Supermarket’s sweet

Doing the weekly supermarket shop is never the highlight of my week, so I decided to break it up with a visit to Sainsbury’s Restaurant.
Sainsbury's Cafe, Worksop G130514-2Sainsbury's Cafe, Worksop G130514-2
Sainsbury's Cafe, Worksop G130514-2

My folks were having work done to the kitchen at home and were glad to escape for a few hours to enjoy a cooked meal away from all the dust.

The restaurant is nestled in the entrance to the Highgrounds store, and was certainly looking busy with customers on the day of our visit.

We grabbed a tray and started to peruse the menu as we took our place in the queue.

In the chiller there was a range of sandwiches, paninis, snacks and fruit, as well as some enticing looking pots of yoghurt berry crunch for a more exciting breakfast.

There was also a full range of hot meals and snacks, with more thought put in than your average supermarket cafe menu.

The main meals board displayed a comprehensive selection of dishes priced £4.69-£5.35- ranging from half a roast chicken and sausages and mash to beef lasagne and Yorkshire ham, egg and chips.

They were all labelled with their calorie content , which was a good thing, although ignorance could be bliss when you see some meals exceeded the 1,000 calorie mark.

If you want a hot meal but something slightly lighter there is also plenty to choose from, such as jacket potatoes (priced £2.29-£3.69) with a range of hot and cold fillings and omelettes with up to two fillings of your choice.

They also have Soup of the Day, or two on the occasion of our visit - tomato and basil or minestrone genovese for £2.29 served with roll and butter.

Children are also well catered for with their own dedicated menu, featuring hot meals for £2.89 with include sausages and mash and veggie pasta bake or half a jacket potato for £1.69.

Sainsbury’s have also made a good effort to offer something different when it comes to drinks - from milkshakes and chai lattes to babyccinos and luxury hot chocolates - served with the syrup of your choice. You can even get a coffee to go if time is not on your side.

The cafe is also currently offering a third of all freshly baked pastries when you buy a hot drink or frappe.

I chose a cheese and mushrom omelette, while my mum went for a cheesy jacket potato - both of which came with a large side salad. My dad’s eye went straight for the Seasonal Specials dish, which this month was salmon fishcakes served with chips and peas or side salad - all for £4.99.

An extremely friendly and attentive waitress took our order and handed us our number as we took our seats and relaxed with the day’s papers.

An equally friendly and polite waiter soon brought us our meals - I can’t remember the last time I have heard the word ‘sir’ uttered in Worksop - and we began to tuck into our meals.

My omelette was light and fluffy and complemented with rich-tasting cheese and mushhrooms.

My mum said her jacket was tasty and evenly cooked, while my dad commented that his fishcakes were ‘delicious’ and as good as any he has had in more upmarket eateries.

We rounded off our meal with a lovely French strawberry tart with creme anglaise to share. Our bill came to £16 all in which I thought was pretty good value for three filling hot meals, drinks and a dessert.

Sainsbury’s Restaurant in Worksop has all the choice of a restaurant combined with supermarket convenience and great friendly service - definitely worth checking out.

by Chantal Spittles