'That is full; this is full. From fullness, fullness comes out.
Taking fullness from fullness, what remains is fullness.' - Isha Upanishad
This & That is a curry café, so 'Rice & 3 Veg - £3.30' sums it up from my vegetarian perspective. Competitive against sandwiches or soup & roll as a lunch option for city workers, they do a busy lunchtime trade both sit-in and takeaway. I thoroughly enjoyed their food and the whole dining experience, and the men in suits, construction workers and student couples - including quite a few Asians - were all tucking in around me.
I've posted some photos of the food and the menu to inspire you to eat there. I'm really enthusiastic about This & That and the whole ethnic cafe and groceries scene which offers many insights as to the way forward in diet and wider culture.
Located in the Northern Quarter, This & That is easily reached from the city centre. From the Arndale, go up Shudehill, turn right at Thomas Street, then right after Trof (pub) into Soap Street. Twenty yards down the quaint (!) Victorian cobbled backstreet, you'll see the white, red and blue sign. You probably won't be able to see through the windows too clearly, as they'll be a bit steamed-up from the cooking and the bain-marie. Be reassured - good food and a warm welcome awaits you inside. And aren't the location and the basic decor part of the integrity of these hole-in-the-wall type places? There is a warm, family atmosphere in this cafe, a feeling of a really close-knit team with roots in the Indian sub-continent.
A rotating daily menu keeps it simple for the chefs, whilst providing regular customers plenty of variety. As I ate there on a Tuesday, the three vegetarian curries were, Chick Peas (Channa), Cabbage and Mixed Vegetables; whereas on a Wednesday, the vegetarian options are Vegetable Biryani, Spinach & Potatoes, Daal (Lentils) and Kidney Beans & Potatoes. To allow you to browse the choices available on a particular day of the week, I've posted photos of the full menu. I found everything well-cooked, with distinctive flavours coming from each of the three curries. I also had two of the homemade sides - Chapati and Samosa, bringing the total bill to £4.50. Jugs of water and glasses are provided on all the tables. Chopped coriander leaf and chillis are also provided - help yourself.
Done right - as at This & That, for example - Indian cookery has so much health-giving potential for our daily diets. So (1) check out the curry cafes and more up-market places; (2) for home cooking, you owe it to yourself to visit Worldwide Foods in Rusholme or somewhere similar; (3) Study the recipies and the knowledge of Ayurveda, India's traditional healthcare system; (4) Enjoy!
Note: This & That has recently opened a second outlet just off Deansgate, which has attracted a five star Yelp review already http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/this-and-that-manchester-3