Circus Express Sandwich Bar

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops. This review is taken from the 2007 edition.

Nestling up against the Circus Bar and Grill on North Castle Street is this bright, yet spartan, sandwich bar managed by the same company that runs the restaurant next door. It is more of a takeaway than a café, but there are high stools lined up against one wall and along the window on which you can sit and take your lunch at leisure, away from the bustle of town. Popular breakfasts of bacon rolls and ham and cheese croissants are served from 7.30am. Mid-morning is a bit quieter, but the lunchtime rush sees plenty of customers from the surrounding offices pop in to select from a simple range of wraps, focaccias and salads. Fresh, quality ingredients are put together in combinations including goat's cheese, red onion marmalade, tapenade and rocket or chicken chorizo mayo with baby gem lettuce. Pastrami with Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard can be a little oily, though suitably filling, while salad of sweet crayfish tails is both tempting and healthy. There are also plenty of crisps, drinks and chocolate or cereal bars to snack on. But make sure you get there before 2pm because after that it's coffees only until they close at 3pm.

• High point: Tempting, healthy salads
• Low point: No food served after 2pm