Maria’s

Sitting in Maria’s, looking around at people eating, I was put in mind of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. This cheeky place has used it’s prices to suggest that it’s something special and no-​one seems to want to proclaim the sad truth. It’s not special!
I suppose it all comes down to perceived value. If Maria’s were to reduce their prices by perhaps a third it might more clearly indicate the standard of the fare. My latte was distinctly average and my bacon and sausage sandwich was bland and uninspired (particularly the sausage which would be put to shame by most budget brands).
A good look at the menu confirmed that Maria’s think they are in the city centre, no, that’s not true, the city centre offers better quality and value.

After Mum and I had finished up some bargain hunting in Meanwood, we decided to stop off here for a bite to eat. From the outside the barred windows can give off the impression that it’s not going to be the best experience, but don’t let that put you off. Really, don’t. Inside you’ll find a delightful little vintage styled tea shop, the smell of freshly cooked food in the air and a number of wonderful cakes.
Indeed, their supplied by That Old Chestnut, so you can be sure a sweet bite with a cuppa will be more than yummy. However, on this occasion my Mum and I chose to partake of their grilled sandwiches. You get the usual choice of bread, with pittas being an unusual option as well, and there’s a good range of hot and cold. The sandwiches we opted for were the garlic chicken, and I’d assumed we’d get some chicken pieces in a bun with garlic mayo.
Not the case! The chicken was freshly grilled as we waited with our lovely coffees and the garlic was not only plentiful, but freshly grilled as well. The bread was lovely and soft and it came with a healthy dollop of mayo to boot. Fantastic! The staff were lovely too, and whilst we were dining I noted that another chap had a pretty tasty looking all day breakfast on the go, so I may have to come back the next time a hang over visits me…
Another lovely discovery and certainly worth a visit!