So, when I was invited along to try out an Italian in the Northern Quarter I assumed it was a new restaurant on the block.
Heading down a street off NQ’s main drag in the Mancunian drizzle, we arrived at the unassuming-looking small entrance for Sicilian NQ on Turner Street.
Glossy vines climbing a wooden trellis, and a painted map of Italy above the door were the only clues as to what lay within.
Sicilian NQ, Turner Street (Image: NQ)
Inside, warm, amber lighting washes over exposed brick walls, creating a cosy and inviting setting perfect for lingering over food and good company.
It was only noon on a Thursday and already there was a group of what I can only assume were co-workers perched on high stools, and a couple enjoying some time together. Later, a family who I suspected were Italian arrived, always a positive sign when judging a restaurant’s authenticity.
Turning my attention to the menu, there was a surprise I wasn’t expecting – the dishes are predominantly vegan and vegetarian, with a handful of seafood options. Not a spaghetti Bolognese or lasagne in sight. There was nothing wrong with that, but I’d assumed this would be an Italian restaurant much like any other.
Montalbano ate your heart – ravioli filled with sheep’s ricotta and spinach (Image: NQ)
The menu leans heavily into classic Sicilian comfort dishes and seafood staples. Think rich tomato sauces, fried aubergines, creamy béchamel, truffle – and a lot of pistachio, a hallmark ingredient of Sicilian cuisine.
Diving straight into the starters, it had to be the arancino pistachio. Although widely celebrated as a staple across all of Italy, the stuffed rice balls originate from Sicily.
This dish arrived with a disclaimer – ‘arancini, bruschetta and sauté are not piping hot food. They will get served at the right traditional temperature as we eat in Sicily.’
Arancino pistachio (Image: NQ)
Now, if I’d not spotted this on the menu, I might have said to my husband, ‘this is on the lukewarm side’. But it reminded me of a comment I’d read on a food review years ago. The reviewer was praising the food for being ‘piping hot’, only for a chef to point out in the comments that good food doesn’t need to be served at scalding temperatures.
With the Arancino Pistachio (£9), I do think it helps the flavours come through – and you can tuck straight in. The pistachio granella also had a satisfying crunch that complemented the creamy sauce and spinach.
I’m one of those people, rightly or wrongly, who loves to share dishes at restaurants so I also had half of the Mr Mount Etna (£10.50) – a volcanic-shaped arancino filled with Sicilian ragu and topped with parmesan fondue. It tasted as good as it looked.
Mr Mount Etna (Image: NQ)
People passing by peered in, while Italian-style music set a relaxed vibe as the main courses arrived.
The Cannelloni alla Siciliana (£18) was delicious, the freshness of the ricotta offsetting the rich, homemade béchamel sauce with another dose of spinach for good measure.
The drinks menu continues the Sicilian theme, with a selection of wines produced in Sicily alongside Sicilian-inspired cocktails.
The bar area at Sicilian NQ (Image: NQ)
Now I’m no Jilly Goolden when it comes to wine, but I do know that the Italians don’t make my favourite plonk and I found the Pinot Grigio a tad on the bitter side. Still, I managed it. It’s a tough job, I know.
For dessert, I went for Sicilian Tris – three cannolicchi – Gianduia, pistachio and a vanilla cream-filled one (£7).
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Sicilian Tris – three cannolicchi for dessert (Image: NQ)
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By now, I’d bitten off more than I could chew. The sweetness of the Gianduia (chocolate and hazelnut) was the perfect sweet treat to end the meal but the other two were popped in a doggy bag for the kids back home.
Since opening in 2020, owners Carmen and Claudio, from Sicily and Naples respectively, have shaped the restaurant around their passion for ethical hospitality and animal welfare, reflected in the vegetarian, vegan and halal-friendly menu and ongoing support for an animal sanctuary in the island.
Throw in authentic Sicilian flavours and they’ve created a refreshing alternative to Manchester’s more traditional restaurants, proving Italian food can be far more than pizza, lasagne and spaghetti Bolognese.
