Grove Bistro

offers Somerset ciders, real ales and house wines to make your visit extra special. Open: Mon-Sun 10.30am-6pm Clinging to a corner of West Street in Weston-super-Mare, Grove Bistro is a welcome newcomer to this Victorian seaside town. A jumble of offices, bars and banks are its neighbours, making for a predominately professional crowd looking for a light, airy and contemporary place to dine following a busy day's work. The bistro is also popular with people dining before the evening's performance commences at The Playhouse just around the corner. During the day, owner Steve Williams caters for a different crowd - ladies meeting their friends for freshly made soup, or shoppers in need of a restorative panini.

The refreshingly simple menu reveals a delightful blend of flavours. My husband started with a warm smoked duck salad before sampling fresh pan-fried sea bass with a tomato and herb sauce. I chose moreish Somerset mushrooms in a garlic and cream sauce, followed by an equally impressive dish of poached chicken with a sensational wholegrain mustard sauce. The tiramisu cheesecake went down just swimmingly with the remains of my carafe of house red.

Grove Bistro has a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere, yet the service remains efficient. A sign of a good eatery, many customers lingered over their meals; and before we knew it, two hours had flown by and we bade our farewells - for the time being, at least.