Whitefield may not shout as loud as some of its North Manchester neighbours, but the area, on the cusp of Bury as you head out of Manchester beyond Prestwich, is one of the city-region’s understated gems. Packed with green space, not least the vast expanse of Philips Park to the west and Heaton to the east, good living obviously suits the locals as they’re nurturing a thriving food and drink scene as we speak. Campo Blanco plays an integral part in this. Hard to miss with its facade of fairy lights, once inside guests will find things are just as colourful, and that goes for the cuisine as much as the decor, while the service is attentive, personal and always welcoming.
Campo Blanco’s main focus is the small plates menu, so let’s start there. Billed as ‘tapas style’, while not everything here is rustic Spain it’s all excellent. Highlights for us include the goats cheese bonbons, spinach & feta empanadas, mushrooms scallops, truffle patatas and vegan chorizo. Or at least that’s the vegetarians. Meat lovers can pick from lamb koftas, chorizo in red wine, rump steak, chicken & chorizo fajitas, BBQ beef cheeks and Italian-esque meatballs. Then you have the fish — sea bass asturiano, sesame salmon, sizzling prawns, crispy squid and cod tacos, among other delicacies.
Those looking for a bigger bowl at Campo Blanco should check the paella. Only available on Sunday, but well worth the wait for the rest of the week, this is a contemporary take on the Spanish staple with chorizo, pulled beef and chicken, or prawns, squid, mussels and fish. Not forgetting the classic seasonal vegetable variety. Sundays also offer a full roast dinner with all the trimmings, opening with starters such as hummus & flatbread and pan con tomate, or a selection of tapas, before bringing out the main: roast chicken, roast beef, or a homemade vegan pie. Beyond that, you’ll find bottomless brunch at the weekends, a well-stocked bar with quality in abundance — do try the sangria — and an upstairs ‘speakeasy’ space which allows diners to continue their evening into the early hours, once they’ve done with the meal.