Don’t be deterred by the hordes queuing out of the door at lunchtime – this place is worth the wait!

The Venue
Located next to beautiful Lincoln's Inn Fields near Holborn tube station, Fleet River Bakery has gained a strong following since its opening. You can choose to eat in and take a seat upstairs at one of the wooden bars in a prime people-watching spot or go downstairs to the dining room. In the summer, though, many people choose to take away and head to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which is a popular picnic spot. Fleet River Bakery changes with the seasons and it shows on both the menu and through the decor.

The Atmosphere
Fleet River Bakery is a bustling place, particularly at lunchtime where its popularity has the less fortunate result of there often being a 10 minute wait in the queue for your order. The staff seem to cope well under the demands of such a rush hour and remain friendly and helpful. At other times of the day, the Bakery is the perfect retreat from bustling High Holborn.

The Food
Fleet River Bakery offers a large range of savouries and cakes that are all homemade. It's more of a weekday haunt but worth a stop on a Saturday to take advantage of the extended brunch menu – take your pick from pancakes with maple syrup or berry compote and mascarpone, green eggs and ham or the Fleet full English and more. At lunchtime, expect to see a frittata, quiche, soup, toastie and pie on the daily changing menu. Dishes come with or without salad as you prefer with prices ranging from £3 to £6.50. The Moo pie (beef, carrot and onion served with or without mash), when on the menu, is a popular choice and the handcrafted, hefty sausage rolls come highly recommended too.

If you're looking to satisfy a sweet tooth then plump for one of the cakes, ranging from fruity muffins to gluten free chocolate cake. The Hummingbird cake (£2.90 in, £2.50 out), a moist number filled with fresh banana and pineapple and topped with a delicious cream cheese icing, is highly moreish.

The Drink
Perennially popular Monmouth coffee is served here and depending on what you go for and whether you drink in, expect to pay about £2 for a cup. Organic Pig fruit juices are served and if you want something with a bit more of a hit then pick a glass or bottle of wine from the reasonably priced wine list (starting from £12.50 a bottle) or a glass of Aspall cider to go with your meal.

The Last Word
Fleet River Bakery has something to satisfy everyone. The prices might be higher than your average lunch spot but the quality of the ingredients used are worth those extra pennies.

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