Arts Café

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses: £8
• House wine: £11.50 per bottle

• High point: Luscious cake selection
• Low point: High ceilings equal noisy acoustics at busy times
• Food served: Mon-Sat 8.30am-4.30pm; Sun noon-4.30pm
• Open since: 1985
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

The Arts Café tries to be all things to all people, and more or less succeeds. For local workers, it's a reasonably-priced haven at lunchtime, both for sit-in and take-away. With tasty home-made soup and a roll coming in at under £2, and a plethora of sandwich fillings to choose from, the café attracts a lot of repeat business. For families, it's a child-friendly eatery close to the station, offering anything on the menu cut down to kiddie size - and that includes the price. For visitors to the adjoining City Art Centre gallery, Arts Café is the natural place to refuel and discuss what you've just seen while tucking into the quiche of the day surrounded by fresh salad, the expansive all-day breakfast or a substantial chicken or beef burger. Arts Café also does a nice line in corporate catering, some of which finds its way onto its everyday menu. So if none of the sandwich fillings on the menu floats your boat, simply ask for one of the more interesting combinations, such as cream cheese and strawberry. Then dive into the zesty lemon cake, moist chocolate muffin or any one of the expansive range of scones and tray bakes.