Bath
Goodies Delicatessen
2a St Saviours Road, 01225 336033
One of the best delis in the city, Goodies is a compact, Tardis-like affair offering a great range of baguettes to take away, well priced at £2.40. Why not try imaginative creations such as smoked pork loin, emmental with onion marmalade, or grilled aubergine, rocket and tomato? There are also locally produced meat or vegetarian savouries, Natural Vitality salad pots, fresh coffee, juices and smoothies. John Mitchell
Belfast
Printers
33 Donegall Street, 02890 248000
It looks like an ordinary sandwich bar, but Printers is the best in town. It makes wonderful sauces (dill and mustard, pesto, hummus) and there's a better than usual selection of breads and a deli-bar full of Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern delights. It helps that the kitchen caters for the posh-nosh wine bar out back, so you are getting a restaurant-standard lunch at cafe prices. Ingredients range from the usual fillers to gourmet options such as poached salmon, cured hams and honey-roast duck. Veggie choices include epicurean cheeses, olives and couscous salads. The menu board is imaginative - a basic meat-and-salad sarnie might be perked up with hoisin sauce or capers - or you can go DIY.
A fiver should cover a sandwich and a drink (the coffee is good). The service is always with a smile and some authentic Belfast banter.
Una Bradley
Brighton
Brighton Sausage Company
28A Gloucester Road, 01273 676677
Sausages of every stripe: Italian pork and fennel, beef and stout, chicken with tarragon and many more combinations (including a veggie option). Takeaway gourmet sausage rolls, made on the premises, are the star - alongside classic pork, four different sausages are selected daily as the filling for meaty sausage rolls. Venison and cranberry and beef with mustard are particularly good, but beware: at £1.50 a time, it's easy to eat too many. Karina Mantavia
Real Patisserie
43 Trafalgar Street, 01273 570719
25 Western Road, 01273 711110
This bakery and patisserie brings a little Gallic flair to the takeaway lunch. Speciality breads, baked in-house, raise the bar on smart sarnies. Roquefort on walnut and rye and the justifiably popular "chewy brown" stuffed with salmon and cream cheese sit alongside top-notch baguettes with ham and gruyère or turkey with apple chutney. Fluffy, inventive quiches and savoury puffs are worthy lunch alternatives. But it's the dazzling mini tarts and pastries that have put this place on the map. Lunch and pud for around a fiver is a cheering bargain.
Karina Mantavia
Bona Foodie
21 St James Street, 01273 698007
96 St Georges Road, 01273 687508
Four branches across town and beyond haven't dimmed the delight of the original Bona Foodie. There are sandwich suggestions but with the following at your disposal, crayfish and rocket seems a mite pedestrian: silky pâtés (wild boar, pheasant), a fine cheese selection - try white stilton with apricot - and all manner of antipasti are some of the possibilities. A fancy sandwich is £3-£4.
A shade cheaper are soups, salmon en croûte and steak and kidney pie. Giant meringues, handmade Belgian chocolates and homemade cookies prompt more indecision.
Karina Mantavia
Bristol
Brunel Buttery
Wapping Wharf (follow signs for SS Great Britain from Cumberland Road), 0117 9291696
Bacon doorsteps (£2) are the signature dish, with three thick pieces of local bacon between chunky slices of bread; extras such as sausage (veggie or meat), egg, cheese or mushrooms are 50p each. Afters are also substantial and range from rock cakes (90p) to lemon, chocolate or coffee and hazelnut sponges, or scones with jam and cream, all £1.20. Take your lunch away or eat off real plates on the benches outside and enjoy an outstanding waterfront setting between SS Great Britain and Bristol's Industrial Museum. Be prepared to queue - it's a popular destination.
John Mitchell
Cardiff
Hayes Island snack bar
Victoria Place, 02920 394858
This distinctive wooden building is an unreconstructed Cardiff institution in the midst of endless new-money developments that are turning the city centre into a soulless shopping mall, bordered by over-priced executive flats. Food-wise it's reassuringly, reliably simple and always has been. Some of the tucker would give Gillian McKeith a coronary - it's a real butter, full-fat mayo kind of place - particularly the breakfast bacon-and-egg sandwiches that have helped many an office worker through a raging hangover. The prices are a big draw, with most lunchtime sandwiches coming in at less than £2. Best choices are hog roast or hot roast beef.
Antony Jones
Cibo
83 Pontcanna Street, 02920 232226
A popular Italian cafe, Cibo offers excellent, light takeaway and eat-in bites such as vegetable antipasti and mozzarella ciabatta. In a rush, the best take-out option is the near-perfect paninis. There is a classically Italian range to suit all tastes and a decent-change-from-a-fiver price. If you have a little more time and cash, take a seat and enjoy the best of the menu. Top of your list should be the family-recipe pizzas, which have an enviable reputation, even among vegans. Cibo also has a garden.
Antony Jones
Edinburgh
Valvona & Crolla
19 Elm Row, 0131-556 6066
valvonacrolla.com
Founded in 1934 to serve the immigrant Italian community, this is Scotland's oldest delicatessen and Italian wine merchant, frequented by the world's best chefs as much as by local people. From Monday to Friday you can pick up delicious sandwiches and pasta dishes to take away, freshly made with ingredients from the deli counter: succulent pecorino, creamy taleggio, and award-winning Scottish cheeses; added to which are the finest Italian cured meats, and the best Mediterranean vegetables, flown from Milan market. All these glories come wrapped in rosemary focaccia, San Francisco sourdough, sultana and walnut loaf, and other assorted yeasty beasts.
Sophie Cooke
Glass & Thompson
2 Dundas Street, 0131-557 0909
From the sticky fig meringue pie, to airy sponges dripping with blueberries, this is cake nirvana. The sandwiches aren't bad either - firm slabs of Scottish salmon, creamy avocado, good bread. There are tables inside or you can perch on one of the many Georgian stairways in the surrounding streets. Further afield, you could enjoy a riverside picnic by the Water of Leith just a bit further north.
Sophie Cooke
Relish
6 Commercial Street, 0131-476 1920
A small, friendly independent deli withlovingly selected, top-quality products, this is the kind of place you might wish was at the end of your street. For £2.50 you can get a freshly assembled Barcelona sandwich: hot, soft, chewy chorizo with manchego cheese and rocket leaves in a properly thin and crisply toasted panini. Or there's hummus and falafel, crayfish and artichoke, or gorgonzola and sun blush tomatoes. There are also deluxe salads for £3, and bags of parsnip or apple crisps. Lentil pilau rice, summery fennel soup, and thick tomatoey homecooked pastas can all be heated up for you by the charming staff. Best of all, perhaps, for picnicking purposes, is the fridgeful of recherché beers.
Sophie Cooke
Glasgow
Polish Taste
21 Hyndland Street, 0141-338 6899
polishtaste.co.uk
This West End deli, run by the Korzeniowski family, is rightly famous as the best Polish cafe in Glasgow. It's a great place for pierogi, that peculiarly hybrid east European food: half-ravioli, half-dumpling, hatched from a kitchen marriage between Poland and Italy. There are pierogi leniwe, egg and cheese dumplings (or "lazy dumplings"); pierogi ruskie, filled with potato as well as curd cheese; and pierogi nadziewane, packed with mushrooms. There are hot and tender zrazy - horseradish and mushroom-filled sausages; there's zupa ogorkowa - sour cucumber soup, beautifully refreshing, and lush kefir yogurt drinks.
SC
Where the Monkey Sleeps
182 West Regent Street, 0141-226 3406
monkeysleeps.com
Opened by escapees from Starbucks with an art-school background, this is a rocking basement cafe. Paninis and sandwiches, £2-£3.80 to take away, are made with love and named like cult B-sides. There's Tell Me About the Rabbits, George (a fresh twist on brie and cranberries), Burn the Witch (hummus, chorizo, chargrilled peppers, chilli, mixed leaves, red onion, and a cheeky squeeze of lime), and Kiss My Axe (sliced pork with brie, tomato and herbs). There's also Child of the Goat (goat's cheese, chargrilled peppers and aubergines, lemon juice, basil) and Lovely Nancy (classic mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, nicely dressed). There are thick and hot meaty Wrathballs, if you think you're hard enough, esoteric metal on the stereo and the world's friendliest people behind the counter.
SC
Leeds
Salt's Delicatessen
14 Swinegate, 0113 243 2323
saltsdeli.co.uk
Salt's brings Mediterranean warmth to west Yorkshire, not only with its range of homemade ciabatta, pastries and cakes but also in the beautiful dark-wooded interior. The European influence stretches across the menu, from the manchego cheese and Italian beef in its sandwiches to the French pastries and rare champagnes sourced from lesser known producers. Although you might go into Salt's for a sandwich, you could just as easily leave with bruschetta - topped with roasted vegetables or chorizo - or the sublime tarte au citron.
Andrew Shanahan
Pickles and Potter
28 Queen's Arcade, 0113 242 7702
Lorna Potter brings two decades of cooking experience to this sandwich deli shop, which has developed an army of loyal fans and won two best sandwich awards in just 18 months of trading. The shop is small, with seats for just six, so expect to queue for the homemade meals and salads. The menu is alive with some of the best produce Yorkshire has to offer. This translates into delightful creations such as rare roast beef baguette with red onion marmalade, horseradish, wholegrain mustard, rocket and vine tomatoes. Other concoctions include a pink lamb baguette with banana and coconut dhal for £3.30.
AS
Liverpool
Delifonseca
12 Stanley Street, 0151 255 0808
delifonseca.co.uk
A much-loved, split-level lunchtime venue in the tradition of European delis: on the lower level are counters offering a beautiful array of roasted meats, cheeses and olives. Upstairs are luxurious booths where you can enjoy the wonderful sandwiches. Delifonseca also has a range of pre-packed (but reliably fresh) sandwiches for those dining aldesko. Two key selling points are price (£2.50 for vegetarian sandwiches and £2.95 for all others) and the interesting fillings, such as roasted aubergine and red pepper pâté, which sit alongside old favourites such as pastrami on rye and the bestselling roast chicken with sun-dried tomatoes.
AS
Mangetout
21 Old Hall Street and 55 Castle Street, 0151 236 9200
mangetout.co.uk
Once named sandwich bar of the year by the British Sandwich Association, this high-quality operation uses speciality breads from the Dutch Bakery in Southport. Despite its success, Mangetout's prices start at a bargain £1.95. There is a gourmet range (roast salmon with dill dressing - £3), paninis (from £2.70) and a selection of club sandwiches, including an excellent topside of beef and horseradish for £2.45. The homemade carrot cake borders on perfection.
AS
London
Nordic Cafe at Nordic Bar
25 Newman Street W1, 020 7631 3174
nordicbar.com
Defining itself as a "Nordic cafe" with a distinctive Scandinavian menu, this newcomer has been an instant hit. Breakfast yields such treats as hot waffles with Swedish dairy-free ice cream or Danish honey sauce, but it really comes into its own at lunch with a meaty and substantial Danish hot dog with crispy onion and curry mayonnaise (better than it sounds) or Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam, all for less than £4. Danish mini pork patties are accompanied by various relishes, while reasonably priced cakes and a range of freshly squeezed juices and berry smoothies, "Koffee" and organic teas make up the distinctive drinks list.
Humayun Hussein
Beatroot
92 Berwick Street W1, 020 7437 8591
beatroot.org.uk
With cheap and cheerful vegetarian dishes, fresh juices and smoothies, this Soho institution is a must for veggies and vegans. Neatly decked out in green and orange shades, with circular wooden bench tables, the place gets packed out at lunchtimes so it's advisable to get in early. Dishes come in tubs ranging from £3.70 to £5.70. Hot and cold staples are vegetable lasagne and delicious salads. Zingy vegetable and fruit smoothies are a strong point.
HH
Hummus Bros
88 Wardour Street W1, 020 7734 1311
This Mediterranean-style fast-food outlet features hummus as a main dish in all sorts of combinations. The hummus comes as a base with toppings such as chicken and guacamole, slow-cooked chunky beef or mushrooms with caramelised onions, accompanied by hot pitta bread. Prices range from £2.70 to £5.20, depending on portion size and whether you're eating in or taking away. If you want to splash out, there are some well-made sides: smokey barbecued aubergine and tabouleh, for example. Imaginative drinks include hot spiced apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, as well as fresh mint and ginger lemonade.
HH
Breakfast Club
33 D'Arblay Street W1, 020 7434 2571
155 Wardour Street W1, 020 7734 1914
The name is inspired by the 1980s Hollywood film, but it isn't just at breakfast that this excellent split-level Soho cafe excels. For lunch there are jacket potatoes with build-your-own salads, first-rate wraps such as artichoke and goat cheese with rocket and pesto, along with the likes of cream cheese and Marmite toasties. The sandwiches - on granary or white crusty bread with side salad and corn chips - are well presented. The Hot Pastrami, with black-peppered pastrami, cheddar, pickles and wholegrain mustard is a heavenly takeaway choice at less than £5. To wash it all down, there are freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, Sri Lankan teas, Fairtrade coffee and Green & Black's hot chocolate.
HH
Just Falafs
27b Covent Garden Piazza WC2, 020 7240 3838
justfalafs.com
This refreshingly original fast-food outlet pays homage to one of the world's oldest snacks by turning the falafel into a satisfying meal in itself. Sold in a wrap with organic, seasonal all-vegetarian ingredients, the choice may be limited - there is "car beet sale" (grated carrot and beetroot), "FLT - falafel" (leaf, tomato and hummus), along with the "bean beanie", "yoghi bear" and "freestyler" - but the falafels are light and fluffy. Despite the child-friendly names, this is proper grown-up fare, with prices for a regular-sized falafel no more than £4.75.
HH
Pure California
47 Goodge Street W1, 020 7436 3601
purecalifornia.co.uk
With a sun-drenched vibe, this small chain's mantra is "goodness to go" - the menu steers clear of unnecessary preservatives, additives, sugar, salt and fat. A large choice of blended-to-order smoothies are winningly rendered and range from Go Nuts, made with peanut butter, bananas, skimmed milk and honey to the "functional smoothies" that are blended with nutritional supplements - all smoothies cost £2.65 to £4.65. There's a tasty range of salad ingredients, wholewheat wraps and sandwiches made with multi-seed bread, such as the robustly flavoured free-range chicken. There are also hot stews with short-grain brown rice and low-fat soups.
HH
Paul Rothe & Son
35 Marylebone Lane W1, 020 7935 6783
A food store-cum-deli-cum-cafe established in 1900, this charming outlet has an array of jams, marmalades, chutneys, teas and all kinds of other edible goodies stacked on its shelves, yet what makes it stand out is that slap-bang in the middle of the shop is a sit-down cafe with stools, and tables with fold-up chairs. Enjoy morning toast with rye, wholemeal or granary bread with honey, peanut butter and a gamut of other spreads, along with freshly ground coffee and fruit teas. At lunchtime, homemade soup at less than £3 hits the right spot, while the shop's near legendary liptauer (spiced cheese) sandwich really is as good as they say. A gem of a place with oodles of character.
HH
Piada
12-14 St John Street EC1, 020 7253 0472
piada.co.uk
Its name derives from the flatbread that originates from the north-east coast of Italy, and its success stems from the very simple, hearty formula of grilling the wonderfully flavoursome bread using extra-virgin olive oil and stuffing it with fresh ingredients. Combinations are simple and well-honed. Choose from the likes of "dieci", which offers a partnership of bacon, zucchini and mozzarella, or the "due", made with roast ham and fontina cheese, both at £4.20.
HH
Kipferl
70 Long Lane EC1, 020 7796 2229
kipferl.co.uk
Claiming to be London's only Austrian deli, Kipferl boasts heaps of organic mountain cheeses, salads, cakes, chocolates, wines and a vast array of other goodies. The popular torta verde, a cold pasta cake with spinach, tomatoes, cheese and pumpkin seeds, comes with green salad and pumpkin seed oil while other specialities include liver dumpling, hot sausages, goulash and fritatten soup, cheese rolls and cold platters. It's all freshly prepared and well done. There are scrumptious cakes, including the awesomely chocolatey sachertorte and linzer-torte, made with almonds and redcurrant jelly, and spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Menu changes seasonally.
HH
The Table
83 Southwark Street SE1, 020 7401 2760
thetablecafe.com
The premises may appear cold and clinical at first but, over time, you come to appreciate this eye-catching cafe, not just for its design (by architects Allies and Morrison whose office this sits under), but for its self-service food. You pay by weight for the excellent Mediterranean salads, which may include anything from grilled chicken with peppers to pumpkin with spinach leaves, while the wonderfully chunky and wholesome sandwiches include fillings such as ham with pickles and roast pepper aioli. If you have time and more than a fiver to burn, there are more substantial hot items including a selection of roasted meats, pies, quiches and stews. The cakes and pastries don't fail to inspire either.
HH
Manchester
Barburrito
1 Piccadilly Gardens, 0161 228 6479
barburrito.co.uk
This is the "UK's only burrito bar", according to its website. The idea is to assemble your own bespoke burrito, taco or quesadilla from an extensive pick-and-mix menu, with fillings such as chicken, shredded beef or braised pork and a wide array of Mexican accoutrements such as guacamole, refried beans and salsa. The Barburrito formula has been an instant success and the restaurant won the best newcomer award at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival. The only downside is that the interior lacks atmosphere and seems to have been assembled from a generic fast food restaurant kit, but at less than a fiver it's an excellent venue for a clean, quick and tasty lunch with a difference.
AS
Katsouris Deli
113 Deansgate, 0161 819 1260
A new express till has gone some way to improving the lunchtime queues at this popular Mediterranean delicatessen. Centrally located, the deli seems to be as popular with office workers as it is with Manchester's dedicated shoppers. It has around 50 seats for those who want to linger over a lunch of excellent meze (including good options for vegetarians). However, the real draw is the meats, which are roasted on the premises, and the bread from the famous Chorlton bakers Barbakan, which, combined, make some of the city's most impressive sandwiches. The most popular is chicken piri-piri, a whole spiced chicken breast with cheese and salsa, for just £3. There is an extensive salad bar, a deli counter and a good range of breakfast options.
AS
Philpotts
19 Brazennose Street, 0161 832 1419 and 71 Mosley Street, 0161 236 3112
philpotts.co.uk
Serving some of the best bespoke sandwiches around, the refined, independent Philpotts may be slightly more expensive than the average sandwich bar but the quality of the produce and attention to detail justify the prices. Branches are outfitted in oak and marble, giving them a distinctive appearance that Subway could never compete with. Equally imposing are the freshly made specials ranging from red Thai-roasted salmon with hot and sour cucumber salad to buffalo mozzarella with spinach and homemade salsa. Excellent soups include a winning red cabbage and ginger combination.
AS
