The Manchester spots that will never win a Michelin star but are still a must

The UK's Michelin Stars were doled out today - the Oscars of the fine dining world, which can set the course for chefs and restaurants the world over.

Gain one, and you’ll be booked up for a year in the blink of an eye. Two, and you can make that a couple of years. Lose one, and the effects can be equally as profound.

Mind you, there are plenty of restaurants which - for reasons of Michelin’s distinct criteria - that will never - ever - see a coveted star above their door.

But that doesn’t mean that they’re not some of the very best places to eat in the city.

Bundobust

Bundobust - or Bundo’s to the regular visitor - hasn’t the hushed reverence required of a Michelin-starred restaurant. In fact, in both the Piccadilly and new Oxford Road branch, noise and life bounces around the handsomely reclaimed, cavernous interiors.

Who cares though, when the food is as spectacular as it is here. We’d list some of the highlights from the menu, but when there’s not a duff dish to be had on the whole thing, there doesn’t seem a great deal of point. Spectacular single every time.

61 Piccadilly, M1 2AG and 61-69 Oxford Street, M1 6EQ / www.bundobust.com

Burgerism

The Michelin judges might object to the trading estate vibe of Burgerism, over the way in Salford. And the fact that you can’t really eat there (it’s a pick-up situation). But that’s very much their loss.

Burgerism’s burgers are bundles of meaty delight - no addition of crushed Frazzles or Vimto ketchup, or any of the other needless ridiculousness that sometimes goes on around this sort of thing. Cheese or no cheese, bacon or no (turkey) bacon, massive or normal person size are pretty much the only options, and all the better for it.

18 West Ashton St, Salford, M50 2XS /