Frankie spends thyme in Chorlton

Sometimes, you just seem to happen upon the most delectable lunches when you aren’t even really trying.

This is exactly what happened to me, when a friend of mine and I found ourselves in the middle of a downpour whilst exploring Chorlton’s eateries, desperate for somewhere to satisfy our lunchtime growls.

Scuttling towards the nearest shop which most represented a restaurant through the blurred raindrops on my glasses, we pushed our way through the door and into the Mediterranean.

Or more accurately Olive and Thyme, a Mediterranean Cafe and Restaurant situated in the heart of Chorlton, slap bang in the middle of Barlow Moor Road.

Swiftly forgetting my new on-the-go footbath formerly known as my shoes; all tension rolled away as the smell of fresh, savoury breads enveloped my senses.

A wood-burning fire crackled as the sounds of a Gypsy Kings megamix softly filled the restaurant. The restaurant layout was simple, but effective; mosaic lights glowed above the dark-oak bar, a combination of exposed stone wall and wood beams helped create a cosy, homey feel in an otherwise stylishly designed restaurant.



The menu described delicious dishes with everything from light lunch bites, classic olive-drizzled Greek dishes to an assortment of meze’s for those just wanting to have a “pick”. Fancying a bit of everything, we went for the latter along with an order of one of their gargantuan Greek Salads.

The service was speedy and humble, a perfect service for those who fall victim to a strong dose of the “hangry’s”. No more than 15 minutes passed before platefuls of hot and fresh Mediterranean selections were placed central on our table ready to be devoured.

An inflated pillow of Turkish Lavash bread accompanied our dishes, sinking into a soft, more-ish flatbread as we tore it into hunks to use as spoons for our dips. Salivating at the sight of the sigara boregi, I immediately chomped my way through one of the fried feta cheese sticks to reveal a layer of spinach stuffing. Whilst I wasn’t totally bowled over by flavour, I must admit the delicate light flavours of this savoury treat added soft, welcoming bites against the sharp and zingy taste of the dips.

Houmous and tzatziki were two of the usual suspects found on the meze but are always a pleasure to see. Refreshing bites of tzatziki were the perfect complement to each portion of the meze, the tanginess perfectly balanced with cooling chunks of cucumber, and the houmous...well I’m still yet to meet a houmous that isn’t a delicious addition to any mouthful.



The third dip was a candidate I had not yet come across in previous Smorgasboard adventures; The Pink Lady, and I ain’t talking about apples. Almost fluorescent in appearance, yoghurt is infused with finely grated roasted beetroot an edge of garlic with a finishing flourish of pistachio nuts. Earthy and clean flavours envelop the taste buds leaving a delicate sweet aftertaste sure to leave you spooning the remains long after you’ve demolished the last of your bread. A clear champion of the dips that day in my eyes and definitely a creation I’ll be attempting for future inhalation.

The falafels were fresh from the fryer; a wondrously crispy exterior bursting with moist and herby centres from the chickpeas and various pleasant spiced flavours, faultless.

Whilst I have never found myself favouring stuffed vine leaves in the past, the sight of the bursting Yaprak Dolma parcels was enough to make me reform. Softly herbed rice filled the delicately glazed vine leaves, lined into soft rolls on our plate. The textures of the rice go harmoniously with the soft body of the leaf, indulging in gentle but excellently put together flavours with every mouthful.

The halloumi were thickly sliced portions of grilled goodness. Cooked enough so it retained a delicious chargrilled flavour, but keeping its soft and squeaky centre so you could enjoy the unique silky texture with every chew.

We dished large spoonfuls of colourful salads onto our plates, and devoured the fresh and vibrant flavours with forkfuls of each element of the mezze. There isn’t much halloumi doesn’t marry well with, but I have a certain favouring for the grilled, salty taste of the chewy cheese against the soft textured flavours of red onion and springy leaves.

On the subject of the Greek Salad, I feel you should know it was exactly as a Greek Salad should be minus an extra couple lashings of olive oil. Chunks of juicy tomato, cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, onion and sliced olives were tossed through crisp green leaves finished with drizzles of sharp balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of fresh dill.



We ate and ate until fit to burst, and having definitely filled the kind of gap only a meze can fill, requested the bill. We were delighted to receive alongside the very modest total, a silver swan vessel holding bite-sized portions of Turkish Delight. Powdering perfection, it was a wonderful touch and tasty end to our authentic South Eastern adventure.

Reflecting on my experience, I would highly recommend popping in to Olive and Thyme, a perfect setting for lunching with friends or a last-minute date night. Whatever your reason for pulling up a chair, you can be guaranteed an authentic and inviting feast straight from the Middle East.

You can follow all of Frankie's restaurant visits here on her Twitter page!

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Posted: Friday 26th February 2016
ID: 10578 - 1604