This is the restaurant dreams are made of. A restaurant where birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated, where families reunite and friends share intimate moments. The reason it's so popular is simply because the atmosphere, food quality and service is some of the best you'll find in the whole city. Walk in and you'll find simple decor and candlelit tables, and a friendly face to show you to your seat. The menu is generally Modern British, and changes are made weekly and according to what local produce is available, making it a surprise every time you dine. I tried the Pan-fried Goosnargh Duck Breast, which came with a Cranberry and Ginger compote and market vegetables. Considering the outsranding quality of the dish, I was happy to pay every penny of the £15.95 asking price. An extensive wine list of Spanish, French, Italian and world wines make this restaurant the shining diamond of Didsbury. read more

Lime Tree - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Despite being a Manchester resident for many years, for some reason I'd neglected to visit the Lime Tree. A recent soujourn there made it clear I'd made a big mistake. Evidently the place survives on word of mouth, as they don't seem to have much of an internet profile and I can't recall seeing any press ever. There's several very good "Modern British" options around Manchester these days, but few have stayed so: my eating companion assured me it was just as good ten years ago. A moules mariniere starter was delicious, with surprisingly fresh-tasting mussels. It was, however, huge: a giant plate heaped with the things. Not a starter for those who aren't very hungry. Queen scallops, served in (two) shells with mash and a delicate white sauce was a bright and pleasant start to the meal. On our visit, the pork main was particularly fantastic, but my lamb was also very good: perfectly cooked vegetables. A dessert of STP was good but, again, huge: it's rare I don't finish a meal but I just couldn't. Service was friendly and just attentive enough, modulo a short period where we had trouble finding anyone. The men's toilets smelt *fantastic* - I doubt most people would care, but that's really rather rare. One downside I wish they would sort out: I know the restaurant is small, but they've squeezed far too many covers into the available splace: on a table for two we could have easily had an intimate conversation with the tables on either side. read more

The Lime Tree is a very special place.It needs no fancy promos or marketing strategy, this sublime restaurant in the heart of Didsbury has survived for years purely on word of mouth alone. It works though because if you dine here once, you will encourage at least 10 other people to come here, it is that good!!. It is difficult to put into words what the attraction is for this place because it is more to do with the feelings you get when you go there. This is a place that stimulates all your senses and has an upbeat, happy and positive atmosphere. I first went - under recommendation- 4 years ago and have returned many times. The Lime Tree is a delightful mix of fine dining elegance with a bohemian vibe. There are no pretentious waiters hovering around you like irritating mosquitoes, or bills that break the bank. The food is artistically arranged, extremely filling and the portions are huge! I highly recommend the fillet steak in peppercorn sauce with chunky chips (£21.50) but I made the mistake of ordering a starter too and this was just too much. If, like me, you are a dessert junkie, then I would leave the starters alone and retain some space in your belly for the prettiest puddings on the planet. They are pieces of artwork on plates. Al fresco dining in the Summer on the terrace is lovely here and I prefer visiting Lime Tree in the early evening when the atmosphere is excited and buzzing. Pleasant portions, perfect puddings and great company- Lime Tree has it all. read more

The food is always good here. Though in recent visits I don't think it has met the exacting standards that it set to win all those 'good food' awards a few years back. Hopefully the standard will pick up again read more

This is oundoubtedly one of the best restaurants in manchester! Main reason (as it should be) is the food is just lovely, and really well thought out! Service is fantastic and atmosphere is classy. Good for friends, colleagues and very good for a date! Make sure you call them well in advance to book! read more

Really top place. Just great pace from waiters and courses as well as buzzy atmosphere-bit too much leopard print on the women though but that's just a northern thing I reckon.. Go it's worth it! read more

I've visited the Lime Tree on many occasions as I live locally and it's always a real treat. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the decor is tasteful. I cannot say enough great things about the food and service. It really is a wonderful restaurant with an excellent menu and wine list. The food is superb. I would like to visit more often but it's a little too pricey. It's always my first choice for special treats though. Highly recommended. read more

Just had a lovely meal here. All three courses faultless. Pigeon breast, black pudding and pork belly starter was delicious; lamb main was perfect and a light creme brûlée for dessert made for a delightful end. Atmosphere is pleasant. Service great. I'll mirror a previous review though in saying there are too many covers here. It is a little cramped which also results in it getting a little hot. That said, I'll definitely be back! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Manchester, The food is mouthwatering & the staff have a very pleasant manner. Do not go to the Lime Tree for a fast meal as you will want to savour every morsel. for two decades, this place has remained a place to go for special occasions or romantic dates and Given the standard of the cooking, the pleasant, relaxed service, and the comfortable, welcoming ambiance, it's no wonder you have to book several days ahead at the Lime Tree for weekends. It's wise during the week too. Spontaneity may not be on the menu here, but it would be harsh indeed to give a restaurant a hard time for being busy. They are busy because they are so good. read more

I think people must just pretend that they like it here, because everyone else who thinks they're in the know pretends that they like it too, because it's 'the place to be' according to a few (and in my opinion, miss informed) people. I booked a table here under those exact miss informed views and thought that my girlfriend would be so impressed that yes, wait for it, we were going to to the Lime Tree, that I would undoubtedly score infinite brownie points and live happily ever after, amen. But, this was not the case as everything about this place is just average, except of course the exuberant prices, which in no way would I quibble over paying if in fact the food was actually so scrumptious it was fit for the Gods. Again, this is not the case and after trying the mediocre oysters to start i knew we were onto a bad thing. I also absolutely hate it when a restaurant claims to serve a 'Rocefeller Oyster' when actually they've just turned a perfectly good oyster bad by topping it with some cheesy green crust. Maybe the Lime Tree doesn't actually sign to this claim, as they actually offer 'Rocafella' oysters, or is that just a menu misprint? I went for the sea bass and my girlfriend the lamb and again, the food was marginally better than O.K, but for somewhere that claims such great statements as, '... it's been at the top of the list for Manchester gourmets for years' I would expect a lot more. I also felt like I was sat in a giant conservatory, not the intimate candle lit flash of modernity they promise. I think the Lime Tree is a victim of it's own success and has definitely become too comfortable. I certainly won't be forking out £100 again for a meal here. Last word: over rated and over priced. read more

You really can't fault the service or the food here. The menu's so well thought out without being overly contrived or fussy. The ingredients are fresh, plates well presented and the atmosphere's perfect. The only thing I'd quibble is not being able to book a table more than a couple of weeks in advance as for a special occasion, if you're limited to weekends, it gets booked up really quickly. Favourites are always the duck and lamb - cooked to perfection and the crème brule particularly the passion fruit. read more

I went to the Lime Tree on Saturday night for only the second time after a long interlude. Now, that's not because it's so expensive that I had to save up to go again (in fact, I think it's pretty reasonable for a restaurant of its type), rather it was because of others' reports of slow service and a random and entirely fabricated notion I'd developed about its clientele. Anyway, having got over my prejudices I decided it was worth another go and booked well in advance to ensure a table. Unexpectedly, some friends came to visit that weekend, and, although we expected the restaurant to laugh in our faces when we telephoned them that morning, they were actually very accommodating and let us have a table for four as long as we moved the booking back half an hour. So far so good, and we hadn't even got there yet. Anyway, we arrived a little early, but were seated straight away. Good - it was raining outside and I didn't fancy a sprint to the Railway for a warm G & T with no lime. The menu choice was okay, I'd say, although not as good as I was expecting (I'd nosied on the website beforehand and it looked fantastic - but this new menu was different - shock horror!) In the end I chose the duck but I think the sauce was a bit too sweet really. For dessert I wrongly chose the chocolate torte, which was not a chocolate torte, it was an uncooked brownie. And when you are expecting a torte, only a torte will do. Should have gone with the cheesecake. Anyway, all in all, not bad. One of our party declared the steak he'd eaten as 'the best steak he'd ever had in the UK', which is pretty high praise coming from him, as he nearly always orders steak, and we all enjoyed our meals and went away satisfied. The only niggle was , as perhaps suspected, a minor issue with the initial speed of service. We waited a long time for our wine, although the food arrived promptly. Having said that, the staff were friendly and helpful, and it was Saturday night after all. read more

When I was younger I always wanted to eat here ha-ha sorry if that sounds strange but it just seemed really sophisticated. My partner took me here for my birthday last year and have to say it totaly lived up to my expectations. Inside it was modern and stylish (although the seating wasn't all that comfortable. The food was amazing, we ordered from the set menu which is about £20 per person I think so thats not too bad but if you don't order from the set menu it will cost you alot. I had the butternut squash and goats cheese cannelloni which I would reccomend. An idea how much the drinks cost house white is about £14. read more

The lime tree restaurant is one of my many favoutite of dining places in mancheter. This restaurant serves wonderful food but sometimes it does get a little bit crowded with lots of differnet groups of people. The atmosphere however is always fantastic. The staff are really nice and always escort you to your table. I often come here for a night out with my husband to get the night started. The menu dosen't change very often but it dosent really matter because there is no need to change it as everything they serve is the best. I will definatly come here again. read more

I went here a few years ago & thought it was amazing, then went again just before christmas & was less impressed. It was still good, but just not as special as it is hyped up to be - perhaps it was because it was the christmas menu, or maybe my tastes have changed over the last couple of years, but I just thought it was fine certainly not out of this world. I went with my husband & we were put on a table which was shoved into the corner right next to a huge family group of about 15. We asked to move as we couldn't hear ourselves over their noise & the staff were really helpful, but the fact that we were put there in the 1st place wasn't exactly impressive & it felt as though we were just being squeezed in, despite having booked several weeks in advance. read more

I had a set Christmas meal here with 4 other friends for £35/person. I had a fishcake starter, which was okay (too much mash and not enough fish), loin of lamb with mash main (amazing!), and fruit salad (very basic). We were dissapointed walking into the restaurant, as they had made no effect to decorate the table, and we found the waiting staff had attitude and did not feel welcomed but almost a little foot tapping attitude. I would recommend this restaurant for the food, but not for customer service. I also found they would not adjust dishes to meet special dietary requirements. When I rang in advance to arrange a special diet, they mentioned they were arranging food for 160 seats and they would find it difficult to adjust a meal. For an expensive restaurant I would have expected more. read more

Was extremely impressed with my visit to the Lime Tree and it proved that sometimes the places that have stood the test of time are the best option if you want something that is truly outstanding. The service was efficient and friendly, the atmosphere was just right and the food amazing. To start I had the smoked salmon fishcake, the presentation was immaculate and the dish tasted divine. It was the little extra touches of pea emulsion and homemade tartar sauce that made the flavour exquisite. My main was just as good. It was an unusual dish in the form of a goats cheesecake but was delicious. I could have eaten the courgette fritters that accompanied it by the bucket load they were so good. As it was my birthday, they also provided me with a lovely chocolate cake and candles. The Lime Tree is certainly a restaurant I would recommend to anyone who has a special occasion to celebrate. I can see why it has lasted as other venues have been and gone in the competitive foodie area of Didsbury. read more

I have visited the lime tree a few times now and it never disapoints, when you walk in you are always greeted with a friendly face and the service carrys on at a high level throughout. In my opinion the best plate I have eaten there is a pigoen breast starter with pork belly and black pudding. I would advise anyone to check out this place if they have the opportunity read more

Top notch. lovely open atmosphere with good privacy from well placed tables. food was excellent.