Tucked away on Fountain Street just off Manchester’s bustling Market Street, there is a vibrant addition to Manchester’s international food scene.  Enzo is a modern Italian restaurant with a twist (or two)!

Inside Enzo

Inside Enzo you are greeted by vibrant colours, open space and the kitchen which faces out onto the restaurant floor.  The restaurant has a bright and airy interior, the back wall of the restaurant adorned with vibrant multi coloured letters spelling out the word PIZZA, whilst coloured light shades hang above each table.

The layout of the restaurant gives the first indication of Enzo’s commitment to cooking honest, good quality Italian food.  Ingredients including olive oil, tomato sauce and chillies are proudly displayed on outward facing shelves and why not?  Enzo have nothing to hide; every dish is made fresh to order with high quality ingredients.

The Food

The staff at Enzo were very accommodating towards each customer, catering for a number of different dietary requirements, and willingly cooked me a pizza without cheese.  I haven’t eaten cooked cheese since my childhood and have become accustomed to more unusual and experimental toppings as a result.  I was served a mouth watering combination of olives, peppers, tomatoes, onions and basil atop a thin and crispy base.  The pizza was my idea of a delicious creation.

However, as I entered Enzo, a waitress encouraged me to try pizza made with vegan cheese.  The vegan cheese had a more solid texture with a milder flavour than standard mozzarella and satisfied my palate.  The availability of vegan cheese ensures that most of the pizzas can be adapted to suit the needs of vegan customers.  It is fair to say that I quickly became a convert once again to pizzas topped with cheese, something I never thought I would say!

The most unique selling point of the menu is the breakfast pizza which comes in four varieties each including a combination of traditional cooked breakfast fare!  Although I did not have the opportunity to try the breakfast pizza on this particular visit I will be sure to pop into Enzo in the near future to sample this highly unusual yet curiously appealing offering.  Why would you want to have egg on toast when you can have egg on pizza?!  A breakfast revolution is taking place!

Drinks

Recently I have documented my visits to a number of different coffee shops across Manchester; another of Enzo’s passions is good quality coffee.  I had the opportunity to sample Enzo’s coffee blend, brewed exclusively for the restaurant, during my visit. The Enzo Blend contains coffee beans from Vietnam, Indonesia and Guatemala resulting in a strong, earthy coffee with a lasting finish.  Enzo also stock decaff coffee sourced from Peru; a country with a history of producing some of the world’s finest coffee beans.  As with all other food items, coffee beans are stored whole and are ground just before use to preserve their full flavour and aroma.

Quick side note:  How on earth did the barista get so much detail into his latte art?  It seemed a shame to drink it!

For an evening tipple Enzo offer a range of alcoholic drinks.  The wine list comprises of three red, two rose, three white wines and a prosecco.  Three carefully selected Italian craft beers are available alongside the more familiar beer and cider selection of Peroni, Brewdog’s Punk IPA and Rekorderlig.

The People

The high quality of the food and drink is only part of the story.  The most endearing aspect of this new city centre Italian is the people.  Every team member here is full of life.  There are no scripts.  Customer service is a genuine passion at Enzo.  It was clear that staff members are encouraged to express themselves and be happy and proud in their work.  You have the opportunity to commend the team through the feedback forms on each table.

Why you need to visit Enzo!

Enzo Manchester is the second restaurant in the Enzo brand following on from the success of their Nantwich restaurant.  The restaurant’s location, a short walk from Manchester’s main shopping area, ensures that this venue is accessible; to shoppers at the weekend and office workers in the week.  The restaurant also offer takeouts at a 10% discount for those in need of a quick but tasty lunch!  However, to really indulge yourself in the Enzo Experience, take a seat, relax and allow the team to win you over with their delicious food and excellent service.