This & That

This place needs to be referred to as ‘This & That II’. The mothership in the Northern Quarter is a long-​established champion amongst curry cafés — still on top of their game after all these years, and a personal favourite of mine.
As with Lakshmi Chowk, I pulled up short from eating at this place, which nonetheless seems to be popular with the suits and shoppers of Deansgate and Spinningfields including some Asians.
OK, so it is more than a little unfair to review a place I’ve not eaten in, but I had some good expectations which were confounded.
This off-​Deansgate outlet is run by a dynamic, younger team who manage to lose points in my book by trying too hard and thus departing from key elements of the homely, home-​cooked style of the original. The décor and fascia are more impressive (OK, fair enough, and definitely upgraded from what Sam describes) but the 42′ or larger screen is unwelcome. On the food front, the bain marie is still there but the method here is to microwave small batches from a big pot cooked earlier, an unecessary no-​no in my book. Plus, technicolour food additives in some of the dishes here might be the order of the day in some restaurants in Curry Mile, but is blessedly absent from most Manchester curry cafés. The chapati and samosa look to be as good as the original.
I would love for this place to get it right, and as the ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ maxim rings so true of the original This & That, I feel it shouldn’t be that difficult. This part of Manchester lacks curry cafés, and the prospect of the ultimate schadenfreude with This & That II outpointing their near neighbours San Carlo is enticing!
Disclaimer: Perhaps the real problem is not so much the food, but my enjoyment of the more ethnic atmosphere of Cheetham Hill and Rusholme places — so maybe take the above with a pinch of coriander/​chilli/​fresh ginger in time-​honoured curry café fashion. I wish This & That II good luck and will be looking in from time-​to-​time for a samosa and to see how they get on!

Yes! I went to this place for lunch today and I was thoroughly satisfied. This & That is so popular that this is the second eatery they’ve opened following their original Northern Quarter base.
The idea is thus. Curry that is filling, tasty and spicy. Cheap prices. Everyone is happy.
I got some chicken tikka with a couple of vegetable sides on rice for just £3.50. It was all delicious and just a perfect, hot and quick lunch. True, the furniture inside is faintly ridiculous (old office squat swivel chairs — totally weird), but you can’t beat a cheap, tasty and filling lunch.
This & That is a big win.