" I went to San Siro (formerly known as The Olive) in Manchester on Princess Street with my boyfriend and we had an absolutely beautiful meal that wasn't too expensive! The host and waitresses were really friendly and welcoming and the restaurant looked beautiful inside. Exceptional Italian food at great value in a beautiful restaurant with friendly staff! There isn't much more you can ask for. I love Italian food so if I ever eat out it tends to be at Italian restaurants and this was one of the nicest by far! That is saying a lot! The meals were big and the quality was exceptional. We didn't wait long for our food either. It was such a lovely evening, I will definitely go back. It was quite quiet there when we went which seemed strange and was a shame as it was such exquisite food and a lovely restaurant! I think maybe the location is not the greatest. Therefore everyone must go and show them your support! I would definitely recommend!" - rachel dacre, manchester - NEW MEMBER (25/5/09 - visited on a friday evening)

"15 of us went to The Olive last Saturday night to celebrate my birthday and it was absolutely fantastic. Really lively, food was excellent and Roberto, the head waiter, was brilliant. We will definitely be returning - can't wait!" - lorna, manchester - member since Oct'08 (21/4/09 - visited on a saturday evening)

"The staff were excellent at The Olive, very friendly and talkative, funny with the children. The steak was undercooked at first but then, when corrected, perfect, and very tasty. The children had lasagne and spaghetti bolognese which were also very tasty. Desserts were on the scarce side, only 3 to choose from but ice cream was OK. The restaurant is quite big, I expect it is a lively place later in the evening. No draught beer though." - steve kelly, bowdon 1/3/09 (visited on a friday evening)

"The Olive was great value. Really good food, much better than I expected for the money." - ruth stancombe, marple 28/11/08

"Very nice, I hope to visit The Olive again. Lovely staff." - joe relisys, manchester 5/6/08 (visited on a monday evening)

"I visted The Olive after reading Restaurants of Manchester review and I'm glad I did. It's a good Italian restaurant. I opted for the meal deal, which was 2 courses at £5.95, having the Mixed Salad for starter and then the Lasagna for main. It tasted delicious and the portion size was big. The service was good - very friendly and professional. I definitely would recommend this restaurant to others and will be returning myself soon for another lasagna." - nancy, manchester 18/4/08 (visited on a friday lunch)

"We visited The Olive expecting a Meditteranean taverna that was winning rave reviews from our readers. Instead we found it under new ownership and serving Italian cuisine. Just around the corner from the Palace Theatre, you'll find this cellar restaurant (opposite 5th Avenue nightclub for the indie fans amongst you) and, ignoring the bright neon lights of the previous tenant outside, a surprisingly plush, large, welcoming dining area. The menu is equally as inviting with a 2 course menu available at lunch times and pre-theatre for a staggeringly low £5.95. The a la carte menu is also impressive with plenty of traditional Italian dishes to choose from together with a handful of Persian dishes which have remained on the menu. We received a large Tomato and Garlic Bread courtesy of the chef as we flicked through the menu, from which I opted for the Funghi Gratinati All'aglio starter (£3.95). The mushrooms were cooked to my liking, sautéed in white wine and gratinee with garlic and olive oil. I opted for the same dish later that evening in Giorgio's around the corner and can safely say that The Olive produced the better dish (and for £1 less). My only gripe was the lack of bread which would have soaked up the remaining oil well. The Linguine Al Frutti Di Mare, which included mussels, squid and prawns in a garlic, white wine and tomato sauce. At £6.95 for an extremely generous portion, I couldn't fault it. Hopefully The Olive can overcome the disadvantage of it's hidden away location in the same way East Z East has opposite, because on first impressions this could be one of the best Italian restaurants in Manchester city centre. Honest food, friendly service, great prices and ideal for pre-theatre dining." - neil, restaurants of manchester 16/4/08 (visited on a weds lunch)

"This is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away at the bottom end of Princess Street, The Olive has recently changed ownership and the Mediterranean menu has been replaced with an Italian one. I decided to go for the special offer of 2 courses for £5.95, trying the Garlic Mushrooms and then Lasagna, both of which were hefty portions and really couldn't be faulted! The staff are all really friendly and make the whole experience that bit special. I will certainly be back soon" - nick, stockport 16/4/08 (visited on a weds afternoon)

"Very friendly staff. Decor a little tired but the food was well presented and really well cooked. Very good value for not a lot of money" - d k williams, warrington 7/4/08 (visited on a saturday evening)