The Greenhouse

Had one of the most quirkiest restaurant experiences ever the other day and thought might as well share it!  This restaurant peeps is one of a kind.  Not because it claims to be a veggie restaurant and has beef on the menu (I was assured that it was fake beef!) but more because of the owner who is quite a personality!

I have to start at the beginning. First of all, the building; Now, this is not the type of restaurant that you simply walk into because it caught your fancy.  Or because you are feeling adventurous.  Or simply because you are tired of scouting-strolling and willing to eat at any restaurant with an empty table.  Unless someone is taking you there (like in my case) or you googled Veg restaurants in Manchester and came up with this address, you are so not going to walk into this place.  You know why? Coz this is what it looks like from the outside –

As you can tell, it is a dilapidated, derelict, abandoned sorta building.  I almost asked A.S. who suggested the place if he was sure the restaurant was still in business.  But decided against asking as A has great taste when it comes to restaurants. I gingerly followed him inside.

Once you enter, picture this:  An elderly, lower middle class family’s sitting room, decorated for Christmas (stars, serial lights, fake vine tree instead of a Christmas tree) and expecting guests.  The walls have been left bare and decorations interesting.  Quite quirkily creative.

Now I have to tell you that while there aren’t too many customers coming here, (we were the only 3 in the restaurant for the full 3 hours that we were there), Robin (the owner) makes the most out of who do walk in.  For instance, both C and I ordered water for drinks.  While I was talked into buying a beer, C was given a glass of apple juice (nope, not on the house) for not succumbing to sales tactics!  Robin’s sales acumen should be further appreiciated in the fact that he was well aware that quirky is what will sell at his restaurant.  He got A.S. to buy hemp beer.  And its name?  Cannabia!  Kid you not!  And if you must know how I upgraded from water to beer, it was like this:  Robin wanted me to check out the most ‘popular’ of all his beers. ‘Just have a look’, he said. 

Needless to say, I fell for the marketing strategy and bought it.  And.. took the bottle with me when I left the restaurant.  Why won't I?  Btw, the name of the beer is Lucky! 

Now, Robin runs his restaurant like the way your old retired uncle would organise a family dinner.  He doesn’t come to your table to take your order.  He comes over to the table, makes small-talk, casual-chats about interesting drinks and eggs you into ‘trying’ some.  He will laugh about his menu that has a list of ‘fake’ meat and ‘fake’ fish and about the importance of healthy eating while ‘suggesting’ what item is worth giving a shot.  He will also mildly chide you, if you spend time on your mobile phone and being anti-social during the most social of all customs - eating together.  

Btw, check out the menu.  He he.  Apparently it contains information as well :P

Anyway, the food surprisingly was not too shabby!  The starters were the prize winners.  The portions were adequate, the presentation brilliant and the taste not bad at all!  Now, remember we are talking British food here!

Between the three us we had Deep fried Avacados, Hazelnut Pate and for starters:

But.. I must admit that it appeared that Robin, wasn’t as keen on the main courses and he was on the starters.  My rice stuffed vine leaves tasted quite ok, but the vegetables that were served with it was anything to be desired.  One large piece of boiled cauliflower, one piece of broccoli and 2 whole potatoes and that’s it!  What the heck?!


Oh and here’s the best bit.  Robin is just no good at desserts.  It was only after I ordered the cheesecake and dug my folk into it that he told me that the cheese used in it was tofu!  Yuck!  Why spoil cheesecake with Tofu in it? Needless to say, I didn’t finish it.  The crumble that AS ordered was not brilliant either though he did manage to finish it.  CS was the wise one who didn’t order any desserts.  She was still finishing the big salad that came with our main course.  But hey, if you are feeling experimental, totally go for the Tofu cheesecake. 

Overall, I must admit that I enjoyed myself.  I mean, it made an impression enough for me to write about it.  Well done A.S. for suggesting the place! And meh… let’s give it to Robin for trying an exclusive veg and vegan concept without calling it an Indian restaurant!


That's Robin there on the menu board.  Quite a close likeness to him. Tee-hee!

Btw, does anyone find it weird that all British pubs that offer ‘authentic’ British food have curry and naan bread on their menu?