Magazine

The Dinner Detective Dines at: Ramblas, Burton Road, West didsbury

The Dinner Detective
11/ 8/2005

UNLIKE restaurant reviewers on some newspapers, The Dinner Detective eats out incognito and always pays for the meal. That way The Dinner Detective gets the same treatment as the readers, giving you an honest review of the service you might receive.

TAPAS is something I have always found disappointing. I have never been impressed with the plates of grease-covered carbohydrates placed in front of me.

And the fact the Spaniards are far less obese as a nation than we are does seem to suggest they never eat the grease-covered stuff and flog it to gullible British tourists.

So I needed a lot of convincing when I went to Ramblas in Burton Road.

It is a tiny place, and I felt relaxed in the intimate setting.

I decided on the rollitos de berengena - aubergine rolls filled with feta cheese, mint and chillies (£3.05) and calabacitas gratinadas - grilled courgettes coated in tomatoes and melted cheese (£3.05). This was all backed up with portions of patatas bravas and patatas aliolo (both £2.30). My dining partner chose the albondigas - beef meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce (£3.30) and the pollo con pistacho - marinated chicken (£3.40).

The potato dishes were always the main offenders, particularly the alioli as there's so much mayonnaise and olive oil, but these were unlike anything I'd had in Britain or Spain; the potatoes were the right level of crispiness, while the sauce was the correct level of fluffiness.

I was almost as spoilt for choice by the wine list as I was by the menu, but eventually went for a bottle of saniger cava (£12.95).

I had been almost completely converted by the experienced, when the bill arrived. Whereas most tapas restaurants seem to charge offensive amounts for very simple food, I found the whole thing had come to less than £40.

I certainly didn't require any more convincing after that.

What's on the menu?

Cheapest: Tortilla de patatas and pimentos - traditional potato and pepper Spanish omelette (£2.30). Most expensive: Paella de mariscos - (£8.85 per person).
Wine Range from £9.95 to £24.95. Also sell Bollinger champagne at £37.95.
Parking On street
Disabled access Good


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