New in food: Vice and Virtue, Pollen Bakery & more

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of new restaurant and bar openings in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, our monthly round-ups of the best new openings every month should help you choose somewhere new to try – from wood-fired pizza places to kid-friendly cafes. Opening a new food and drink venue in Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds? Let us know – send the details to jess@theskinny.co.uk. 

Charcoal steaks and Brazilian barbecue in Leeds

Leeds' Northern Quarter continues to bloom with the arrival of Vice and Virtue's new fine dining restaurant, building on the venue's reputation as a high-qual cocktail bar since opening late last year. With rotating five/eight or ten-course tasting menus, the restaurant is headed up by multi award-winning Leeds chef Luke Downing, whose ever-changing dishes aim to make the most of locally sourced British ingredients and the seasons that bear them. Opens 10 Sep, New Briggate.

Birmingham export The Lost and Found also has tongues wagging in Leeds, thanks to a solid cocktail menu and a menu of modern British favourites including, above all else, charcoal oven-cooked steaks, each matured for at least 28 days. Open now, Greek Street

New Brazilian joint Bossa is taking over the old Zizzi space on Cloth Hall Street, planning to cast a little bohemian Latin spirit over Leeds with vibrant food like ropa vieja (pulled beef), spicy mango chicken wings, pork with requeijão (a bit like an unlumpy ricotta) and ‪linguiça (smoked cured sausage)‬. Opens 19 Sep, Cloth Hall Street. 

After opening their first venue outside of London in Bicester, Belgian restaurant Le Pain Quotidien are taking to Leeds to open their second, where you'll be able to chow down on organic breads and pastries alongside tartines, salads, platters and classic breakfast dishes. Opens in October, Victoria Gate.

Cuban street food and giant barrels in Liverpool

[Finca]

Cuban street food bods Finca are packing up shop after a successful summer residency out in the Botanical Garden – but fear not, for you can get your fix from their new residency at The Merchant, building on their successful spread of cubanos, tacos and plantain crisps with new dishes like quesadillas and other South American sharing fare. Opens 17 Sep,Parr Street.

Serving up authentic Indian dishes the vegetarian and vegan way, Sanskruti has now opened on the corner of Ormond and Bixteth Street – and it seems Liverpool’s already fully embraced the traditional animal-free fare, which includes classics of the continent like dosas, chaat dishes and curries. Open now, Bixteth Street.

Multi-storey restaurant and bar Castle Street Townhouse is also set to open this month, where it's all about all-day dining and drinking – or what they call the three Bs: breakfast, brunch and bar. Opens in September, Castle Street.

[Existing Ziferblat site in Manchester]

Pay-per-minute cafe Ziferblat is expanding with a second Liverpool venue over in St Paul's Square, rolling out the tried-and-tested formula that sees customers charged for their time, not for the unlimited snacks and drinks inside – which makes it particularly ideal for students or freelancers needing a cost-effective workspace. Opens 5 Sep, St Paul's Square

It’s gimmick upon gimmick with new pirate-themed bar Man’s Ruin, which will let you drink from the comfort of booths in, erm, giant barrels. There's also a mantra of 'Work like a captain, play like a pirate', which we think makes about as much sense as those oversized barrels. Hmm. Open Now, Stanley Street

Like your milkshakes with an extra kick? You’d best get down to Moloko, an all-day brunch and ‘hardshake’ hotspot that morphs into a bar as night sets in. Think waffles with Nutella, bacon and ice cream, deep-fried peanut butter and jam sandwiches and cocktails inspired by ultimate ice cream van staple: the Twister. Open now, St Peter’s Square.

Organic sourdough and seafood snacks in Manchester

[Gloucester Old Spot pork belly at The Refuge by Volta]

The Refuge, part of The Palace Hotel, is the long-awaited new venture from Unabombers Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford, who’ve already earned their stripes as restaurateurs with their existing venues, Volta in Didsbury and Electrik in Chorlton. Along with beers from First Chop and Beavertown, food-wise it's once again about innovative small plates like sea bass ceviche, salt cod croquettes, black daal, tuna tartare and Gloucester Old Spot pork belly. EXCITING STUFF. Opens 14 Sep, Oxford Street.

[The Pilcrow]

Community-built pub The Pilcrow  finally opens its doors after a serious labour of love, which has seen volunteers learn new skills and crafts to create a venue handmade using traditional methods. Run by Cloudwater Brew Co. and the team behind Common, we're sure it's in safe hands. Opens end of Sep, NOMA. 

Celebrated as much for his amusing Twitter presence as he is for his ever-growing empire of neighbourhood bistros, chef Gary Usher sets down roots in Manchester with Hispi, a Kickstarter-funded restaurant to join sister sites, Sticky Walnut in Hoole and Burnt Truffle in Heswall. Originally set for Chorlton, Hispi's original home fell through, meaning it'll now be the leafy suburb Didsbury that gets to benefit from the likes of braised featherblade, pearl barley and wheat beer risotto, grilled plaice with tarragon and anchovy butter and brown rice pudding parfait. Opens 7 Oct, School Lane.

[Bangers and Bacon]

After being crowned champs of Spinningfields’ year-long street food competition at The Kitchens in Leftbank, Bangers and Bacon will be opening their first restaurant, BEASTro, which will see their signature meaty flavours brought together in a permanent home. Opens in September, Spinningfields.

New sourdough bakery Pollen is set to open this month, promising a signature dark bake that uses caramelised sugars in the crust to add flavour to loaves, while also using a longer, cold fermentation approach – again for flavour, but also for an easier-to-digest dough. Housed under the arches near Piccadilly Station, just around the corner from Cloudwater HQ, Pollen Bakery will be open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, with cinnamon buns, croissants and the like also on sale. Opens in Septemeber, Sheffield Street.

[Holy Crab]

Meanwhile, over in Kosmonaut it's out with the burgers and in with fresh seafood snacks, as street food purveyors Holy Crab take over the basement every Thursday-Sunday with their oysters, salmon sliders, crab balls, seaweed popcorn and other such sea-faring goodness. Opens 8 Sep, Tariff Street.

And speaking of fishy business, Soho seafood restaurant Randall and Aubin will be opening a 130-cover site in Manchester, straddling the Deansgate and Spinningfields areas with an apt combo of oysters, roasts, champagne and such. Opens in September, Bridge Street.