It’s been a staple of Mancunian lunchtimes for decades, but now Cafe Marhaba has been placed up for sale.
The Back Piccadilly restaurant and takeaway is one of the city’s most legendary rice and three cafes, serving up hearty curries and tandoor-baked naans at low, low prices.
It’s a family-run operation that’s been here in the Northern Quarter since 1992 – so it’s understandable that a wave of panic has rippled through the city upon seeing the business appear on Rightmove.
Cafe Marhaba has been listed as a ‘highly sought after takeaway business’ in a ‘top location’.
Agents have placed it on the market at £1,153 per calendar month.
But Abdul Ahmed, who runs the business alongside his parents, has confirmed to The Manc that they are simply ‘testing the waters’ and thinking of shifting the beloved business to a new premises.
The tiny space, just down the road from the newly-reborn Rat and Pigeon pub, only has space for a handful of tables for dine-in customers.
If you do sit in, curries are carefully ladled onto patterned mismatched plates and served alongside the city’s best naan breads.
Cafe Marhaba is particularly well-known for its £8 rice and three deal – a local staple – where you can choose any three curries for a filling lunch.
At the time of writing, Abdul stressed that there are no plans to close the restaurant for the time being.
So you can still get your rice and three fix at this Manchester institution – and if you miss it, you’ll forever regret it.
Featured image: The Manc Group