Review: Piano Bar & Restaurant early bird menu
If you’ve walked along School Road and glanced through the windows of Piano Bar & Restaurant without ever getting around to booking a table, this might just be your sign to change that.
Following a significant refurbishment, Piano has quietly transformed into a warm, stylish Italian restaurant that’s both polished and welcoming. Inside, it’s all fresh décor, comfortable seating and a relaxed buzz. It’s a local restaurant that works just as well for a midweek catch-up as it does for an easy Sunday lunch. Yet for many locals, it remains one of those places they’ve ‘been meaning to try’. We went along to sample the early bird menu – and really, it’s hard to understand why anyone is still walking past!
Available Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 7.30pm and Friday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm, the Early Bird menu offers two courses for just £14.95. In 2026, that price alone feels almost unheard of – but the real surprise is the quality and portion size you get for it.
To start, we chose the Tuscan Crostini and the Costolette Di Maiale. The crostini arrived generously topped with a smooth chicken liver pâté, rich with parsley, sage, garlic and red wine. It was properly seasoned, indulgent without being too heavy and served with toasted bread – a strong opener and a good-sized starter.
The pork ribs, meanwhile, made an entrance. Served bubbling hot, the slow-baked ribs more than lived up to their promise of tenderness. The in-house Piano sauce had a fruity sweetness that cut through the richness of the meat, giving a dish that was both comforting and full of flavour. It’s a starter I’d happily order again!
For mains, we opted for the Piano pasta bake and the Pollo Calabrese. The pasta bake was classic Italian comfort food: chicken, onion, garlic, peppers and mushrooms folded into a creamy tomato sauce, then baked in the oven with a golden layer of melted mozzarella. It arrived piping hot, satisfying and generous.
The Pollo Calabrese offered something slightly lighter but just as flavourful. A tender chicken breast cooked with peppers, shallots, pepperoni and tomato sauce, served with potatoes, it delivered a gentle warmth and depth without overpowering the dish.
And if two courses somehow aren’t enough (they were for us, we were full!), you can add a dessert for just £3.99. At that price, it’s hard to resist rounding off the meal with something sweet.
Beyond the food, what stands out at Piano is the overall experience. The restaurant now feels fresh and confidently Italian, with friendly staff who are just the right amount of attentive. On the Thursday evening we visited, there was a good bustle of diners clearly making the most of the early bird offer. It created a lively but relaxed atmosphere – busy enough to feel popular, but not so packed that you couldn’t enjoy a conversation.
It’s worth booking ahead, particularly later in the week, although walk-ins are welcome if there’s space. Given the value on offer, it’s easy to see why tables fill up.
There’s also a strong drinks selection to complement the menu, from wines and beers to a good range of non-alcoholic options. The cocktail offer – two of the same for £12.95 – adds another tempting reason to linger a little longer. I can recommend the mango daiquiri!
Reassuringly, Piano has also recently achieved a five-star food hygiene rating, which adds an extra layer of confidence for diners.
The value of this early bird menu really cannot be overstated. A well-cooked Italian meal, in smart surroundings, with friendly service, for £14.95 for two courses is very rare these days. And it doesn’t feel like a cut-down menu or a compromise; there’s plenty of choice and it allows you to try what Piano offers for an affordable price.
So if you’ve been one of the locals who’ve walked past the restaurant on School Road and thought, “we should try that one day,” consider this your nudge. With prices like these and food that delivers on both flavour and portion size, Piano Bar & Restaurant is more than worth a visit (and two!)
🕓 The early bird menu is currently available Monday-Thursday from 4.00-7.30pm and Friday-Sunday from 1-5pm.
📍 Piano Bar & Restaurant, 9 School Road, Sale M33 7XY
Review by: Katy, Life in Sale editor - this meal was paid for in full.
📸 All photos featured are copyrighted by Life in Sale, unless otherwise stated. We kindly ask that you do not use them without permission. If you’d like to share our images, please contact us for proper credit and usage terms.
Thank you for respecting our work!
