It's cause for celebration as infamous bar and grill masters, SoLita, are lighting a solitary candle for their first year of business. To mark the occasion they’ve launched a newly refurbished basement dining area, as well as a head turning summer menu.

The venue’s name hails from the Italian for ‘South of Little Italy’, as their Ancoats neighbours used to be home to a flourishing Italian community. Keeping within the Italian tradition, SoLita serves up a no nonsense menu influenced by their Italian heritage as well New York and Manchester inspired dishes. The Northern quarter bar’s well-earned reputation for producing aromatic and exciting flavours has inevitably gained them an increasingly loyal following.

SoLITA's Heritage tomato, blood orange and fennel salad

Although situated in a restaurant environment, it has not stopped SoLITA delivering all the smells and essences of barbecued style cooking. A range of trademark burgers and steaks are constructed from grass-fed Dexter cattle and grilled in specially built Inka charcoal closed barbecue ovens.

With the introduction of their new summer menu, SoLITA are expected to make more waves with a number of surprising and innovative additions as well as contemporary twists on popular dishes. Expect to find what is thought to be the UK’s first DIY tartare with steak and tuna options, an expanse of seafood, salads and vegetarian options. 

The new Charcoal grilled mackerel nicoise salad

Among the highlights of the newly implemented menu include: Maryland Crab cakes, beer boiled shrimp, crispy fried chicken livers and eggplant fritters with a garlic marinara sauce.

July will also mark the opening of the aforementioned basement dining area, where four new booths seating between 8 and 14 have been installed into a friendly intimate setting. Open from noon until late SoLITA additionally provides fantastic private dining spaces for custom-designed celebrations and parties.