Saints & Scholars

We went for brunch a few weeks ago and this experience was remarkably low on the spectrum, given how good they were previously. I’ll get straight to the point. It felt like they dropped the ball this time, on multiple occasions, which I don’t know was a one off or was a reflection of general deterioration in their commitment to serve good quality food.
Initially, they forgot to bring the teas and we had to remind them after a rather long wait. Then when the food came out, they forgot to put my lamb kofta on the plate, which arrived with just the salad and houmous. Again, I had to ask them where the lamb was. Finally, the pitta bread I got had fungus on it. That ruined my apetite and I couldn’t eat beyond that point. Luckily I had finished my lamb kofte by that point and only some, salad, houmous and pitta remained. They offered to replace my pitta generously but I frankly didn’t want to eat there anymore, but they did knock a fiver off the bill.
I think it will be a very long time before I set foot in to S&S again.

Had a very disappointing trip to Saints and Scholars today. It’s usually fairly reliable, but very all over the shop this morning.
Not sure if it’s new staff or what but today they forgot half of our drinks (the half in question being the easiest, a simple pot of tea) served my friend’s lamb kofta mezze without the lamb kofta and then the pitta bread had mould on it suggesting it was not the freshest bread. My friend then decided he wasn’t going to finish his meal then. but rather than removing the cost of the meal they only struck off £5 which I’m not sure but don’t think even covered the dish he’d chosen (though I could be wrong on that).
My Eggs Benedict was okay but not that great. Pretty sure it was store bought hollandaise sauce and the ham was the best. I got mushrooms on the side which were probably the best I’ve had in the UK from a café though.
I’l give them the benefit of the doubt and return, but I won’t be rushing back in soon.

This place-​worth going here just for the entertainment value– the owner is hilarious and loves to banter with you when you’re hungover and head’s feeling a bit sore!
First time I visited I wanted a caffeine free tea because of my intolerance. Would have been fine with a chamomile but the boss man brought out a huge box of fruit teas with just about every flavour under the sun and listed them all. Eventually decided on something with elderflower and raspberry I think. When I went to the bathroom he pointed at me and laughed and said ‘there’s the girl calling me all that trouble!’ haha.
Second time I was feeling worse for wear after a big night out so he put a plate down in front of me. It had a box of paracetamol on it! Legend!
The full English is excellent for a hangover but so is the rest of the menu. Nachos, fajitas you name it. Really quirky place with quite a dark interior full of knick knacks, memorabilia and things you’d find in a second hand store. Outside there are tables and chairs so you could sit out in the summer months and enjoy the sunshine.

Can’t fault this place. Great food, great atmosphere, friendly service and reasonably priced. The full English breakfast is particularly good!

If you like to eat somewhere a bit quirky with a true independent feel then I’d definitely give Saints and Scholars in Didsbury village a try. The restaurant is decorated with lots of knick knacks such as old radios, unusual pictures and ornaments. The food is very good too. The menu is quite large and they serve a wide variety of food such as Mexican, curry, sandwiches and a cooked breakfast. The cooked breakfast is really good and for a reasonable price you get a massive portion. I had the veggie breakfast last time I went and loved the veggie black pudding and sausages.
One of the waiters is a bit on the grumpy side but that just adds to the experience. Well worth a visit especially if you’re really hungry.

Disappointing. We visited on a fantastic warm and sunny day after a short wander around the town centre. The outside eating area with plenty of customers in a pleasant setting in direct sunlight pulled us in.
Unfortunately the two meals we had both had a slight Chinese food taste to them; it just didn’t taste right in a pulled pork sandwich or the fajitas. Both incredibly sweet and at odds with the flavour expectations of the two dishes.
After heading inside during the meal it seemed that there was an identity crisis — an outdoor eating area of a quaint café, immediately inside an old pub style, and then through the back an outdated Italian restaurant.
While the decorationS didn’t affect the food we had, it seemed to run appropriately alongside food which also seemed to have mixed ideas of what it should be.
Not somewhere I’ll be giving a second chance.

I don’t know Didsbury very well so was entirely reliant on my trusty Unilocal App when having to decide where to take in laws for a Sunday lunch. I’m so glad I checked and listened to all the great reviews as this place was good. I loved the local feel, friendly staff and good prices. From the outside it didn’t scream Sunday lunch joy but as soon as I was in and tucking in to my lunch I was hooked. The portions weren’t enormous but they did the job. I was having a nosy at other people’s food, brekkies looked good and seeing from how busy it was and the smiles on their faces, it tasted good too.

Had a coffee and banoffe pie with icecream, was good quality and reasonably priced. Despite the old owner appearing disgruntled that we didn’t order more food and that we noticed how odd it was that all the rest of his staff are all young blonde girls. this place has a bizarre quirky atmosphere that I enjoy.

Perfect for Sunday morning hangover food. Funky little place too. 5 Stars

Down south in Mancs? Want a fabulous roast?
Eat here.
This is a restaurant that wants to be a pub. The menu is totally well-​done pub grub and pubby prices, but the food’s really good.
It’s definitely a resto, as there aren’t really any ales to speak of and crap lagers. A few bottles.
The staff are astoundingly nice to everyone who walks in the door.
Somewhere between your auntie’s livingroom, a pub, and a restauraunt, with lovely lovely food.

Oh yummers. It was testament to a great menu when three ladies here had to ask for the waitress to return three times because we hadn’t yet decided what we were eating. To be fair we were gabbing too, but the menu all looked so enticingly scrummy.
At least we knew we wanted tea and coffee, so that part was simple. Eventually all three of us forwent meat (well, my companions are veggies for starters!) for earth-​grown delights. Bethany O opted for Thai veggie curry, Aislinn F was on the veggie fajitas, and I chose baked mushrooms and brie atop a ciabatta. Look, I never get to eat them at home due to hubs-​in-​waiting hating the fungi. You might say he isn’t a fun-​guy… Sorry, I’ve just been given a 3 espresso shot coffee and I don’t really know what to do. Not make rubbish jokes, it would seem.
I digress. Our meals all came piping hot and delicious. We ate them al fresco as today was a ruddy lovely day, wasn’t it? My mushrooms were utterly perfect, not a hint of slime as is so often the case with cooked mushrooms. These retained their flavour and had some real bite, and the way they melted into the brie was just stupidly decadent and brilliant. Aislinn’s fajitas came as a lovely DIY deal and the veggies were served on a sizzling hotplate with dips, a sweet touch. Beth’s curry was spicy and not for the faint-​hearted, but thankfully everything came with a nice cool side salad of juicy tomatoes and crisp lettuce. Oh, and the portions are MASSIVE. Everything was. We saw food go to other people and even the kids who wanted pittas and houmous at the next table got HUGE piles of bread with massive houmous ramekins, olives and salad… the works!
Clare G makes an excellent point. How nice to find somewhere that wouldn’t look out of place on Burton Road or even the Northern Quarter in Didsbury Village. Outside it’s all cottagey, inside there are random trinkets dotted around like vintage signs, a stool wedged up near the ceiling, mismatched chairs, stairs up to the loo that feel like part of someone’s home… It’s lovely. The atmosphere’s lovely. The staff are lovely. I’ll be back plenty a time!

What a fry up! I struggled to get through it all! Very tasty though. Also, the staff are super friendly and the interior is rather uniquely decorated. Lots of character compared (sadly) to most places in Didsbury village. Prices are fairly reasonable too and lunches and dinner look worth a go. You can’t beat an ivy coated establishment, thumbs up! c*

Great breakfast here with good quality sausage and bacon. No black pudding though. Coffee’s a bit limp.
Dinner here was average. Starter of salt and pepper squid was pretty poor. Should be dry dish with lots of. wellsalt and pepper to enhance subtle flavour if the squid. Sadly it was served in a super sweet sticky sweet and sour sauce. The goats cheese in Parma ham was good.
The chef wasn’t able to cook the steak properly despite it being sent back once. But on the plus side it was a good bit of meat. Fajitas were ok.
Service was friendly and timely, beers were cold.
The main problem here in this otherwise quirky little place is the price. If it were anywhere other than Didsbury it wouldn’t be able to charge what it does. The whole place shouts cheap and cheerful, but value for money it is not.

I first visited this restaurant last year when I was taken for surprise Sunday Brunch as a treat on my birthday, since then I have returned several times, the last visit being last Saturday 22.1.2011
I have to say the quirky place has such exciting charm, with outside seating, and so much to look at when inside, (glad I do not have the job of dusting it all) the staff have always been excellent, attentive, friendly, and efficient.
As this is now my special place for a great English breakfast, I can only comment on this, but it has always hit the spot, I must try and visit for The Sunday Lunch next time!
Negatives, well I have to try hard here, I guess the bread used for the toast could be better quality and a little more toasted, sorry that’s the best I can come up with.
I love this place and would recommend it, it must be good for me to catch the No 42 bus from the City Centre just to go for an English Breakfast.

I wish I had been hungrier when I came here with my daughter and husband. I had excellent lentil soup and tasted Derek’s pea and ham soup. Staff was very accommodating to my 2 year old grandson.
The interior was very cozy, especially when a thunderstorm passed through with heavy rain and hail.
I would love a restaurant like this in my neighborhood in Southern California.

Saints & Scholars holds a very special place in my heart, as it’s the place where my father admitted to me that he has a uncontrollable addiction to Hollyoaks. Well, that and the fact that its Roast Dinners have seen me through many a hungover Sunday in my twenty something years on this earth.
Having seemingly been in Didsbury since the year dot, this quirky little eaterie has been serving up satisfyingly tasty fare to the people of Manchester for longer than I care to remember, and serves a nice contrast to some of the larger chain bars which now seem to be hell bent on taking over Wilmslow Road. Cosy to the point of being clastrophobic, if it all gets too much, you can sit outside and enjoy a tasty pint whilst enjoying the ‘scenic’ view of one of the busiest bus corridors in Europe.
The food here is tasty, if slightly uninspiring. However, as many people above have commented, portions are MASSIVE — almost too big for one person to consume confortably. There’s also a great range of board games for you to have a go at whilst your dinner is digesting — although last time I was there, ‘Mousetrap’ appeared to be missing a few of the vital pieces.
Didsbury may change, but whatever happens to Wilmslow Road, it’s always ace to see that ‘Saints & Scholars’ is still there, serving up delicious, competitively priced food.

It is very cozy and pleasant café and restaurant. It is very relax for Sunday afternoon!
I like their hot chocolate, it is so creamy and tasty.
I tried their Sunday roast chicken. I really loved it. The chicken is massive for one person (can be fed up for two!) and the vegetables are so lovely. I also enjoyed the roast potatoes. Just it has done perfectly with rosemary and garlic. So yummmy. I did not need any dinner after eating this.
The waitresses are friendly and good customer service. Also very family friendly too.
I recommend you visit there!

This lovely green garden shed of a café is truly charming. It was one of my favourite places to eat when I was living in Didsbury, and a few times since we moved more centrally, the boyf and I have been known to take a trip out to Didsbury for a bit of S&S grub.
As mentioned by other reviewers, the breakfasts here really are top notch, really great for a nasty hangover, and the OJ that comes with the breakfasts is delicious; no cruddy from-​concentrate juice here, I swear it’s Tropicana or something. Perfect, because the last thing you want with a pricy breakfast is a cheapo OJ. The other foods are lush too; I had a vairy vairy nice set of baby back ribs here once that made me say the word «oodles.» I’m not sure of the context… but it must have been good to make me talk like, well, that!
Some people moan about the service here, and I say to them, if you want fast service, go for fast food. S&S is a laid-​back place with a quirky, old fashioned style. The staff are friendly and they do try their hardest, but they’re usually rushed off their feet and can’t be by your side like butlers! Me, I’ll happily take busy staff and slow service when the food is this tasty, and the wine list this good.
Saints and Scholars is a great place for a date, a group meal or one of those meals-​out when your parents come to visit. It’s charming, respectable and eccentric. Very Didsbury, dahling.

Admittedly I am neither a saint nor a scholar, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to come back to this place again and again, especially on a Sunday morning and particularly after a heavy Saturday night. This place is one of a kind in Didsbury. It’s not a pretentious bar, an old man’s pub or a chain restaurant. It does do bloody good fry-​ups. You often have to wait for a few minutes for a table but the attentive staff make you feel comfortable and the food is worth the wait.
Unlike in certain other establishments the food is always hot and doesn’t taste like it’s been sitting out waiting for the staff to pick it up. The fried potatoes are a nice touch to the veggie breakfasts and make a welcome change from a microwaved hash brown. I would agree with Angela about the requests for modifications though. My boyfriend is one of those strange people who has a shroomphobia (unless I cut them up really small and sneak them into dishes!) so requested that his breakie would come without mushrooms. He didn’t request a replacement or anything fancy, but his plate still came with mushrooms on. However, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt as the café has always been really busy every time I’ve been in and the staff have been rushed off their feet (and I got the mushrooms!).
I’ve not had anything but breakies and coffee here, but they also do a wide range of dishes and an excellent catering service which my work used for its summer party last year.

This is the place to come if you have a hangover and need some breakfast stodge to soak up fumes. In particular its great in the summer when you can sit outside the front of the ivy-​covered building on the flagstone courtyard and read the Sundays.
Saints & Scholars is famed for its large all-​day breakfasts, and I can attest, you can’t really beat them, from scrambled eggs and salmon to bagels and fry-​ups. Apart from the breakfasts, the rest of the menu reads like the best of Mama’s Home Cooking: pies, casseroles, hot sandwiches, teas, coffees, cakes.
The only thing I would say is sometimes the service is a bit hit and miss, I’d like to see the staff perhaps be a little more flexible of requests, there have been occasions where I’ve asked for a modification to a dish and haven’t accommodated.