What: Located in Wilmslow town centre in east Cheshire, Potyo is a new two-storey coastal Indian restaurant sited in a former tailors shop.
Who: Husband and wife team Jason and Milena Almeida are behind the new project. Between them the couple have extensive restaurant experience, with Milena having worked at Living Ventures with the Gusto, Australasia and Artisan brands while Jason – a former chef – has held roles including operations director at Thai Leisure Group, which owns the Thaikhun, Chaophraya, and Chaobaby Asian restaurant brands, and commercial director at Red’s True Barbecue.
The food: Potyo is inspired from dishes along the Malabar (west coast) of India and features coastal sharing plates and curry bowls alongside signature dishes such as meen polichottu (roasted fish wrapped in banana leaf with Konkan coastal masala, served with dal tadka); chicken cafreal (chicken marinated for 36 hours with coriander and house spice blend, served with pao); and thattukada steak (marinated flattened rump steak, served with pan fried onions and potatoes). There’s also a range of biryanis and sides including gunpowder potato fries. Desserts, meanwhile, include serradura (crushed biscuits topped with an eggless custard and roasted cashew nuts); and bebinca, a layered cake with coconut milk and nutmeg.
To drink: Potyo serves a tight wine and cocktail list alongside a good range of non-alcoholic beers, cocktails and drinks. It is also teaming up with local microbreweries to serve an evolving range of monthly beers.
The vibe: The Almeidas have taken the coastal theme and run with it with a light and fresh dining room that wouldn’t be out of place besides the beach rather than in a town south of Manchester. Whitewashed walls, light wood flooring, wicker chairs and blue and white cushions with wave-like patterns help create a bright and welcoming neighbourhood restaurant.
And another thing: Pronounced ‘po-tio’ in Konkani, the native language of Goa, potyo means ‘greedy boy’.
9 Bank Square, Wilmslow, SK91AN