Spoon Cafe Bistro

Spoon Cafe Bistro, successor to the oft-overlooked Spoon Cafe on Blackfriars street, opened not too long ago at the site previously taken by Buffet King, on Nicholson Street. It's a beautiful space, with polished floorboards and huge windows. An art deco feel is combined with more personal touches and real care has gone into its design.

The same is true of the food. Flavours and textures have been combined throughout with an original spark and careful thought. Trading on their promise to using the best of organic, local and seasonal ingredients, the menu offers a varied choice of tastes and budgets. The Cullen Skink soup is delicious and creamy and I could have had it twice over. Their veggie choice is limited, but what they do, they do well. Baked feta with beetroot, chickpeas and blood orange is impeccable, fresh and full of all the things that are good for you. The crumbed goats cheese on red rice and roasted veg looked like a fairly dull token meat free dish but well surpassed expectations, giving a fantastic combination of flavours and textures. For a richer palate, the venison bourgignonne with celeriac mash is delicious, but would do well accompanied by crunchy green vegetables to counteract this richness.

Desserts hold up their end nicely too, raspberry and meringue is served with ice cream with real flecks of vanilla in it, though I'd have liked to have seen some lighter alternatives. Definitely a place to go if you're feeling hungry.