The Lime Tree

The Lime Tree

8 Lapwing Lane
West Didsbury
Manchester M20 2WS

Tel.: 0161 445 1217

Tuesday 19th November 2002

Pleasant suburban area, shortage of parking. [Bradley, Phil]  ...but not a problem
Set Lunch menu £10.95/2  £14.95/3 courses, plus a la carte.
[Bradley, Phil]  Clientelle seemed very smart, the restaurant was quite busy and asked if we had booked.

[Bradley, Phil]  Menu choice was respectable for lunchtime, there were four or five starters and four or five main courses. I would suspect that these are changed with some regularity.

Phil: Moules Mariniere, Leek & Dolcelatte Calzone
Me: Chicken Bang Bang, Chicken Bourgignon
Sides: Chips (wedges) with Chive/ Sour Cream dip, Battered Courgettes / sliced parmesan
2 Stellas each
Coffee
31.90 service not inc.
Bread- brown  [Bradley, Phil]  Granary? and nutty  [Bradley, Phil]  walnut were both delicious. [Bradley, Phil]  Butter rock hard.

Didn't look at the wine list, as we had little time and were both driving that day.
Little choice in beers - only bottled Stella. I think this is a shortcoming - beers are just as respectable as wines, and a little choice (from the vast array of really quite impressive beers and lagers available) would have been appropriate.

[Bradley, Phil]  Service was respectable but could have been more attentive

Moules terrific [Bradley, Phil]  especially the cream and white wine sauce , Bang Bang exceptional.
Decor a little less salubrious than the quality of the food warrants - tables small, bare wood, we were in the "semi-conservatory" section.

Main course: Calzone looked like a pasty, but nice array of vegetables, chicken looked tasty - nicely browned. Garlic mushrooms were very garlicky - I know its difficult to get garlic just right: it can be too pungent, and without a very fresh tang can be overpowering. Chicken was OK, but nothing special.

The Mash was of a good texture and was tasty.

[Bradley, Phil]  Portions were on the economical side for me, but I am a big eater
Battered courgettes were tasty but with courgette also served as part of the mediterranean vegetable selection, it was probably a slight overdose.

Overall: Brilliant start, somewhat let down by main courses which weren't as remarkable as the starters. Reasonable pricing (but why do restaurants have to mark up drinks so much?). We would both be happy to go there again.

Sandro and Phil