Manos is a deli, cafe and laidback restaurant. The common denominator in all its guises is excellent, simply cooked Greek food.

The Venue
Manos is on a corner of Walton Street and the bright white exterior and cheerful blue and white awning already convey a touch of Greek sunshine.

Step inside and this becomes more pronounced, with the photos of Greek landscapes on the wall and an outside courtyard, perfect for continental-style al fresco dining (though the large umbrella covering the tables is a nod to its British location).

The layout is that of a deli proud to showcase its products. Most food is displayed in a glass counter for customers to deliberate over, and blackboards on the walls announce the day’s specials as well as current offers.

The People
Manos is first and foremost concerned with producing excellent Greek food. You are at liberty to order from the counter as and when something takes your fancy, or wait for table service.

The tables upstairs in the deli provide a casual cafe feel, even in the evening, and here it's less about formal service and more about great food and company.

There is a larger dining room downstairs for a more restaurant-style experience, featuring Grecian-themed art. The staff are helpful and patiently put up with customer attempts to read the Greek titles of menu items, as well as advising those with dietary requirements about menu options. There is a sense of real care about the quality of food and a love of good cooking.

The Food
There's no set format for dining at Manos, you can point at something in the deli counter that takes your fancy, or order from the menu. The food is simple but bursting with fresh flavours - lemon, oregano, garlic, tomato.

The best way to try as many of the mouthwatering starters as possible is to order a mezze platter, consisting of small portions of four starters of your choice, served with a basket of warm pitta bread. It's surprisingly filling and at £5.95 it's excellent value.

Choose from a selection of dips such as tzatziki, hummus and taramasalata, or Greek classics like dolmathes (stuffed vine leaves), marinated red peppers stuffed with feta cheese and chickpea salad with parsley and lemon.

There's also a selection of olives including feta-stuffed, kalamata, and lemon and dill. These are a far cry from the tiny olives you buy in jars, they're enormous, glossy, and delicious. Most single starters cost between £2.95 and £4.30.

Ensure you leave room for the hearty main courses, all of which are served with a (sometimes unnecessary, considering their size) side of hummus, Greek salad or olives. There is a good range of vegetarian options, including a spinach and feta filo pastry pie, a delicious combination of crispy pastry and tangy, creamy filling, and gigantes plaki, butter beans baked in a tomato and herb sauce.

Also available are classics such as imam bayeldi (baked aubergine), moussaka, and arni me kritharaki, spiced lamb so tender you could eat it with a spoon, served with kritharaki pasta.

One of the stars of the menu is the chicken souvlaki, a gigantic flatbread filled with moist marinated chicken (or falafel for vegetarians), hummus, tzatziki and Greek salad. At £5.95 it is perhaps the cheapest route to a full stomach in Oxford.

Most main courses are available as smaller portions, enabling you to try a couple. Prices range from around £5.85 to £7.95. All dishes are available to take away, and there are also meal deal combinations of salads, pasta and drinks for lunch on the go.

The display of desserts in the deli counter is a smart move. Having eyed them covetously on your way in, you will make a point of leaving room for at least one syrup-drenched pastry.

Traditional baklava is available in flavours such as almond or pistachio (ranging from 90p to £3 depending on size), as well as apple strudel and a variety of home baked cakes that are guaranteed to make you hungry all over again. They also provide an outside catering service for parties and events.

The Drink
There's a range of freshly pressed juices with inventive titles, designed to refresh and rejuvenate – try the orange and ginger.

They also offer hot drinks to accompany that all-important pastry with a variety of teas and coffees, and the unusual Greek coffee (for some, an acquired taste).

A reasonable wine list is also on offer with bottles starting at £10, alongside all the usual soft drinks and Greek beers which go from £2.95 a bottle.

The Last Word
For a satisfying lunch, thoroughly enjoyable dinner or just a quick coffee and baklava to nibble on, Manos is the ideal location. Let the fresh, flavoursome food transport you to rustic Greece.

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