When it comes to quality dining at unbelievable prices, it's hard to beat the guys at Six by Nico.  If you're not already aware, then their concept is simple but excellent.  Six courses for very little money, with a menu which changes every six weeks.  So there's always something new in the near future.  It's just a superb product. 

So, we were delighted to be invited down to sample their new Nutcracker menu, which well and truly got us in the Christmas spirit ahead of time. We arrived to find the dining room transformed into a Winter Wonderland, with guests treated to festive table settings, including Nutcracker figurines and crackers to pull!

Without spoiling all the surprises, Six by Nico love a bit of theatre and immersive dining, so you can expect a few twists and turns as the menu plays out, especially at this time of year.

Course 1 was titled 'The Gift', and it was just that. A ribbon wrapped box containing two perfectly formed croustades, filled with a bounty of piped Gruyere, some smoked pancetta jam, and chestnut emulsion.  It was a huge hit of flavour in a single bite.

Course 2 was a taste sensation.  A hearty slice of smoked salmon, topped with bergamot caviar, with a flourish of horseradish 'snow' added at tableside for a sprinkle of festive magic.

Course 3, the Carrot Tartare was our biggest hit of the evening.  Layers of flavour, perfect seasoning and texture.  I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best things we've eaten on any of Nico's menus over the years.  If this dish was served in half of the city's Michelin listed small plate venues, you'd happily pay £15 for it, which considering the bargain price of the whole 6 course menu, is remarkable.

Course 4 was the main fish course, sporting a pan cooked piece of sea bass with ember roasted leek and Taramasalata. On the side was a dry ice filled bowl, containing a tartlet with leeks and dill pickle apple. Theatrical, light, graceful just like a ballerina.

Course 5 was the main course and inspired by most people's favourite part of a Christmas dinner; the pig in blanket.  A roll of sausage meat, wrapped in bacon, served with an array of garnishes and a bold gravy. Playful, clever and super tasty.

Course 6 brought things to an end with a flourish with Nico's 'The Land of Sweets' dish.  A sweet indulgence with a red chocolate coasted almond financier bonbon at its centre, surrounded with a lovely festive clementine sorbet,  passionfruit jelly, and shards of candy cane tuile.

And that brought us to the end of our experience, and it was indeed an experience which is guaranteed to get you in the festive mood.  The Six by Nico Nutcracker menu runs from Nov 17th to Dec 31st and costs just £45.

** Our experience was gratefully comped **

Six By Nico Deansgate - Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Who doesn’t love a bit of Six by Nico when in search of a dining experience which strikes the perfect balance of being tasty, immersive, gastronomic, but also delivers astounding value for money to boot. 

We were invited down (via the postal delivery of an ingenius edible invitation!), to sample the newly released Mad Hatter's Tea Party menu, which looked like an amazing experience based on what we'd seen of it on socials, so we gladly headed down to see more first hand which is the only way of course.

We started with a couple of optional pre-menu snacks as follows;

'Eat Me!  Drink Me!' (£9 supplement); an aged cheese biscuit sandwich, served with a mug of stunning mushroom consommé, infused with lemon thyme, with a healthy portion of pickled mushrooms hiding as the bottom as a surprise.

Warm Sourdough (£5.50 supplement) was as it says on the tin; lovely slices of warm bread which came served with a whipped malted barley and bone marrow compound butter. Our appetites were whetted, so onto the main 6 course menu we marched.

'We're All Mad Here' was as fun as it sounded.  A hearty chicken fat doughnut stuffed with shredded chicken, sauced with roast chicken juices and then topped with crispy onions for a burst of sweetness.  Delicious.

'Caterpillar Secret Garden' was served with a theatrical flourish in the form of a glass cloche, filled with smoke which was lifted to reveal a slice of BBQ'ed hispi cabbage, smoked potato terrine, taramasalata, garnished with garden herbs.  Visually striking and full of flavour.

'Paint the Roses Red' was full of classic flavour combinations.  A moulded  goat's cheese parfait with beetroot, grilled red pepper and some punchy Ancho chilli, all sauced at the table side for that trademark Six by Nico experience.

In the past at Nico's, we've alway stuck to the matching wine flights, which are superb value and do a great job of showcasing a few vinos which you've possible never tried before. But this time, with one driver and one person able to indulge, we opted for the matched cocktails, and also the matched mocktails. As with the wine, both paired perfectly and the mocktails were true to the alcoholic versions!

'Breakfast in Disguise – Sunny Side Upside Down', was a table favourite and a fitting fish course for such an experience.  A slice of really well-cooked pollock, nuggets of crispy black pudding, egg yolk jam and smoked bacon.  An edible menu on the side boosted the fun level to a 10!

'Off With His Head' comprised of pig head terrine, cut into slices and then coloured/crisped on all sides.  The plate was finished with slices fennel, lovage, apple & a couple of dots of mustard mousseline.  A plate full of classic flavour combinations and great textures.

'Jam First – Logic Later – Inverted Tea and Toast' is a mouthful of a description, and also a sturdy dessert course.   Burnt toast delice served with some wonderful Summer strawberries along with a pair of Jammy Dodgers which were served on the side, in a dry ice featured box. This course brought about several 'ooooohs' as the boxes were served throughout the dining room.  A truly magical way to end an aptly themed dinner experience.

So the new Mad Hatter's Tea Party is yet another winner from Six by Nico.  It's the same fun filled experience which we've come to know and love over the years, at the bargain price points which have helped make Nico's famous throughout the land.

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party menu goes live at the Manchester Deansgate branch from July 14th until August 24th.  The cost is just £45 for 6 courses, with optional drink pairings also available at similarly competitive prices.

** Our experience was gratefully comped **