When I studied Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes in Manchester, each
week after the lesson a few members of the class would go out to have a drink,
something to eat and practice all we had learnt.
We’d generally head to one of the nearby Spanish restaurants: Evuna, El
Rincón de Rafa or La Viña. But more often than not we’d only make it as far as Dimitri’s
– although not Spanish, the Mediterranean menu, relaxed atmosphere and location
next to Cervantes made it the ideal spot.
As a result, I know the food of Dmitri’s well; so when they opened up an
outpost closer to home, in Didsbury, I was keen to check it out.
Sadly, on the whole the food and experience was disappointing. The staff
were friendly and service was good but we went on a Thursday night and there
was little atmosphere compared to its older city centre sister.
Perhaps visiting on a busy Friday or Saturday night would offer a better
all round experience? (Although, I’m not so sure this would help the food.)
Ordering from the ‘tapas’ section of the menu, we greedily ordered far
too many dishes for three people (especially as the portions were somewhat
bigger than we expected.) The waiter indicated that the kitchen would send the
dishes out as and when they were ready – which was fine by us.
The next thing, seemingly seconds after ordering, all the dishes arrived
together – which did suggest that not much is cooked from fresh. This would
certainly explain why we found the Pasha rice
dish (for £5.45) had the texture of toenail clippings and why the Patatas Bravas (for
£5.75), although looking crispy, were soft and tired.
The better dishes included the Four dips served with hot pittas (for £8.95)
– we selected Guacamole, Hummus,
Melinzana (an aubergine and tomato dip) and Skordalia (walnut and garlic). The Guacamole was a bit sloppy for
our taste but we found the other three very enjoyable.
For me, the most flavoursome dish was
the Gigantes (for £5.85) featuring
giant butter beans, served warm, in a spicy tomato sauce with crumbly feta.
More average dishes included: a cold
seafood salad with octopus, Octopodi
Salata (£6.75); marinated anchovies, Boquerones
(£4.95); grilled Cypriot cheese, Halloumi (£6.95); an Olive mix (£2.95) and Garithes,
king prawns in filo pastry with salsa (£6.75).
More disappointing dishes included, Salt & pepper ribs (£6.95), the
tasty jalapeño sauce was not enough to make up for what we felt was poor
quality, tough, chewy meat. Similarly we found the Greek roast lamb (£6.95) was dry and leathery.
Instead of the expected light,
seasoned flour the Whitebait (£6.35) were
lost in a heavy, orangey breadcrumb, which gave them an overall oily taste.
Not impressed with the ‘mains’, I
opted out of dessert, whilst my wife had the Crema Catalaña (£3.95) and my stepdaughter chose Chocolate and mint ice creams (2 scoops
for £2.95).
Would I return? Only in a large
group, but even then, I think I’d want to just fill up on bread; seafood
antipasti; olives and perhaps a bowl of the gigantes – although, I’d probably
suggest we keep driving and visit the city centre branch.

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12 dishes between 3 of you?
ReplyDeleteGreedy bas**rd.