"The Northern Quarter has been crying out for a restaurant like Dough. The fact that it was eventually delivered by an independent Manchester restaurateur, ensuring the area isn't cashed in on by the chains, is also a reason to celebrate. Nestled in a beautiful building on the corner of High Street, opposite Walrus, Bluu, Odd and Socio Rehab, it couldn't be more in the heart of the Northern Quarter's vibrant nightlife.

Your first impression when you enter the red glass door into Dough is of how big the place is - 140 covers over 2 floors to be precise - and the atmosphere can be fantastic, with the chefs adding to the ambience in their theatre style kitchen. Kitted out in their Dough t-shirts they dress and prove the homemade pizza dough in front of the impressive stone based pizza oven. I guess it should be pointed out here, where the name Dough comes from. All the pizza bases, dough balls, dough sticks and garlic breads are made on site with a variety of doughs, which should appeal to those with special dietary requirements. There's gluten free, wholewheat and dairy free options as well as a fantastic selection of dishes for vegetarians.

We've tried a variety of dishes on our three visits so far, with the stand out selections being the Steak Gnocchi pasta (£6.95), Pizza Funghi (£5.85) and the Pizza Rustica (£6.50) - although you can't really go wrong with any of the dishes on the menu - especially at these prices! Pizzas start at £4.95 and the most expensive item on the menu is only £7.25 (Spicy Chicken Pizza). Compare that to other Pizzerias in town and you get the picture - Pizza Express costs 80p more for a Pizza Margherita, Piccolino £1.30 more, and The Olive Press a staggering £2 more! Only Croma is slightly cheaper (by 15p).

Whilst apologetic and friendly, the service was slow on our last visit, the busiest of the three. With the dough being made on the premises and a large busy restaurant to accomodate, you can possibly see the reason behind this. The fact we were in a rush to get to the football probably also had us clock watching more than normal. Another thing we loved however was the fact the bill stated that service charge was not included and that the staff get to keep whatever tip you leave. A nice touch that a few other places in town should follow suit with.

Dough is also extremely family friendly and deserves special mention for the 50p donation to charity for every child's pizza sold (starting at just £3.25). Kids are encouraged to create their own pizza and are given a colouring pack to keep them entertained. For those with babys, there's even a baby station where you can boil water and prepare food and bottles yourself.

All in all, extremely tasty pizzas at a fantastic price, coupled with some fantastic ideas with the customer in mind, add to the happiness directed towards this great addition to Manchester's dining scene. If you're starting a night out in the Northern Quarter, looking for a bite to eat whilst shopping across the road in the Arndale, in need of a pre-show meal before heading to the MEN Arena or sharing a family meal at the weekend, you can't go wrong with Dough!" ~ restaurants of manchester 4/12/08 (visited on a wednesday evening)