A real tasty deli dining experience

It’s a bold departure from the usual coffee shops and restaurants on offer and being an unashamed foodie, one I couldn’t wait to try out. We arrived at lunchtime and the place was packed with diners and shoppers – always a good sign. A friendly waitress gave us a warm welcome and said our table would be ready shortly, leaving us to take in Deli and Dine’s surroundings. From the modern lighting, comfy seating and blackboards boasting treats galore – every attention has clearly been paid to detail to create that special atmosphere.

We soon sat down and began to explore the menu. From the main range of soups, sandwiches and salads to deli platters, tasters and tapas, there is certainly plenty to choose from. And if you’re someone like me who struggles to make a decision when eating out, the dazzling array of specials boards offering even more soups, bruschetta, salads and main meals could leave you feeling unsure of where to begin. One particularly pleasing feature was the Healthy Options menu all worked out to Weight Watchers points.

It takes the guilt out of eating out and leaves you free to choose from treats such as the Balsamic Onion and Holmbury Cheddar Salad or Sweet Chilli Chicken Mini Pitta Pizza. I plumped for a hot mozzarella, pesto and tomato panini while my dad went for a Holmbury Cheddar and Chutney sandwich on a floury granary bap. We didn’t have too long to wait for our food which was very tasty and served with a smile from the team of friendly staff. And when something went wrong with my mum’s initial order, our waitress couldn’t do enough to put things right.

The chef duly delivered a Stilton and Pear Salad with a genuine apology and explanation – showing Deli and Dine really does deliver on its promise for great customer service.

It was tough to resist the array of cakes and bakes on offer so my folks plumped for a slice of lemon meringue pie while I went for a slice of the Triple Chocolate loaf cake. My mum and dad were full of praise for the particular for the delicious meringue topping. The only disappointment for me was the cake, which was a little on the dry side and didn’t quite live up to its Triple Chocolate name. However this was a minor quibble on what was a great meal in great surroundings – all served up with a smile. Our bill came to £15 which was more than reasonable for what we had.

It’s great to see places like Deli and Dine dish up an experience you only usually find in the big cities and has already earned a firm place on Bassetlaw’s food map.

By Chantal Spittles

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