polish pierogi. It opened after the survey had started in April 2019 – too late for feedback – but the word on the street is that it’s very good.

For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at The Spärrows Continental Pasta & Spätzle?

Restaurant details

Highchair
No dress code
54

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£13.30 £17.50 £3.75 £5.50
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £26.00
Filter Coffee £2.50
Extras  
Service 10.00%
16 Red Bank, Green Quarter, M4 4HF
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday5 pm‑11 pm
Wednesday5 pm‑11 pm
Thursday5 pm‑11 pm
Friday5 pm‑11 pm
Saturday12 pm‑11 pm
Sunday12 pm‑10 pm

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