The Rio Café

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

With its retro stylings and traditional exterior, the Rio – part pub, part café – has a great 1950s vibe. There are leather booths and sleek formica tables, and the menu is printed diner-style on the wall. Its contents range from a selection of cooked breakfasts (served until noon) through to lunch favourites and canteen-style main courses. The fish-cakes are thickly coated with breadcrumbs and served with mango mayo and a heaped side salad. Tender chunks of Scottish beef fill the steak pie, which is served on a pile of creamy mash, while the Thai green curry, a mild and creamy mix of vegetables and strips of chicken, comes with fragrant yellow rice. A selection of freshly prepared cakes is displayed in a chiller cabinet, and can include a meringue served with chocolate sauce and raspberries, and a rich chocolate fudge cake. To accompany a meal, or just for an induglent treat, Rio's signature milkshakes come in five different flavours and are worth every penny of £2. A range of events such as cabaret nights, poker events and jazz sessions are held throughout the week, and children are well catered for with a separate menu and a selection of toys to keep them amused.

• High point: The milkshakes
• Low point: Chipped plates and bendy spoons