This & That is a cafe in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter that is serving up delicious Indian food and has been doing it for many years. And they’re famous for a particular concept that is popular in this part of the country: rice and three curries. Something we’ll talk a little more about below. We love a place with history, with a story, with charm, with a unique concept and of course most importantly delicious food. And I feel this place has all of that in abundance. In this post, we’ll discuss their history and unique location, the concept of rice and three curries, and our experience.
1984: history and location
This & That was established in 1984! Making it almost 4 decades old at the time of writing. That is history, that is a testament to its success and quality. No place can be around for so long and not do something right, right? As we walked in to this place we noticed it felt a little like a canteen, almost like a school canteen style with the food being at the front like a buffet and the seating being essentially benches. The decor was absolutely nothing especially if you look at the flower walls of today. It’s definitely all about the food here. They did have two statements on the wall. The first one showing off the fact that they have been around since 1984! And the second one claiming they are Manchester’s hidden gem! Now, while we were there we witnessed so many people come in, dine and leave satisfied. Young, old, singles, couples, Asian and Caucasian. So, clearly it didn’t seem so hidden. I think what makes it a “hidden gem” is most definitely the location. It is down a narrow alley in a place you really would not expect a successful restaurant in 2023 to be located. Just look at the pictures! If you did not know of them, you really wouldn’t just stumble upon them. So unique!
Rice and three curries
Rice and three is a concept that is strongly debated over as to when and where it was born. The most plausible explanation seems to be this. During the 80s and 90s textile warehouses were booming in this part of Manchester (Northern Quarter) and to cater for them, fast curry houses/cafes were born. They would provide good quality, delicious curries that are both fast and cheap. When you visit such places, it is difficult to just get one curry. So, these cafes slowly but surely made rice and three curries a thing on the menu. And before you know it, it became a thing. So, many would come in and still do, and ask for a rice and three. And they’ll choose their three curries from vegetable, meat and chicken curries. There are now many rice and three cafes/ eateries in this area and beyond – in Greater Manchester. Who was the first to come up with this concept? You may find a variety of different opinions, but one of those opinions is that it is this place here: This & That, that came up with the concept first. And then imitations popped up all over this area and Greater Manchester. So, where better to experience this rice and three concept?
Our experience
We got there late afternoon on a Sunday and despite its obscure location, it was easy to locate thanks to Google Maps. As mentioned earlier, the decor is minimal and it feels almost like a school canteen. The menu is simple and clear (as you can see from the picture). The staff were very friendly and warm. They sensed we weren’t from the area, so they got us talking a little. They made some suggestions as to what to order and so our order was done. We got the rice and three (2 meat and 1 veg), Nihari and garlic naan. The choice of curries changes every day, so be wary of that. The specific curries we chose were chicken tikka, lamb and spinach, and kidney beans and potatoes. There’s a raw onion, chilli and garlic self service station where you can pick up and place over your curries.
Let’s talk about the food. All three curries are placed on the plate of rice together (and so rice and three is formed!). The chicken tikka dish was our favourite. It went perfectly with the rice. Then the lamb and spinach, and finally the kidney beans and potatoes. All three were good to be fair. They all had that homely taste to them. The Nihari, which we got separately, was our least favourite. It just didn’t hit the heights of other Niharis we’ve had. The garlic naan was very intersting and different. It tasted just like a garlic naan, but as you can see it was almost like a garlic mix paste was lathered on top of the naan as opposed to how it is usually infused. Still tasted good though. Overall, the food was definitely good and the rice and three is definitely worth the price. The Nihari was the same price as the rice and three, but that is probably due to the lengthy cooking procedure of that dish. We didn’t enjoy it much, so I wouldn’t be rushing to get that again. I think the rice and three does what it initially set out to do. Feed hungry workers with fast and affordable food. It isn’t necessarily restaurant quality or anything to really wow your tastebuds, but if you’re in the area and want something quick and cheap, it’s the perfect stop.
Getting there:
Google Maps location link
