Il Cappuccino

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

Il Cappuccino might sport an impressively grand wooden entrance for a sandwich bar, but inside it steers clear of the excessiveness of many of its competitors (where your lunch break vanishes as you choose what sort of meat, cheese, sauce, and so on). Here, a little blackboard behind the counter gives you a concise list of creations from which to choose, gourmet combinations with funky titles like ‘niagra viagra’ (chorizo, gouda and spicy mayonnaise), ‘clatty pat’ (pepperoni, tomato, smoked cheese, coleslaw) or their bestseller the ‘Italian stallion’ (chicken and bacon with salad on toasted focaccia). Flavours are fresh and well balanced, and there’s coffee from renowned supplier Matthew Algie. Little plates of Mediterranean antipasti fill the gaps in the counter, while shelves are stacked with cans, jars and boxes of exciting deli foodstuffs to peruse or purchase while you wait.

• High point: Cooler than your average sandwich bar
• Low point: Can get a bit cramped at busy times