The taste is an ‘expresso and sandwich bar’ that is tucked away on Clumber Road just 20 yards or so from the junction with Melton Road in West Bridgford. Inside there were a fair number of tables and seats which were filling up rapidly when we walked in at about 12 o clock. I would say there was room for about 15 or so, but there are also tables outside at the front and in the yard at the back, so I expect that would be really popular in the warmer weather. It all seems to be quite relaxed and I got the impression that there are a lot of regular customers. There is a very good looking and comprehensive chalk board menu, and plenty of nice looking bits and pieces of the deli variety in the glass fronted counter.

I chose the ‘taste club’ which is not really a ‘club‘ sandwich in the traditional sense, it was more of a chicken and bacon sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo, sort of a BLT plus some turkey. It came with a really quite extensive plate of salad. When the guy behind the counter told me that it came with a side of salad, well they were not messing around. I got lettuce, tomato, red onion, shredded carrot, a little bit of pesto pasta salad, some really quite excellent homemade coleslaw (which I actually ate), a little bit of sweetcorn, some pickled beetroot, several olives, and even a small slice of pickle or gherkin. The sandwich was in a nice soft granary roll, there was plenty of white turkey meat and slices of bacon, plus some more lettuce and tomato. Quite good value and quite tasty all for just £3.75

My companion had the ‘home made coronation chicken’ in a hot panini. I had a little slice of that and it really was quite a delicious filling. A little richer and creamier and less tangy than some coronation mixes, I think I liked this style or recipe a lot more. I might have to get that next time on another visit. You were treated to the same salad combination for all of the different paninis and sandwiches. This was a real steal at just £3.40.

There were a few other combinations on the menu that I also quite fancied apart from that Coronation chicken. The panini filled with ‘home made chilli jam with chorizo & spicy cheese’ for £3.45 sounds mouth watering even before the anticpated chilli hit that it may afford. I also like the sound of the sandwich filled with ‘lincolnshire sausage with home made autumn tomato chutney’ for £3.10

Quite a few people in the place were having the daily soup specials. They looked to be really good value at ‘I think it was’ £2.50 or £2.80. Today’s offerings were either ‘Leek and Potato’, or  ‘Carrot and Coriander’ I saw both come out of the kitchen and you got a huge bowl and a great big bread roll to dip into the soup. Perfect for a chilly day.

Not only that but they also look to do quite a good selection of breakfast options which they serve until 2pm. Apart from the standard combinations of eggs, sausage, and bacon. I would be quite keen to come back on a weekend for some ‘scrambled eggs & smoked salmon’ at £3.95 throw in a latte and a sunday paper and I could quite happily spend half and hour annoying someone by clogging up a table.

The Taste is located at 65 Clumber Road in West Bridgford. There are a couple of parking spaces out front, but apart from those you are looking at street parking. It is well worth a visit if you are in the Melton Road area.

Sample menu