Salt Cellar in Oldham

Amazing place, will be so sad to see it go in a few weeks. Love the food, staff are fantastic, and every time I have been they have been supportive, helpful and fully experienced. Considering some are volunteering, they are an amazing team. The food has always been way above average. Will miss this place.

i got a fwee dink wiv sparkwells and a sausage bacon wrap for fwee but im muslim they forced mew to eat it them wastmen

Like many other people I have fond memories of visiting the Salt Cellar and enjoying many meals when my children were younger. I decided to have lunch there and as soon as I set foot into the building I remembered the lovely, elegant dining room, it was like stepping back in time when Oldham had so many lovely buildings. I was shown to a table and handed a menu immediately. The cheese and onion pie was tempting but I decided to have a tuna and mayonnaise sandwich and a pot of tea. Although the menu had been reduced there was still plenty of choice of either hot or cold dishes. The staff were all very polite and helpful and the food tasted lovely and was presented well. I will definitely be visiting the Salt Cellar again.

Rude and offhand staff, average food and poor value for money. Crowded and uncomfortable. Will not come again, and would advise others against coming.

I am not happy with this Enviroment very expensive not good to work for some managers are not good would never go in again dont like the manager

If I come into Oldham with my mum, we always end up here. It is always busy, usually with older people and very friendly. The coffee is awful but the food is good and very fresh. In all the years I have been going, the printed menu had never changed, there is a small selection of specials but they really do need to update their menu.

My parents used to take us here when we were younger for lunch on a saturday, really helpful friendly staff and love the little bible book shop adjoining it,great for Sunday school supplies etc, nice food in cafe,very reasonably priced too.

I always enjoy coming in here to get a toastie and a brew as its nice and peaceful and you don't feel awkward eating alone! the place is well hidden down a side street but it is such a nice place to get some lunch. I also think it is mostly run by volunteers which is nice. it is linked to a church and although I'm not religious, I don't feel uncomfortable visiting this place for food there are plenty of tables in this place and its clean and tidy. the menu has lots of things to chose from, all at reasonable prices. there is also a specials board which always looks tasty! you place your order at the till and then the food is delivered to your table pretty quickly! the food quality is always good and its perfect for a quite bite

Love the Salt Cellar for its charm but some parts of the food have gone down hill luckily there where more good points than bad.The Negatives The chips where undercooked and raw, the side salad was going brown and tasted like it was straight out of a bag and the jacket spud was very pale and the skin wasn't crispy, maybe they are cooked in the microwave and not finished in the oven.The good PointsLovely home made soup.Turkey sandwich was lovely with nice stuffing and gravy.The service is always good and the food came out quickly, maybe this was why the chips and jacket spud where undercooked.I'll be back for Christmas lunch.

I have been to the Salt Cellar on too many occasions to mention! It is in what was the old County Court building on Church Lane an old cobbled street leading to Oldham Parish church. For years I thought the Parish Church ran it and was surprised to learn an independent church group run it. The atmosphere is cosy and comfy. Service is run by volunteers mostly and they do a grand job! Around the walls are oil paintings and prints by local artists which are actually on sale. (I know because I bought one). There is also a mezzanine floor with adequate tables and seating I believe they also host coffee morning's for mum's and young children/babies. The food is home cooked and substantial portions at reasonable prices. The tea and coffee is good too. I think they have recently added chips to the menu. I usually meet up with friends there knowing it is a lovely place with ambience.

I have visited this church linked café/restaurant many times in the past the most recent being today. I have always had a hot meal whether from the standard menu or the specials board all have been excellent value and very tasty. Today I had the home made steak and kidney pie with new potatoes, carrots and sweet corn and a pot of tea more of this later. The meal was served piping hot and was ample for a lunch I was satisfied but not over full at the end of my meal. Previously I have had a lamb hot pot again home made that appeared on the specials board it was full of lamb and not wishing to repeat myself very tasty. I have never tried the desserts as I find a cooked meal is ample for dinner time so lunch to those with breading. My only criticism is that the tea is too weak the pot is large enough for two tea bags or the quality of the teat needs reviewing. of course it could be partly my fault by putting to much full fat milk in the cup first, I am used to skimmed milk at home. The café is run as a charity organisation, I was introduced to it by a work colleague several years ago and visit when ever I am in Oldham. The serving staff appear to have a mixture of disabilities or learning difficulties but all do their job very well. The café is large, well used so much a so at the normal dinner time 12 to 1.00pm it can be difficult to find a free table. If you want a nice ordinary home cooked meal and are in Oldham seek out this cafe it is tucked away down a narrow cul de sac just off the town centre.

Called in for lunch with my friend today as i had heard good things about it. It was a hot day so we ordered a sandwich and cold drink, the service was very prompt and prices were cheap and cheerful, the place is very nice the old court building will definitely be back.

Spotted this place on here and was interested, having been to Oldham so many times and never come across it. Very nice homemade soup, sandwiches and cakes. The cheese and onion pie was okay, but for what was paid you can't complain.

The Salt Cellar is based in a large room in the old Courthouse. Pretty much everyone there is a volunteer and the restaurant is operated by a group of local Methodist churches. The prices for excellent 'homemade' foods are exceptional. You need to visit to see. Amazing!

I like a pot of tea with my food and generally older people in this place as reasonable priced and not a fast food establishment. It's nothing too grand but not many places now that are not fast food but it suits me well worth a try if your fed up with the run of the mill fast food places. No tele toilets adequate no wifi

Go here regularly , at least once a week. Food is all home made ( I presume by the volunteer staff) and is really good value for money. The helpings are generous and the staff are polite and friendly.Service is quick , never have to wait more than a few minutes. Well recommend the Salt Cellar....generally older people but my daughter and her friends love it, ( mid 20s) also children are very welcome. I usually go with my daughter but I can also go on my own. Last visit I went on my own.

Been to the salt cellar lots of times. It is very clean warm cosy the food is great value for money. You can get any thing from a sandwich to a full meal the staff are all lovely. The prices are very reasonable. You always get a big pot of tea which is lovely. One of the best places to eat in Oldham town centre. Long may it continue. Lady from Chadderton

Tasty everyday food decently priced. Lots of room ...never visited and not found a seat even when really busy...its popular with older folk and some quieter younger families with prams which tells you something (in a very good way) ...ie its where non-rowdy experienced shoppers /cafe dwellers go for decent cuppa.

Run by the Church, attracts a middle age upwards clientèle. Food very good at a reasonable price in a gentle atmosphere.

Called in here today for lunch after shopping in the town centre. It is well hidden up Church Street, near Oldham Parish church, but well worth calling in. It was very busy but I received my lunch very quickly - great service from the gentleman taking the order to the young people serving my pot of tea and my quiche with salad. Not expensive prices either.

Went here with my father and my two daughters.the staff were very pleasant and were very helpful. I hadnt been before so it was a lovely experience for me. We had a lovely lunch.(I recommend the cottage pie.. its divine!!)We had a lovely gentleman serve us and he was so polite and very nice towards my two young daughters.I will DEFINITELY be going back soon

Whatever you do go here for lunch. Home made steak & Kidney Pie, Veg & new pots for £5.20!!!!! Same for finney haddock with spinach, Veg & pots. Cheep & beautifully cooked food.

I have been visiting the Salt Cellar for a few years now. I meet or take friends there, during the week. The food is always good.

No need to book, just drop in. Simple but lovely home cooked food, at affordable prices, topped up with friendly staff, make this the perfect stop for lunch in the middle of shopping as it is situated in the centre of Oldham.

Cheap prices ,good English food ,Lott's of room, good for families .fresh food and hard working staff.

Well what can I say about this awesome cafe. I first visited this cafe exactly 23yrs ago when it was across the Lane when my son was a week old. It is now in the old court house. The staff are all volunteers of all age's & is a none profit organisation from Oldham parish church. Until moving to Australia I went to this cafe @ least once a month & visit with my Mum every time I have been back. The food is very good & reasonably priced & have recommended it to many people. There is a lift for wheelchair bound customer but you may have to wait a few mins for a member of staff to come as you need to ring the buzzer.

Popped in here for a quick lunch on Saturday with my other half. Wasn't sure if it was table service or counter service. None of the staff approached us when we arrived, just looked at us blankly, so we went to the counter to ask. We were told: "order over there, sit up there, menus on the table". My partner decided to have a ham, cheese and mustard panini and a cappuccino and I decided to have a pot of tea and a scone with jam and cream. My scone arrived first and then we had a 5 minute wait for the rest of the order. The scone was dry and not fresh, and there was the tiniest serving of squirty cream to accompany it, barely enough to cover one half of the scone, the butter and jam were pre-packed portions which were adequate. When the rest of our order turned up, the waitress had spilled most of the cappuccino in its saucer. I stirred my pot of tea, which had two teabags in a small pot, but when I poured it, it was the weakest tea I have ever seen and it tasted like dirty dishwater, obviously the cheapest teabags they could find. My partner's cappuccino also tasted like dirty dishwater and the panini had enough mustard on it to sink a battleship, it certainly made my partner's eyes water!!!! All in all a very disappointing lunch for a tenner. We will not be returning, nor recommending this place.