THEY SAY: Otto Mellouki, Co-owner: "What we now consider as 'street food culture' has been part of Lebanese culture for a long time, so our main reason for launching the restaurant was to educate people about Lebanese cooking. Lebanese food is all about sharing. At Bakchich there's no formal starter or main course, and it's unlikely you'll choose us for a romantic meal; Bakchich is for big groups and families.
They're feeders at Bakchich: the menu is extensive and the portion sizes come big
"We spotted a major gap in the market; Liverpool and Manchester are seriously lacking in Lebanese restaurants. There are some great Lebanese restaurants in Manchester's suburbs, such as Hale and Chorlton, but they are very traditional. Bakchich is a far more contemporary restaurant, quirky and colourful".
WE SAY: You've got to appreciate Bakchich's thirst for improving the Lebanese scene across the region. The two young entrepreneurs' dreams of rolling out a string of Lebanese chains across the UK began on Liverpool's booming Bold Street in 2013 and has expanded to a smart, spacious and contemporary 180-cover restaurant just off Oxford Road on Chester Street, within the Quadrangle (next door to Zouk and Nando's).
Moroccon co-owner Mellouki has entwined 'memories from his childhood and Arabic culture' into the fit-out and home influences can be spotted from floor to ceiling - from the North African tiling to the pantry-style wall display featuring traditional Middle Eastern cooking essentials.
The arrival of Bakchich, coupled with coming of London-based Lebanese outfit Comptoir Libanais (which will establish its first northern outpost in Spinningfields next month) means city centre Mancs will no longer have to journey out to the 'burbs for top quality tabouleh.
Bakchich - vegetarian mezze (£7.95)WHAT TO ORDER? They're feeders at Bakchich. The menu is mighty and the portion sizes big. For an uncomplicated foray into the world of Lebanese cooking try one of their many hot/cold Mezze platters and sharing plates. The vegetarian mezze for one person (houmous, falafel, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, fattoush salad and homemade bread, £7.95) could suffice as a main meal alone. The shwarma wraps are perfect lunchtime fills for between £3.50 and £5.00. On the grills, a farrouj meshawi (marinated chicken on the bone, served with arabic rice) is a safe yet spice-rich option. And while Bakchich strives for authenticity, they've also toyed around with a few current trends, giving both burgers and pizzas a Lebanese remix. Don't skip desserts, try the Baklawa pastries (£3.50); nutty, syrupy and entirely moresome.
WHAT ABOUT BOOZE? Well, there is none. Bakchich instead offer homemade lemonade with rose syrup and Labanese tea (£2.50) for a sober night out.
WHAT ELSE? We're told 'Bakchich' loosely translates as 'loose change' and the menu reflects the restaurant's affordable ethos by keeping most dishes under a tenner (except for the full lamb kobsa which costs £240 and needs 24 hours notice to prepare). Slap bang in the middle of the student corridor, Bakchich takes over the former Rice unit next to Nando's - and we're sure the 200,000 odd Manchester students, with loans burning holes in their back pockets, will lap this up.
WHERE IS IT? Unit 4, The Quadrangle, Chester Street (off Oxford Road)
WHEN IS IT OPEN? Mon - Sun 11am - 11pm
FIND OUT MORE: http://www.bakchich.co.uk, Facebook, Twitter
