Well-known food spots are among the 30 city centre restaurants and cafes which failed to meet basic hygiene standards.

The M.E.N. has compiled a list of eateries that scored a ‘one’ - meaning major improvement is necessary - following their latest inspections.

Popular foodie hangouts in the city centre appear on the list, put together according to the latest information on the Food Standard Agency (FSA) website.

They include Buffet City, Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar, Cafe 3 at Afflecks Palace, Beef & Pudding, and Bangers and Bacon.

The M.E.N. contacted managers at every one of the 29 restaurants and cafes to find out why they had scored so poorly.

Many blamed mistakes with paperwork - rather than hygiene and cleanliness - for their low score.

Read more:

Read more: The restaurants in Chorlton, Didsbury and Rusholme with one star ratings

Watch: How do the Food Standards Agency investigate restaurants' hygiene

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Bosses at Bangers and Bacon in Spinningfields said they were caught out after inspectors discovered they cooked burgers pink.

FSA chiefs say are currently consulting on changes to rules to rare patties to be served following the rise in gourmet burger chains.

The FSA scale goes from zero to five, with venues receiving five deemed as the safest, cleanest and the best.

Inspectors from the council assess the premises, looking at the handling, preparation, cooking and storage of food.

Health and safety officers also check the cleanliness and condition of the building to make sure it is safe for customers.

All of these ratings were taken from the FSA’s website as they appeared on the morning of Thursday, April 7.

The date in brackets signifies the restaurant’s last inspection date.

Avalanche, Clarence Buildings, 2 Booth Street, M2 4AT (20 January 2016)

Manager Georgio Roncari said a range of improvements had been made since the inspection, including issues with fridges and electricity. He said the restaurant is clean and that there would be ‘no problems whatsoever’ when it is re-visisted.

Bangers and Bacon, The Kitchens, Irwell Square Unit 2, Left Bank M3 3AG (24 July 2015)

A spokesman said: “At the time of inspection in July 2015, Bangers and Bacon’s signature beef hamburgers were cooked pink to taste. The documentation required to support this was not supplied at the time and resulted in a one star rating. All hamburgers are now cooked well done.”

Bangkok Bar, 40 Princess Street, M1 6DE (10 November 2015)

Owner Kriangsak Sirisambhand said there were a few ‘small’ issues - such as repainting and cleaning - but he was confident the bar would get a better score on re-inspection having made improvements.

Beef & Pudding, 37 Booth Street, M2 4AA (06 January 2015)

David Mooney, joint-owner of Beef & Pudding said: "Within the first six months of opening, we were inspected, which is very unusual.

"We were using a Scottish safety system at the time, which the inspector said wasn't good enough. We're now using Shield Yourself, based in the Northern Quater, who are very good.

"All the issues were procedural. We've invited them back many times. I'm confident, if the inspectors came back tomorrow, we would get a very high score.

"This is something we take very seriously."

Benka, 131 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HE (02 June 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Boof, 12 Swan Street, M4 5JN (26 November 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Bouzouki By Night, 88 Princess Street, M1 6NG (19 November 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Buffet City, 111 Portland Street, M1 6DN (12 December 2014)

A manager did not respond to the M.E.N’s request for comment.

Cafe 3, third floor, Afflecks Palace, 52 Church Street M4 1PW (26 November 2015)

Tony Martin, general manager at Afflecks, said: “I was very disappointed to hear the result of Cafe 3’s recent hygiene inspection and have since worked very closely with the business owner Terry Ryan to assist him in making improvements. Terry has now taken on new staff and all notes highlighted in the inspection have been actioned.

“I am confident that should a further inspection be carried out that the result will be much higher.

“I would like to point out that we have a further two catering establishments within Afflecks - Black Milk Cereal Dive and Gingers - that each scored a maximum five points in their inspections.”

Cafe Issano Units, FC7-8 Arndale Market, Arndale Centre, M4 3AH (06 November 2015)

A spokesman said bosses are awaiting a re-inspection after making improvements.

Cafe Italia, 15 Shudehill, M4 2AF (18 September 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Chris’s Corner, 83 Princess Street, M1 4HH (10 November 2015)

Sinty Leung, manager, said: “I was told to make minor changes. My staff attended a hygiene course and I was told to make an allergen list for food. I sent the form back to the council but haven’t heard back from them.”

Cottonopolis Food & Liquor, Ground Floor, 16 Newton Street, M1 2A (27 November 2015)

Owner Nick Muir said: “We didn’t have the correct paperwork in place - that was the only issue. We’re waiting to be re­inspected. We’re completely comfortable with our hygiene and food standards. We are confident we will get a very high rating when are re-inspected.”

Elixir Tonic and Treats, Unit 3, 123 Deansgate, M3 2BY (04 March 2016)

A spokesman said: “We don’t actually do food. We do drinks and we are not a restaurant.”

Giorgio Ristorante, 131 Portland Street, M1 4PY (23 September 2015)

Manager Nicholas George said: “The review was made in November/December last year and we have complied with all the rules and regulations as much as we can.”

Habesha, First Floor, 29­31 Sackville Street, M1 3LZ (01 April 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Main Street Cafe, 4 Aspin Lane, M4 4DP (01 December 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Mei Dim Restaurant, 45­47 Faulkner Street, M1 4EE (15 October 2015)

A spokesman said: “I thought we were given a three star rating.”

Middle Kingdom, Manchester House, 86 Princess Street, M1 6NG (14 October 2015)

A spokesman said: “We are waiting for the council to come back and inspect us.”

Onje, Units Fc9-Fc12, Manchester Arndale Market, 49 High Street Manchester, M4 3AH (18 November 2015)

Anonymous. It was second visit it was technical difficulties. It was not through cooking the food or the hygiene.

Pane, Vino 225 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN (26 January 2016)

A manager was not available for comment.

Rump and Ribs, Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5AN (22 October 2015)

A spokesman said: “There was a hot water issue that was resolved immediately.” They added that because of the problem, they cannot be reassessed for another six months.

Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar, Unit 1, The Corn Exchange, Exchange Square, Manchester, M4 3TR (05 January 2016)

Owner Maurizio Cecco said: “Our score was unfortunately due to a silly mistake while we were opening the new restaurant - one which doesn’t in any way reflect our food standards approach.

“We didn’t have our temperature control book on site, which means you receive an automatic zero. We were given a ‘one’ as everything else was perfect, but were unable to achieve more than that due to this stupid oversight on our part.

“We take our health and hygiene responsibilities very seriously, as is demonstrated by our score of four across the board at all of our other sites. We look forward to welcoming the Environmental Health team back to the restaurant so that we can get this situation rectified.”

Sheila’s Meals, The Great American Car Wash, Back St Georges Road, Manchester, M4 4JD (03 February 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant, 58-60 George Street, Manchester, M1 4HF (10 November 2015)

Owner Bryan Powell said: “We’re waiting for a reasessment. I wasn’t aware we were given a one star rating.

“My concern was we were rated by an agency person - not the inspector. I know we are waiting for our rating by the inspector.”

The Han Dynasty, 61-63 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 3NY (08 June 2015)

A manager was not available for comment.

V Revolution, 88 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LF (04 February 2016)

A manager was not available for comment.

Vnam Cafe, 140 Oldham Road, Manchester, M4 6BG (28 October 2015)

A manager was not available to comment.

Well Hung, Unit 5, The Kitchens Left Bank, Manchester, M3 3AN (26 January 2016)

A manager was not available to comment.

Manchester's pubs and bars with one star

We have also compiled a list of the bars and pubs that failed to meet basic hygiene standards. These are the ones that scored a ‘one’ star rating - meaning major improvement is necessary - following their latest inspections.

You can read the full list here.

Restaurants in Chorlton, Didsbury and Rusholme with one star

More than 80 restaurants and cafes in Manchester outside the city centre have been ordered to make drastic changes after failing to meet basic food hygiene standards.

The huge figure includes eateries in Didsbury, Rusholme and Chorlton.

You can read the full list here.