It's a nice situation, a restaurant in a renovated building along the Pantiles. Some of the old features remain, including a gallery with original windows (smoking here so we stayed below). There are attractive wooden tables and chairs and, up above, a bar. We sat at a small table near a window looking onto the Pantiles but there are also some enormous leather sofas. Great if you're having coffee, but we were out to lunch.

The food is mainly Italian, though there was a fair amount of local produce used in the cooking. There were fish dishes but I didn't see any meat on the Summer lunch menu we were offered. I chose Grilled Goats' Cheese with Walnut and Rocket salad and something called Grandma Bloomfield's Apple Chutney which I had never heard of before but tasted good. With it I had a good sized glass of house wine - white Lou Magret Vin de Pays Colombard Sauvignon, a long name for a modest but well chilled and pleasant wine. The dish was delicious, very tasty, and the combination of walnut and well dressed rocket something I have not had before but very much enjoyed. I also had a side dish of roasted summer vegetables - an enjoyable mixture of colourful peppers with aubergine and onion. R chose Spinach Bubble and Squeak with roasted field mushrooms, red peppers and an olive oil and balsamic reduction. In the main, he enjoyed the dish, but found the Bubble and Squeak not very tasty. I didn't have a sweet but he did. He loves crumbles and spends his life looking for one as good as he cooks himself. Naturally I had a taste. it was Rhubarb crumble and the rhubarb filling could not be faulted. Ginger and lemon too - perfect. Although it was a bit doughy - more crumbly crumble please - it wasn't too sweet. The custard was though. An orange juice accompaniment was concentrated, not freshly squeezed, which really won't do. Freshly squeezed please! The service was very friendly and helpful - especially when I left a bag behind and was chased up the street with it by a frail and exhausted looking waitress. The price was moderate - we paid £21 for the full meal for two. Pussy Galore