Why is Manchester’s attention being drawn to Vermilion?

An ambitious project

It is certainly fair to say Vermilion is an ambitious project. There is plenty going on here. Opening in 2007, Vermilion is a grand three storey complex living up to its own aspirations of becoming one of the grandest restaurants in Manchester.

Firstly, there is the fabulously luxurious private-dining Maharaja room. If you ever get to eat there, you will not forget it. Of course, there is the main dining area and the place to dance in Vermilion – the Cinnibar. In addition, there are three private rooms: the Alan Turing Room, the Abacus Gallery and the Grand Suite. The full capacity of Vermilion must be very close to 1,500, showing its ambitious nature.

Vermilion aims to be the best fine dining location in Manchester, whilst being a hub for creativity and discussion. This is very apparent in its design. The interior was done to perfection by the famous Miguel Cancio Martins, who designed the Buddha Bar of Paris. The attitude at Vermilion is to only accept the best possible. It’s why the kitchens are designed by those who designed Buckingham Palace’s kitchens and why the audio-visual system was installed by those who designed the sound system at the Albert Hall.

They want to provide their customers the best in all departments; from the design and customer experience to the food. You can start to see why the likes of Girls Aloud and David Cameron have eaten here! But it isn’t just a place for the rich and famous. Not all of its rooms are designed for an expensive experience. Vermilion is for people who love food and want to celebrate the good times.

A menu like no other

Their menu is very unique, just like the whole complex. Combining English, Thai, Chinese, French and Korean cuisine with a focus on seafood, local produce and creativity is no easy feat to accomplish. But indeed, they have.

The menu is created by MasterChef finalist Bobby Geetha. Geetha has written many books on fine dining Indian cuisine. Furthermore, he won a Gold for Hospitality Chef Excellence Award in 2018 and was nominated in 2019 for the International Chef Awards. He has an immense pedigree and tons of experience, which is evidently expressed in Vermilion’s impressive menu.

The grandeur and magnificence seen in the architecture and antiques seeps into Vermilion’s food. Ambition and splendour run through the whole place. Everything on the menu has had a lot of work put into it. The menu has lots of vegan and vegetarian options, and is coded in detail for people with allergies, making it is inclusive for all.

Firstly, the poppadoms served with lovely cherry and ginger, and mint and coriander chutneys are a must try. From the small plates’ menu, the vegan Tibetan Momo Dumplings are absolutely gorgeous. If you have never had Tibetan food, we fully recommend it. From the Pulled Nalli Gosht Masala Hot Dog, Thai styled squid to Mumbai Beetroot Vadapav Slider, it’s quite clear how varied the menu is just by looking at the small plates’ options. In terms of grills, the Gressingham Duck Boti Kebab and the Seabass, which is cooked in banana leaf, are stand outs too.

From shrimp and squid to their splendid prawns, the seafood on the menu is special in terms of how they are cooked and served. Speaking of seafood, one of the best large dishes is the Ocean Tiger Prawn. This is an exclusive catch to Vermilion. The tiger prawns are grilled with a Thai Nomsod sauce that is simply delicious. Other options include the Dal Tarka made with lentils, Thai Green Chicken Curry among a selection of mouthwatering curries and steak. If you’re a lover of steak, you should try Vermilion’s 30 day-aged rib-eye steaks. Meanwhile, they have a few Biriyani options too, such as the Pulled Duck Biriyani. That does not even cover nearly half of their menu, not to mention the desserts showing just how many options are available. All the dishes have been thought through and designed with care.

The spectacular Cinnibar

Finally, there is the Cinnibar. A splendid bar that turns into a nightclub, it’s the perfect place to finish the night in a luxurious manor. There are the well-known VIP ‘cocoon booths’ that allow you to relax in style if you need a break from the dance floor. The DJs do an excellent job of getting people in the mood to dance in style, helped by the excellent list of high-quality wines and cocktails. From the Champagne cocktail Bellini, the Mutant Mojito to a bottle of Malbec, they have a wide and varied list of drinks available.

The range of choice, and the splendour and quality of these options is apparent through the whole of the grand Vermilion. This is what has sparked Mancunians’ curiosity in Vermilion. A bit like the football club in the same corner of Manchester as Vermilion, Manchester City’s squad and facilities have had meticulous work and effort put into building them. There is plenty of choice and quality for Pep to choose from in his squad. A similar thing could be said about Vermilion.