The new venue is found behind an inconspicuous door on a backstreet of the trendy city centre district
Sampa is found behind this inconspicuous door in the Northern Quarter(Image: MEN)
A new restaurant has set up home in the Northern Quarter with a location so secret, that customers only find out on the NIGHT of their booking where exactly it is.
SAMPA is the acclaimed Brazilian food concept from former MasterChef contestant Caroline Martins.
She had previously hosted the restaurants in similarly hidden “pop up” venues, but has now found a permanent home in the Northern Quarter.
The new venue is found behind an inconspicuous black door on a backstreet of the trendy city centre district.
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Guests who have booked to dine are alerted on the day of their visit with the location – and a projection lights up with the SAMPA name ready for their arrival.
Caroline Martins inside her hidden restaurant SAMPA(Image: Naomi Sophia)
Chef Caroline explains: “I’m trying to keep the chef’s table location as a surprise for now, so guests feel like they are part of a secret club.
“Hence we only send the exact address on the booking reminder, 24 hours before their booked slot.”
The restaurant aims to bring the home comforts of Caroline’s home country of Brazil here to Manchester, with a playful style of presentation at the chef’s table which sits just 10-12 diners at a time.
It had previously been based at the Calcio sports bar on Dale Street in the Northern Quarter.
Food prepared at the chef’s table in SAMPA(Image: Naomi Sophia)
Martins is also known for her Sao Paulo Project, a pop-up which had previously taken in locations like the Blossom Street Social in Ancoats, and the former Hatch on Oxford Road.
Caroline’s food is usually a mixture of Brazilian and British influences, and she appeared on the Brazilian version of MasterChef as well as the UK’s Great British Menu.
The menu is a daily-changing 12-course tasting menu, with some brilliantly inventive dishes finished at the chef’s table right in front of you.
And the new venue also features a dark and moody art gallery that you walk through on arrival, through to a bar area for drinks before dinner.
Guests walk through the SAMPA Art Gallery through to the restaurant(Image: MEN)
The gallery will exhibit independent artists, and currently hosts an exhibition by Pete Obsolete, known for his vibrant doodle art.
Drinks wise, there’s a wine list encompassing Latin American bottles, house-infused cachaças, and traditional Brazilian cocktails.
Named after the nickname of Caroline’s San Paulo hometown, the SAMPA tasting menus showcase both locally-sourced ingredients, and a modern twist to dishes found across the 26 states of Brazil.
The 12 course taster menu costs £58pp and a wine pairing can be added for £40 or a soft drinks pairing for £30.
Brazilian food and wines at SAMPA(Image: MEN)
Before coming to the UK, Caroline was a plasma physicist, but ended her scientific career to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a chef.
She appeared on the Brazilian edition of TV cook-off, MasterChef, which kickstarted her professional career in food.
She then trained at Le Cordon Bleu, before heading to some of the finest restaurants in the world, including positions at two-Michelin starred Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs and Trenkerstube at Hotel Castel, and the one-Michelin starred Galvin La Chapelle and Pied à terre.
Since arriving in the UK and embarking on her culinary career, she has sought to launch a number of restaurant concepts that showcase the best of Brazilian cuisine.
Martins has established herself in the Manchester food scene over the past couple of years, notably with her Sao Paulo Project pop-up, as well as Rio-Me, the latter focused on bringing a flavour of South American pub food to the city.
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