Sam's Chop House

If Hawksmoor is the special-occasion roast, Sam's Chop House is the reliable, timeless one. This wood-panelled Victorian institution on Back Pool Fold has been feeding Mancunians for more than 150 years, and the Sunday roast reflects that: roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy served straight. The heritage is a big part of the draw, with dark timber and brass throughout. At around £18 it is the best value of our top three and sits right in the heart of town, which is why it edges the pub picks below; it ranks behind Hispi because the cooking is classic and traditional rather than adventurous. Choose it over The Marble Arch when you want a dedicated heritage dining room and a central location rather than a pub-and-cask-ale afternoon.