EAST
Lucca Enoteca, Manningtree
The speciality here is the handmade Neopolitan-style pizzas, baked in a wood-fired oven, and topped with a combination of local and Italian ingredients.
39-43 High St, CO11 1AH; 01206 390044; luccafoods.co.uk
Lussmanns Fish & Grill, St Albans
Seafood (and sustainable, ethical seafood at that) needn’t be bank-breaking, as Lussmanns shows with its £11.95 two-course set menu, available from 11am-7pm daily.
Waxhouse Gate, AL3 4EW; 01727 851941; lussmanns.com
Frank’s Bar, Norwich
This friendly cafe bar is, according to the New York Times, a literary hotspot, too.
19 Bedford St, NR2 1AR; 01603 618902; franksbar.co.uk
Deepdale Cafe, Burnham Deepdale
Whether it’s a cream tea, hearty salad, jacket potato or Big Breakfast (served up to 3.30pm), you’ll find it all at this family-run cafe on the north Norfolk coast.
Dalegate Market, Main Road, PE31 8FB; 01485 210200 ; deepdale-cafe.co.uk
LONDON
Bunny Chow, Soho
So named after its speciality dish, a filling South African fast food favourite made up of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with a choice of curries, all at £5 a bunny.
74 Wardour St, W1F 0TE; 020 7439 9557; bunnychow.com
Silk Road, Camberwell
Xinjiang-style northern Chinese food and last year’s winner. It’s difficult to spend more than £15 here, especially as portions are generous, but when you’re faced with homestyle aubergine, double cooked pork and hand-pulled noodles, sometimes greed will out.
49 Camberwell Church St, SE5 8TR; 020 7703 4832
Franco Manca, Brixton and branches across town
The sourdough specialist now has 15 branches. The hype is justified: the pizzas are made from slow-rising dough and topped with carefully chosen ingredients.
Unit 4, Market Row, SW9 8LD; 020 7738 3021; francomanca.co.uk
Bao, Soho
This street-food sensation may have settled to a permanent base in Soho but the baos – pillowy steamed buns stuffed with braised pork, fried chicken or other good things – still inspire reverence. The Taiwanese small eats (xiao chi) are equally delicious, and affordably priced.
53 Lexington St, W1F 9AS; 07769 627811; baolondon.com
Wahaca, Covent Garden and multiple branches across town
Mix-and-match Mexican street food made with seasonal, largely British ingredients (the corn tortillas are made by Cool Chile Co in north-west London).
66 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HG; 020 7240 1883; wahaca.co.uk
MIDLANDS
The Lord Clifden, Birmingham
Pub classics (burgers, sausage and mash, ham, egg and chips), seven continental lagers on tap, and a range of guest ales.
34 Great Hampton St, B18 6AA; 0121 523 7515; thelordclifden.com
Kiosk, Nottingham
At £3.50, the sandwiches, made with Turkish bread and with fillings such as balsamic-roasted beef brisket and halloumi and fig salad, are a real steal. Dinner, on Friday and Saturday evenings only, is BYO.
1 Winchester St, NG5 4AH; 07514 625697; kiosksherwood.co.uk
Aubrey’s Traditional Creperie, Nottingham
The concept is simple – sweet crepes and savoury galettes – and the fillings are just the right side of inventive (salami, raclette and chilli relish or homemade salted caramel sauce, made with Brittany salted butter).
14-16 West End Arcade, NG1 6JP; 0115 947 0855; aubreystraditionalcreperie.com
Homemade Cafe, Nottingham
Cosy cafe that prides itself on the freshness of its meals. Fully licensed, so you can enjoy a beer with your toastie, if you fancy.
20 Pelham Street, Nottingham NG1 2EG; 0115 924 3030; homemadecafe.com
Tamatanga, Nottingham
At this independent Indian restaurant all the food is prepared from scratch. There’s a generous £7.95 meal deal (covering most menu options) before 6pm.
The Corner House, 12 Trinity Square, NG1 4DB; 0115 958 4848; tamatanga.com
NORTH
Baltzersen’s, Harrogate
Meatballs, open sandwiches, cinnamon buns: pure Scandi food, but there’s a Yorkshire twist behind it all. Coffee is from North Star Micro Roasters in Leeds, and the salmon for the home-cured gravlax comes from local Ramus Seafood.
22 Oxford St, HG1 1PU; 01423 202363; baltzersens.co.uk
Honest Crust, Altrincham
Serious sourdough pizza: the dough is left to ferment for a minimum of 36 hours, and ingredients (Trealy Farm salami, Greens of Glastonbury mozzarella) are sourced from small scale British producers.
26 Market St, WA14 1SA; honestcrustpizza.co.uk
Altrincham Market House, Altrincham
This high-ceilinged food hall is home to a selection of the region’s most exciting food traders: go to Tender Cow for rare breed beef from North Yorkshire, Honest Crust for perfectly blistered sourdough pizza (see above), and Wolfhouse Kitchen for cakes, salads and savouries, among others.
26 Market St, WA14 1SA; @altrinchammkt
The Limekiln Cafe, Saddleworth
Traditional cafe food using the best, often organic, ingredients. Sit on the lovely new terrace which looks out over Limekiln lock on the Huddersfield narrow canal.
Brownhill Visitor Centre, Wool Road, Dobcross OL3 5PB; 01457 871051; thelimekilncafe.com
Bundobust, Leeds
Craft beer bar with an Indian street-food-inspired kitchen. Nothing on the Munch menu is more than £6, so you can munch away on okra fries or bundo chaat.
6 Mill Hill, LS1 5DQ; 0113 243 1248; bundobust.com
NORTHERN IRELAND
Bay Tree, Holywood
The cinnamon scones at this cafe are renowned, but the ever changing breakfast, lunch and Friday night dinner menus are well worth checking out too.
118 High Street, BT18 9HW; 028 9042 1419; baytreeholywood.co.uk
Boojum, Belfast
Burrito bar started by two self-professed burrito addicts inspired by homemade Mexican food and Californian culture. Also in Dublin and Galway.
73 Botanic Ave, BT7 1JL; 028 9031 5334; boojummex.com
Camphill Holywood Cafe, Holywood
Organic bakery and café dedicated to helping its surrounding communities, serving soup, sandwiches and daily specials, all freshly made.
8 Shore Rd, BT18 9HX; 028 9042 3203; camphillholywood.co.uk
Bubbacue, Belfast
Slow and smoky is the motto of this US style barbecue joint – and the way they cook their pork, ribs, brisket and sausage. Choose to have your meat in a sandwich or as part of a platter with a range of tasty rib-sticking sides.
12 Callender St, BT1 5PN; 028 9027 8220; bubbacue.com
Pyke’N’Pommes, Derry
Ingredients for Kevin Pyke’s lovingly prepared street food are sourced within 20 miles of the city. Slow cooked brisket in a brioche bap is a new addition to the menu, the Cod Father, Notorious P.I.G and the Legenderry burger are all old favourites.
Queen’s Quay; 07594 307561; @Pyke’N’Pommes
SCOTLAND
1912, Bathgate
Light and spacious café-bar that often has live music.
2 S Bridge St, EH48 1TJ; 01506 633133; @cafebar1912
Hanoi Bike Shop, Glasgow
Vietnamese street food snacks – and they even make their own hand-pressed organic tofu daily.
8 Ruthven Ln, G12 9BG; 0141 334 7165; hanoibikeshop.co.uk
Papamac’s, Johnstone
Family-run deli and bistro serving satisfying classics (often with a Scottish twist, like haggis nachos) in the day, and a slightly more formal menu at night.
5 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT; 01505 325 772; papamacs.co.uk
Tippling House, Aberdeen
Deep South-influenced bar food, including white crab mac and cheese, ideal for soaking up your tipple of choice. You can’t argue with the £15 Fizz and Chips offer (catch of the day, home fries, chowder and a glass of Piper-Heidsieck champagne).
4 Belmont St, AB10 1JE; thetipplinghouse.com
Eat Café, Glasgow
Lazy brunches are this cafe’s favourite meal. Go prepared: you need to be hungry to tackle the Stornoway Stack (a sort-of eggs benedict with black pudding).
69 Kilmarnock Rd, G41 3YR; 0141 649 6705; eat-deli.co.uk
SOUTH
Tin Kitchen, High Wycombe
At this charming café the menu is divided into two pages: the reassuring “Always Here” and “Today” for daily specials.
2 The Quadrangle, HP13 7QR; 07794 742223; facebook.com/tinkitchenuk
The Cafe in the Park, Rickmansworth
A founder member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association: thrifty management ensures that no dish sneaks above £11 .
The Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, WD3 1NB; 01923 711131; thecafeinthepark.com
Brookes, Oxford
Home to a cookery and wine school, the two-course lunch option offers sophisticated British cooking for £14.50.
Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane, OX3 0BP; 01865 483803; restaurant.business.brookes.ac.uk
La Choza, Brighton
Mexican street food in a vibrant setting in Brighton’s North Laine.
36 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AQ; 01273 945926; lachoza.co.uk
Great British Pizza Co, Margate
Pizza made with British ingredients (including Cannon and Cannon charcuterie) on the Margate seafront. Pudding options include Gelupo gelato.
14a Marine Drive, CT9 1DH; 01843 297700; greatbritishpizza.com
Planet India, Brighton
Friendly Indian restaurant where the vegetarian and vegan recipes have been handed down from the owner’s mother.
4-5 Richmond Parade, BN2 9PH; 01273 818149
WALES
Penylan Pantry, Cardiff
Store, deli and café that promotes local producers through the food it sells and makes.
72 Kimberley Rd, CF23 5DN; facebook.com/PenylanPantry
The Deck, Cardiff
This cosy cafe specialises in blow-out breakfasts (four-egg omelettes) and hot baguettes – try the Hog and Hen (sausage, bacon and egg) for a very reasonable £3.80.
20 Harrowby St,CF10 5GA; 029 2115 0385; thedeckcoffeehouse.co.uk
Hang Fire Smokehouse, popping up across Wales
Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn are dedicated to authentic southern style barbecue, as is their roving not-really-a-restaurant. Check the website for their next appearance.
hangfiresmokehouse.com
Caffi Bar at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Wide ranging menu with an international flavour and Welsh ingredients.
Market Road, CF5 1QE; 029 2030 4400; chapter.org/eat-drink
Wright’s Food Emporium, Carmarthen
Shop and café offering a thoughtfully compiled menu of breakfast, lunch and (Fri-Sat only) supper. Buy a bottle of wine, and refill as many times as you like.
Golden Grove Arms, Llanarthney, SA32 8JU; 01558 668929; wrightsfood.co.uk
WEST
Fisherton Mill, Salisbury
As well as arts and crafts, this redbrick Victorian building also houses a café serving sandwiches on artisan sourdough, homemade focaccia, soup, and more substantial options.
108 Fisherton St, SP2 7QY; 01722 500200; fishertonmill.co.uk/the-cafe
Folk House, Bristol
The bargain £5 special changes daily (beetroot tzatziki, bread and salad is a typical offering), and perfect for a takeaway desk lunch.
40A Park St, BS1 5JG; 0117 908 5035; folkhousecafe.co.uk
Papadeli, Bristol
Multiple time runner-up, this Clifton deli serves salads and hot pressed sandwiches, among other things, to eat in or take away. They also have a café space in the city’s Royal Academy.
84 Alma Rd, BS8 2DJ; 0117 973 6569; papadeli.co.uk
The Kitchen, Bristol
Sited in an old fire station, this social enterprise (part of the YMCA) works with young people to offer training and employment within the food and hospitality industry. Daily changing hot dishes.
The Station, Silver St, BS1 2AG; 0117 929 2975 thestationkitchen.co.uk
Thali, Bristol
Previous winner, with four more branches across Bristol in addition to the original Montpelier cafe, offering a thali, tiffin and express menu (roti wraps for less than £5), and using free-range meat and eggs and organic dairy products.
12 York Road; 0117 942 6687; thethalicafe.co.uk
