Jericho isn't short of places for a quick but high-quality meal, and if you want fresh, fast food, the local Greek café Manos is an excellent choice. Manos has been part of the eclectic Jericho landscape for many years, but despite having lived there a while, I hadn't visited - a situation that had to be rectified.

I ordered the spanakopita, a feta-and-spinach pie that looked particularly appetising behind the glass counter. Upgrading to a main meal meant that it came with salad and hummus, which sounded like an excellent accompaniment. Although it was a late lunchtime, the restaurant was still almost entirely full, and so I expected to wait a little while for my meal to arrive - an expectation that was completely unfounded, as my food and accompanying coffee were soon brought to my table.

The spanakopita was solid and savoury, with strong flavours - the spinach and feta complemented each other perfectly, and the pastry was just flaky enough. I also enjoyed the hummus, which had a rich creamy texture that contrasted nicely with the topping of whole chickpeas. The tomato, onion and cucumber salad was fresh and crunchy, although it would have been improved with a few black olives.

Manos has a winning combination of authentic, well-made food and quick, friendly service. How busy the restaurant was at an off-peak time is testament to how popular the place is, and why it has endured in Oxford's often-rapidly-changing restaurant scene. If anything, the experience was too quick - I would have liked to have a menu more prominently displayed, or out on the tables, so that I could have looked through the many other options Manos has to offer. But the meal I had certainly hit the spot - and I can always try their Imam Bayildi or their Kimadopita on my next visit.