By Jamie Ryder
The Drop Bar Cafe is one of Manchester’s newest restaurants and can be found on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton. It’s a Caribbean inspired venue is full of life and energy from the moment you walk in. Your eyes will be drawn to the kaleidoscope of colourful, summery graffiti painted on the wall and the bright decor will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to a beach in Barbados.
The menu offers a variety of traditional Jamaican dishes, from jerk chicken to ackee and saltfish. Get there early enough and you’ll be able to sample special boxes full of mouth-watering curry goat or vegetable curry with sweet potatoes, peppers and herbs.
I tried the jerk chicken and fried dumplings, and I was not disappointed by how warm and filling the meal was. The chicken was spicy and tender while the dumplings were crunchy and savoury. Mixing them together was delicious, leaving a satisfying aftertaste.
The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and happy to make recommendations if necessary. I was served by a waiter named Samuel who suggested adding scotch bonnet sauce to the chicken and it enhanced the spicy flavour.
It wouldn’t be an authentic Caribbean restaurant without rum and there’s plenty of it to go around. Students looking for a night out will be able to help themselves to rum drinks infused with cherry, skittles, vanilla or orange zest to name a few. Cocktail aficionados have The Drop Off to look forward to – a blend of passion fruit, pure cane syrup, Old J Spiced Rum topped with Prosecco and finished off with lime and mint. There’s also a range of cheap beers and ciders to enjoy, from earthy South Pacific pale ale to sweet South West Orchards craft cider.
The restaurant encourages reservations so you’ll have a comfortable table waiting for when you arrive. You can also walk in and be served by a smiling member of staff. Whether you’re after a quiet night with friends or a romantic dinner for two, The Drop Bar Cafe caters to all comers. The food is exceptional, the staff are helpful and the atmosphere is one of a kind.
To book a reservation or check out the menu you can go to their website for more information.
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