Italiana FiftyFive - Italian Restaurant Manchester

Fantastic gluten free options :) Food and service are great

Restaurant visibly looks nice BUT that’s it. As a solo female traveller I chose this restaurant as it offered gluten feee pasta. First impression was not good, when I tried to walk in, one of the waiter asked if I was okay as if I was lost or needed her help in some sort of way. Once sat, another waiter came over and offered an “off the menu special” stating it was cheaper than the other dishes. Yes it was a flash looking place and I may have been a little underdressed but I didn’t look poor. I know this was only a special offered to me because every customer that walked in after that was not offered this same special. The wine I ordered was meant to be a “large” one but after looking at the person next to who also ordered large, it was not large at all but I still was charged the large. The next issue was the water, once I had ordered my wine the waiter asked if I wanted still or sparkling water after no request on my behalf. I asked for still (this one is a little my fault) because I thought it would be tap water for the table but it was a £5 bottle of water. Then the food, it was okay at best. It tasted very bland but knew I had paid good money for it so I finished it off. Paying: my Aus travel card was an “invalid card” so it wasn’t accepted. Luckily I had my UK card I could use as well to pay. Overall this place made me feel extremely uncomfortable and taken advantage off. I would never recommend this place to anyone at all. Also adding to the terrible experience the table next to me asked if the 2 for 1 cocktails was still happening then the waiter replied with no. Only to then come back and say it is still happening after they had ordered and received their other drinks.

Exceptional experience! I ordered the Bucatini Reggiano, and Felix recommended adding pancetta to the dish—truly the best advice, as it took the flavors to another level. Felix and Jennifer provided excellent service, attending to us with such warmth and care. I also loved that they offer a great and ample gluten-free menu, ensuring everyone has delicious options. Plus, the non-gluten-free pasta is freshly made in-house, adding an extra layer of authenticity to their dishes. If you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine with thoughtful recommendations and top-notch service, this is the place to go!