The Drop Chorlton

We’ve been fans of Caribbean restaurant The Drop for a good few years. Longtime eater, first-time reviewer. Originally the brainchild of childhood chums Ez Saunders and Jimmy Gill, it’s been open nigh-on a decade, regarded as one of the standout dining destinations on this Chorlton strip. 

Side note: eagle-eyed readers might recognise Ez as the son of Aval Saunders, owner of Kool Runnings, the undisputed kings of Caribbean food in South Manchester throughout the noughties and beyond. Ez left The Drop a few years back and set up the equally excellent Pull Up Cafe with his family, on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter.

History lesson over, what about the food? In short, as great as ever. 

The menu has a solid number of options, including some vegetarian and vegan mains, small plates, desserts and very appealing brownies, but let’s be honest: a trip to The Drop is all about one thing: The Hench Box. No, not a new sport for gym fiends, it’s basically The Drop’s all-in-one platter of food, largely consisting of two items from the mains section, rice and peas and a bunch of sides. 

We opt for the Hench Drop Box, which includes curried goat and jerk chicken, and the Fish Box, which includes fried fish, ackee and saltfish. Both boxes include plantain, dumplings, coleslaw, coconut rice and peas. Each item is hot, spicy and delivers an addictive punch. 

The goat, in particular, is dark, potent and utterly delicious, but the jerk chicken ticks every box too. The fish box delivers a whole new kind of flavour and texture profile, more about a crunch giving way to soft white fish meat – well worth a go if you’re looking to switch up your Caribbean cravings. Special mention to the plantain dumplings which have just the right amount of charred edges and chewiness; they’re probably the best in the city.

The jerk halloumi is an unusual one, and best snapped up as a quick afternoon bite to eat. The jerk sauce works well with the lightly-flavoured cheese, but it’s the pomegranate seeds and light salad that boost it into a superb on-the-go snack. Stick it in a wrap and that’s your lunch sorted.

There’s a case to be made for all the best Caribbean food coming from clandestine cafes next to industrial estates (shout-out to Sunrise Caribbean in Salford), but the rather-more-salubrious Drop matches up to the best. The team has harnessed those amazing flavours and placed them into an appealing beach hut-style restaurant where you can kick back and drink cocktails for hours.