Loopijuice, in Monkgate, York

10:34am Saturday 19th April 2008

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NESTLING under Monkgate Bar, it was only by chance that I spotted this venue when taking relations on the tourist trail.

How long it has been trading remains a mystery. Although predominantly a takeaway, there is accommodation for more than a dozen snackers.

Large menu boards on the wall behind the servery show the variety of drinks, smoothies, juices and sandwiches. In addition there is soup of the day.

Accompanied by two colleagues on a photographic mission, I chose tomato, red pepper and Wensleydale cheese soup with a brown roll (£1.99), although a larger size at £2.40 was available.

The soup was fiery but it could have been hotter, a perennial problem with thick soup.

My companions selected a baguette each; one cheese with tomato and the other cheese with ham (£2.75) reporting that they went well with the Americano coffees (£1.40) each were drinking. I pondered the sandwich fillings which included Seagel (tuna) at £1.95, Italian (salami) and Moroccan (houmous) both at £2.25, or should I respond to the invitation to "select your own filling"?

Passing over the Publican, BLT and Classic, I opted for a classic salmon and soft cheese (£2.95) in brown bread. Despite the bread being thick with crusts, this was one of the freshest, softest and nicest sandwiches I have eaten for some time.

The hot chocolate made with finest Belgian chocolate and marshmallows at £2.50 or £3.25 depending on size would have attracted Ann had she been with us on this visit.

Coffees ranged in price from £1 (small espresso) to £2.25 (large Mocha) with tea costing £1.25/1.50. Smoothies were £2.50 for the regular and £3.25 for the large.

Is this venue too far off the beaten track, I wonder?