Michael O'Hare takes the reins at relaunched The Rabbit in The Moon
The site has been shut for just under three months and will reopen with a new design and menu on 29 March.
It comes after former Rabbit in The Moon head chef Luke Cockerill, who created most of the original menu, stepped down in September. O'Hare will take the reins in the kitchen going forward.
The chef, who won Leeds’ only Michelin star for his restaurant The Man Behind The Curtain in 2015, launched the restaurant with GG Hospitality above Manchester’s National Football Museum in January 2017.
It was tipped to win the city’s first Michelin star since 1974, but missed out on the accolade in the 2018 edition of the red book - though it is still recommended for its “innovative and eye-catching” menu.
O’Hare tweeted on the day the new stars were announced in October: “Sorry Manchester…next year x”.
Announcing the re-opening, GG Hospitality says the chef has learned lessons from the six months post-launch, as well as The Man Behind The Curtain, and will lead the kitchen team to “push the boundaries of fine dining” in the north west.
The restaurant has been redesigned with white tablecloths and mini astronauts on each table, while the Asian-inspired tasting menu - priced at £45 for lunch and £70 for dinner - has also been refreshed with “bolder” and more “refined” flavours.
Set dishes include langoustine toast; unagi bao; native lobster with Thai flavours; and sweet options such as white chocolate passionfruit; and peppercorn éclair.
The Rabbit in The Moon will open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, and is now taking bookings. For more of what to expect see below.
