There's a brilliant bistro tucked away in Stretford Arndale - the mall that even Tesco left behind

Stretford Canteen is found on the currently hard-to-love edge of Stretford Mall, or the Stretford Arndale as it’s known to locals. The gradually emptying shopping centre’s preeminent claim to fame is that Muhammad Ali turned up there to promote Ovaltine on October 12, 1971, almost causing a riot in Tesco in the process.

He'd not long faced Joe Frazier in the ring, but admitted to being 'scared' as he was besieged by frenzied Mancs with bad hair trampling each other to get a glimpse of him. Much has happened since then. Not all good. The mall lost its market hall, a good old fashioned greasy spoon and a classic flat roof pub, not to mention a very handy TJ Hughes. Even the Tesco has gone.

But the entire place, much like the development of Sale’s town centre down the road, is now on the cusp of a huge, multi-million pound investment from the council and led by developers Bruntwood, with the Canteen among the early vanguard of new businesses being brought in, alongside a General Store and food hall a few doors down.

Indulge in more of Ben Arnold's food writing covering Greater Manchester...

One of Stockport's best takeaways is run by an ex-footballer and tucked away by Cash Converters

The takeaway inside an ex-council house in Blackley serves the 'best curry you'll ever have'

'I found Manchester's best sandwich down a very dodgy looking backstreet'

But whatever restaurants now arrive on or around the all-new ‘Stretford King Street’, chef Deb Burton, co-founder Josephine Sandwith, her husband Dean and even their daughter Eve, who works front of house, will have set the bar ridiculously high for everyone else.

Originally a supper club that took up residence at various spots all over South Manchester, the now