A new Turkish restaurant has opened in the old Prezzo site on Deansgate.
It has launched softly and is open every day (bar Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) until its official launch date in January.
Kai has been set up by the team behind Chester Road Indian restaurant, Zouk.
Owner Tayub wanted to bring an entirely new concept to Manchester, and having just visiting Istanbul, he was inspired by the food, culture and hospitality of the country to set up a Turkish restaurant at the Deansgate site.
The word Kai is the name of the first tribe that started the Ottoman empire. This idea of a tribe has inspired the sharing style of food, a place where people can come together and eat different types of food.
The main focus of the menu is the charcoal grill, where impressive cuts of meat will be cooked over hot flames.
Diners will be able to enjoy big meaty dishes such as Tomahawk steak and whole lamb ribs, carved at the table.
There’ll also be slow-cooked lamb shank, traditional pides with various toppings, kebabs, vegetarian options, fresh salads, soups, and the famous Turkish ‘balloon’ bread, which is a large flatbread which inflates with hot air as it cooks.
All the breads will be cooked in the Prezzo pizza oven which has been kept in the kitchen.
The dishes are designed to be shared and range from £6 to £14.
The 140-cover restaurant is split into three sections. Firstly, the bar at the front of the restaurant will have lively music, cocktails, Turkish beers and bar food. Outside there will be seating where guests can enjoy shisha pipes.
There are beautiful dark leather booths in the bar area with modern, geometric lights hanging above.
The middle section of the restaurant is supposed to recreate the feeling of being outside.
Inspired by the al fresco dining culture in Turkey, the ceiling is adorned with colourful flowers, which contrasts beautifully with the black and white tiled floor and the dark blue leather chairs.
The back of the restaurant by the open kitchen is the ‘chef’s table’ area, where the chefs will come out and finish off the dishes at the table or carve it up in front of you.
All the chefs are Turkish as well as the general manager who Tayub has worked with for over five years.
Kai is open softly now and will launch officially on January 17, 2019. It is open every day from 11am to midnight, apart from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Walk-ins are welcome throughout the soft launch but to book a table, call 0161 843 7637 or visit www.houseofkai.co.uk .
