The legendary Circle Club has transformed its bar restaurant with a new head chef, new menu, new look and name.

The stunning eatery in the grade ll listed Barton Arcade off Deansgate is now called Sirocco Restaurant and Bar and has introduced a menu based on a fusion of Mediterranean dishes inspired by Italian, Spanish, French, Lebanese and North African recipes.

“Kitchen at the Circle has been great for us since we launched in April, 2010, but we have a new head chef and team in place so the time is right for change. The time is right for Sirocco,” said Circle Managing Director Craig Ince.

New Head Chef Maros Surovka has worked for prestigious restaurants throughout Manchester including Grand Sasso, Palmiro and Harvey Nichols but it's his mum who provides his biggest inspiration.

He started cooking at the age of 16, following in his mother's footsteps as she is a top chef in Slavakia and Maros himself has been described as the country’s answer to Heston Blumethal because he loves to experiment with new techniques and flavours.

The 26-year-old has teamed up with renowned restaurant consultant Joe Abid, a former chef brought up in Marseille who has worked in restaurants throughout the Mediterranean and owns the Grillados Argentine Grill in Urmston, to hand pick a new team of three other chefs and create the new menu.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to create a new menu from scratch and we have spent months experimenting with dishes.  We have also chosen some of the best chefs to work with us who are from the Mediterranean. We may all speak different languages but we all understand the language of food and are passionate about it,” said Maros.

Sirocco, named after the Mediterranean wind that blows from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds northward, from north Africa to the most southern point, bases its menu around the freshest ingredients with an extensive choice of daily specials.

Its specialty are small dishes called piattinis which are served like tapas, and are inspired by dishes from France and Italy to Spain and Tunisia, with prices starting from £4 and sharing platters for two available from £12.50.

Available throughout the day, Sirocco also has a lunch menu including pastas, salads and sandwiches starting from £5.50.

An evening a la carte menu is available from 5pm throughout the week although the restaurant will be closed on Sundays, and there is an early bird menu of three piattini dishes for £10 available from 5pm to 7pm.

The key to the menu is fresh and seasonal produce with a daily specials blackboard of more than eight dishes. And there is also a wide selection of desserts available as well teas and coffees throughout the day.

The launch of Sirocco follows the Circle’s opening of its new champagne and cocktail bar The Circle 360 in the Trafford Centre last month.

“Circle 360 is smashing all our expectations and we know that Sirocco is a fantastic concept and one we can’t wait to bring to life,” said Craig.

Sirocco is also taking booking for Christmas parties and dinners where it will be providing traditional turkey and all the trimmings as well as Mediterranean alternatives.

For further information and bookings call on 0161 817 4921.