Sorry I disappeared into a wriitng vortex. I will try to particpate in ciao at least once a month. B...
Sorry I disappeared into a wriitng vortex. I will try to particpate in ciao at least once a month. Been on Poetry school courses and can't stop writing - must put some of that into reviews! Tuxleyx
Member since:04.01.2007
Reviews:20
Members who trust:9
One of my friends told me he once looked at a pie, decided the pie wasn’t enough and placed two slices of bread either side making a pie sandwich. Double meals are the ingenious and the ultimate luxury.
Setting ------------- Croma is on the main road through Chorlton (Wilbraham Road) near Chorlton bookshop and two minutes walk from The Spread Eagle and Lloyds Hotel.
Croma opened in Chorlton about two years ago, I cannot give exact details as the website will not let me access anything apart from the phone number and menu without a flash attachment. Since opening night, each time I have passed this restaurant is consistently busy.
First Impressions ------------------------- On arriving at Croma, after walking for quarter of an hour in a downpour, we are immediately greeted by a friendly Italian gentleman. He shows us to a table for two. We walk across the tiled floor and sit at a simple table with no candle, but each table is lit separately giving both a romantic and relaxed setting. We are handed a menu each and left to settle for a couple of minutes, before the same waiter returns to take our drinks order. There is an extensive wine menu, but both us being happy with a simple house white (no wine snobbery here) we order a bottle of this at the reasonable price of £10.95. This is brought to us promptly and we are asked to taste and approve it. I sip it and nod. I have never turned down a wine after trying it, does anyone do that?
This restaurant has around forty tables of differing sizes. At the front of the restaurant there is a bar, with a variety of drinks available, including bottled beers (peroni and peroni gran reserva) and spirits. Each time we have eaten here we have had wine. Then there are a couple of pillars dividing up the space of the front area into more private spaces. All the tables in this area are for between two and eight people. This part is perfect for a first date or a romantic meal for any occasion with a partner, parents or friends.
At the back of the restaurant there is a similarly sized area with tables to seat larger parties and more general lighting. I think this room can be hired separately for large groups. This part tends to be a little noisier and less romantic.
On all my visits the place has been full, although if there are no tables free guests are encouraged to wait at the bar with a drink. With the size of the place, tables are constantly becoming available without people having to be rushed out.
Garlic bread is always a bit much dough for me as a starter, when I am having a pizza main course. I had a garlic mushrooms starter – very strong but super tasty, mushrooms large and tender and with some greenery on the top (I have found out from the menu this was rocket).
Main Courses ------------------------ On visits here I have tried a variety of meals. The Chicken Caesar salad and Vegetarian lasagne were both great. Ten choices of salad are available for those wishing for a healthier alternative than pizza. (Salads priced from £2.85 to £6.85)
Pasta- This is probably not the place for you to visit if you want a vast choice of pastas. Three types of lasagne – beef, vegetarian and fish. A cannelloni was also available. This is more of a pizza and salad restaurant with a limited pasta alternative.(Pasta priced from £6.60 to £7.10)
Pizzas include the simple but ever popular Margherita, Funghi, Greek, Parma and Roast vegetable. (Pizzas priced from £4.65 for a Margherita to £7.75 for peking duck meal on a pizza).
Extra toppings can be added for £1.40 or £1.75 for Tuna, salmon, haddock, prawns, duck or rocket). Not sure why Rocket is in that second list, is it expensive or hard to get hold of?
My favourites, however, would have to be the meal on a pizza. I have tried three different versions of these.
Chicken Caesar- This really was a Caesar salad on a pizza.
Tandoori chicken – Brilliant, but slightly to spicy for me.
THE WINNER ------------------------- Inglese – Wonderful. The Cumberland sausages, both crusty on the outside and tender in the middle, with a peppery taste, were cut in half and placed in a circular pattern around a central perfectly poached egg. Curled bacon was sprinkled across the whole of this with mozzarella and tomato under this delectable fry up
This was the meal I had last week, the meal which inspired me to write this review.
There are many options for vegetarian visitors and a couple would be suitable for vegans.
Desserts ----------------- A desert menu was available, I was full by this point, so asked for a Drambuie (priced at £2.40). My date/fiancé (this place does make you feel like you are back dating again for the first time again) had a strawberry cheesecake and he has mentioned how delicious it was several times this week.
Service ------------- The service was attentive, at any moment we were ready to order, someone was on hand to take our requests. They managed this, surprisingly without being intrusive. I didn’t even notice they were there until we wanted them. We were noted served by the same person each course, this did not detract from our experience, as each member of staff was helpful and friendly. For someone who cherishes the personal touch, this may have been off-putting.
Clientele ---------------- The clientele is very mixed, but probably quite representative of the Chorlton as a whole, being mainly families, couples and small groups of friends.
Website ------------- The website is plain with a printable menu. To print this off you will need Adobe Acrobat. I could not access the site any further than this as I was informed I needed a flash plug in. The front page included phone numbers for the different Croma restaurants.
Toilets ----------- There were either three or four toilets. These were spacious and clean and well-stocked with both soap and toilet roll.
Disabled Access ------------------------- I was told the restaurant is fully accessible. The main toilets are located upstairs but there is a downstairs disabled toilet available. There is a ramp up to the front door and the eating area if all based on the ground floor.
Well, we have worked out that since moving to Chorlton, we have probably visited less than a tenth of the places we would like to try out for food. This is partly because we have quickly found our favourites whom we trust for a great, reasonably priced meal, in a relaxed environment and know what to expect from them. We have eaten at Croma on at least five occasions since they opened in Chorlton about eighteen months ago. Croma, you are the undisputed Italian king of Chorlton in my eyes.
Forty pounds for a wonderful meal with a bottle of wine and dessert/drambuie is very reasonable and due to the size of the restaurant there is no feeling of having a limited amount of time to eat up and get out, as with many busy restaurants I have visited.
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