Stock

We reserved a table on a Thursday evening for a special family evening out – parents visiting from New Zealand, their first visit to Manchester. We arrived at 8.30pm to find the restaurant packed with a very noisy crowd and huge tv screens everywhere – a world cup game had been on earlier during the day. A corporate event had run over. The staff were disinterested in our plight. They offered to take the screens down – we waited 15 minutes - this didn't happen. The manager told us regarding their corporate function that was meant to finish at 5pm, "they've spent alot of money this afternoon. I'll get you a drink, if you want." No apology. We had no choice but to leave as it was excessively noisy and the attitude of the staff was completely off hand, unapologetic, actually downright rude.

My rating for service is therefore based on my short experience with the staff. The ratings for food, atmosphere and value for money are all 5 – average – and do not reflect the experience I might have had.
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Sarah Watson
Thursday, August 10, 2006

Disappointing. Nice area, but litter in the street by the entrance. One big room, horrible "Italian" pop music, bad acoustics. No air conditioning (very uncomfortable during summer - too hot!). Some nice wines on the list, but slightly overpriced and not impressing for experienced international travellers. Quail main dish was ok. Do avoid the chocolate "mousse" dessert - cake icing!
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Monday, July 03, 2006

Myself and my Fiancé went to Stock April this year and have to say its one of the best experiences in dining we have ever had.

I am sorry for the people that had the experiences they had as I found the service, food and of course the wine 10 out of 10.

I never knew that restaurants existed like this is Manchester!

We will both definitely be doing there again.
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nancy
Friday, May 05, 2006

My wife and I were both thoroughly delighted with not only the food (which is by far the best "Posh" Italian in the city) but with the excellent service. The chef even went out of his way to prepare a dish for me which I had enjoyed in Florence but was not on the Stock menu. The atmosphere was subdued with only about 15 diners in, but it was midweek. We now live in South Cheshire but Stock is a place worth making the effort to visit.
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Mike
Thursday, March 23, 2006

I visited Stock on their Jazz night. I have to say after reading the comments on here, was a little apprehensive, but I can say that on behalf of my party we were all thoroughly delighted with the service, surroundings and atmosphere. The food excelled. wW shall certainly be dining there again, soon.
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Rebecca Thomas
Tuesday, February 28, 2006

I visited Stock as part of a promotion in the Times - what a bizarre experience, talk about second-class citizens, not just in our treatment by the staff, but also in the food we were served. I thought the staff were just being snooty as part of their job in an allegedly up market restaurant, oh no they could not do enough for the few dinners paying full price. Those paying full price received the normal lunchtime menu, while those of us using the voucher out of the Times received an alternative menu, which paled in comparison to the normal lunchtime menu. A 750ml bottle of water cost £3.75, the pasta was starchy and so over cooked it stuck together, the cabbage had suffered the same fate as the pasta - overcooked to the point where we were unsure as to whether it had been pureed it was so overcooked. I would not eat there again if you paid me and I certainly would not recommend it to anyone.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

I visited this restaurant as part of a promotion from the Daily Telegraph. The staff were rude to us instantly when we had told them we were there for the newspaper promotion. The food was very poor, badly presented and we were made to feel like second rate diners to the regular lunch menu customers. Presumably promotions like this should be utilised to widen their prospective diners, and I can safely say I shall not be returning and would not recommend it to any friends. Poor food and remarkably surly staff.
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Laura
Monday, February 20, 2006

Excellent - couldn't fault a thing. Food, service and atmosphere were all fantastic. I will be returning again in the future.
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Jane Fairhall
Friday, January 27, 2006

The food was excellent, location very good but the service was poor. Waiter seemed uninterested that main course was going cold whilst waiting for vegetables to be served and was at times rude.
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Thursday, December 22, 2005

I had arranged a birthday dinner for myself and 19 friends on Saturday 17th December. The food, which we had pre-ordered for 20 people a week previously, was fairly average and several dishes were barely warm. When it came to pay our bill, we were informed that the booking was on their records for 23 people (there were 3 empty seats at our table) and they had failed to detract the £10 per person deposit we had paid 2 months before. The waiter was extremely confrontational and eventually agreed to take off one of the meals and the deposits but rudely insisted that we pay for 2 extra meals which had never been booked nor brought to our table nor eaten. To prevent a scene we agreed to pay the extra but I will be writing to Stock enclosing my booking receipts. I will let other viewers of this site know if we do not receive a refund. People have recommended this restaurant but I would not advise anyone to book during the busy festive season as it seems the staff are unable to cope with the large numbers and deliver a high standard of food.
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G White
Monday, December 19, 2005