Eat My Words: We review Bookmark in Spalding

For a novel way to take in a spot of lunch I tried Bookmark in Spalding - a bookshop and coffee house that is easy to digest.

My mum is the most avid bookworm I know - currently consuming the pages of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series with vigour - so Bookmark is the perfect combination for a literary feast.

We walked through the book section with the knowledge that we would return to peruse the gifts and cards - fortuitous timing as I needed to buy a present for my 21-year-old colleague, who quite literally was making me feel old.

The café is spacious, laid out with wooden tables and a couple of comfy armchairs with a healthy number of visitors enjoying lunch on a chilly Monday.

It suits all ages of clientele and offered a huge menu to choose from - specials on the board included vegan shepherd’s pie and classic lasagne.

As soon as we sat down a friendly member of staff took our drinks order.

I had spied a curry on the specials board and fancied that - so ordered a Peroni 0%, while Mum, having travelled by bus was freed up to sample a bottle of Timothy Taylor.

Once our drinks arrived we chose our main courses - Mum had a spring green risotto which came with vegetables and I went for a chicken tikka masala on rice with a naan bread.

I have eaten before at the café when I had a yummy prawn sandwich with crisps and coleslaw - which is why I decided to try Bookmark again for an Eat My Words review.

My curry dish was really tasty - not too spicy - and the chicken was tender with lots of sauce that I could dip the crispy naan bread in.

Washed down with my Peroni 0% it meant I didn’t need to worry about having a big meal later on.

I couldn’t manage all of it but that was just because I was full, no reflection on the quality although perhaps it could have been presented with a choice of dip and a sprinkling of coriander.

Mum’s risotto had a selection of broad beans, peas and green beans which she said was really tasty.

I tried a mouthful and it had a wholesome broth texture and flavour.

It might have been nice to have had a crusty slice of bread or a salad served with the risotto rather than the side of vegetables - broccoli, carrots and cabbage - just for a little more variation.

With the firm rule that you can only have pudding if you have eaten your main course still firmly embedded in my psyche, I threw caution to the wind and suggested we try a dessert.

The cakes at the counter were extremely tempting and so we decided to share a butterscotch tart.

Mum had a scoop of ice cream on her end - I asked for squirty cream - which was duly served.

It was deliciously sweet - a biscuit base with butterscotch that was thick and gooey - perfect with a pot of tea served in striking turquoise crockery.

The café is pleasant and I can see why people would feel comfortable to pop in on their own - either to read a book and enjoy a coffee in a peaceful atmosphere or meeting friends.

Food and books go so well together - I could make a pun about War and Peas - so I recommend trying Bookmark out - for the perfect match…

Out of five:

Food: Tasty portions - perhaps a menu choice of crusty bread with the risotto for variation - but full tummies all round ***

Drinks: More nought percent choices such as wine or cider would have been nice ***

Decor: A peaceful setting. The toilet facilities could do with some TLC. Comfy armchairs look inviting ****

Staff: Friendly and responsive ****

Price: A little on the pricey side considering we shared a pudding. The bill came to £46. ***

Have you had a great meal? Share your own Eat My Words reviews or tell us where to try by emailing: news@lincsonline.co.uk