Don't know if Italian food is your scene, but there is a pretty decent Italian restaurant quite close to Piccadilly Gardens just down the road from there en route towards the Arndale Centre. Can't recall its name, but I remember the grub was nice when I visited before.
The best Italian is San Carlo which is just off Deansgate. Ballotellinand Mancini were both regulars there, need to book though as always full . Usually plenty of blart on view too.