Harden's survey result
Summary
“Long Live the Lime Tree!” – where “the best food, impeccable service and great wine is why we go time and time again”. A chic brasserie in posh West Didsbury, it was launched in 1987 by chef-owner Patrick Hannity, who has always been ahead of the game with seasonal modern British cooking using locally sourced ingredients (he invested in a 20-acre smallholding in Macclesfield Forest 17 years ago to be self-sufficient in eggs and rare-breed beef, lamb and pork). “It’s been my favourite restaurant for years even though it’s quite a schlep to get there, and it rarely disappoints in any department”.
Summary
“Fantastic food” has been a consistent refrain of guests at Patrick Hannity’s West Didsbury brasserie for more than 35 years – many of whom return again and again – “we only go on my birthday (due to distance) but it’s the meal I most look forward to each year”. The modern British cooking with European touches is always up-to-date on seasonality, and in 2008 Patrick became one of the first restaurateurs to invest in his own smallholding to provide ingredients for the kitchen. “The fixed-price menu (weekday lunch and early evening) is fairly short on options but reliably high on quality” – and at £16 per person for two courses or £20 for three represents tremendous value.
Summary
Patrick Hannity’s “charming old restaurant” in posh West Didsbury has hosted a steady stream of satisfied diners for 35 years, achieving “the highest standards” across the board. “Consistency with enthusiasm is still the hallmark of this much loved venue”; “the food is always good but unfussy – hence the loyal following over so many years”. Ahead of the curve on provenance, Patrick established his own 20-acre smallholding in Macclesfield Forest 15 years ago to provide vegetables, eggs and meat for the kitchen.
Summary
“The Lime Tree doesn’t change but is still refreshingly energetic”. “A gem” in Didsbury for 35 years, Patrick Hannity’s “really enjoyable” modern brasserie “retains its consistency in all departments year after year”. Key attractions: “great food that’s unfussy but so tasty, from a compact menu with every dish a winner”, plus a “reasonably priced but excellent wine list”. Also, “a nice welcome laid-back ambience, with staff and management on top of their game”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Lime Tree?
8 Lapwing Ln, Manchester, M20 2WS
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £16.00 | £20.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £7.50 | £16.00 | £0.00 | £9.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.50 |
| Service | 10.00% |
8 Lapwing Ln, Manchester, M20 2WS
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
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