We’d gone to Chorlton to do some Christmas food shopping. The best cheese shop and fishmongers in South Manchester are directly opposite Saray, so it was very handy for lunch. As well as their main carte of Turkish classics, they have a keenly priced (£15.95) set two course menu at lunch, with six or so choices at each course.
So, there was a “chilli salad” (Ezme Salata) for one us. More dip than salad in texture, there was finely chopped walnuts, onion, tomatoes peppers, garlic. It was fine but would have stood more than the vaguest hint of chill that was in it. Went well with the large bread roll, topped with sesame seeds that came with it. A “mini mezze” was anything but mini. This was a generous main course sized mix of cacik, houmous, yoghurt with spinach, and another dippy thing that I’ve forgotten. There’s also a butter bean salad, some of the Ezme Salata, a slice of grilled halloumi and a filo triangle borek stuffed with feta. And there’s another bread roll.
For mains, two lamb kofte kebabs were fine. Tasty, if a little dry. There’s grilled onion, green and red peppers. And rice and mixed salad. The rice and salad also sat alongside a vegetable moussaka – layered potato, aubergine, courgette, mushroom and peppers, with a béchamel sauce , topped with a cheese that was a bit overly plasticky.
A decent enough lunch. Even though only two other tables were occupied, everything took the sort of time that made you glad you didn’t need to rush off anywhere.
