CityLife

Reader review: Spice Cafe

WE are very fond of a certain, well-known diner in Beech Road, Chorlton. The problem is, it's getting too well known, and last week we were turned away because the place was full.

Walking back to the car, we noticed, for the first time, a place called Spice Café and decided to give it a go.

A lady who smiled and spoke more like a friend than a waitress led us across to the plain wooden table with matching chairs. Glancing around at the rest of the decor gave the impression that we were actually in Ikea's showroom, but at least the atmosphere was warm, so we ordered a bottle of house wine (no draught beers available) and studied the menu while we supped.

After much deliberation, we decided on the three-course special, which, offered more selection than some so-called a-la-carte menus.

I started with beetroot and apple soup (unusual) then blackened breast of chicken with creamed corn and chilli oil (extremely tasty) before finishing with pear and blackcurrant pancake (gut busting).

My other half went for roast aubergine hummus with warm khoubz bread (just so she could discover what it was), followed by smoky chick-pea pimento, which was served with lemon couscous and toasted almonds (absolutely superb) and for desert, sticky carrot and walnut pudding. I don't know what that was like because she wouldn't let me taste it, despite the fact that she had half my pancake.

The service was leisurely rather than slow and though the seats were spartan, they were far from uncomfortable, and both of us agreed that, for é15.95 per head, we had done very well. All in all, we were rather pleased that our original choice of venue had been too busy to accommodate us.

Now our only problem is now that the Manchester Evening News has printed this review, we won't be able to get a table at the Spice Café either!