Grapeseed

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
There are so many glamorous fashion stores in Armadale’s High Street, and so many women worrying about their weight, it’s a surprise to find that there are good food hotspots as well. Grapeseed is the latest addition to the stretch, and it’s an enterprising mix of cafe, restaurant and wine bar. The interior is light and bright, and morphs into different areas according to need. The front section, near the big display bar, is the perfect place for a quick bite or a coffee. The larger area, its biggest white wall painted with a stylised flower mural, is good for a leisurely breakfast or lunch, or for dinner later in the week. Grapeseed’s owners also run Punch Lane in the city, and co-owner and chef Martin Webb has the skills and imagination to turn even casual food into something deliciously attractive.

Breakfast is straightforward, offering various carbs (toast, croissants, muffins), fruit, yoghurt, porridge and eggs with a range of extras. Weekend breakfast includes eggs Florentine or Benedict. Breakfast runs until midday, when lunch takes over with light meals, sandwiches and salads. The chick-pea, pumpkin, broccoli, cherry tomato, fetta and basil salad is brightly coloured, with complementary textures. Even the sandwiches here are worthwhile, with thick slices of organic bread and generous quantities of filling (try the chicken, avocado, mayonnaise and cos lettuce), which are attractively presented. Both small and large plates are on offer for dinner later in the week; such as the field mushrooms and chorizo with sherry and parsley, and a very good antipasto with finely sliced, cured meats. The wine list is smallish, but offers a good range and a number by the glass.

Rita Erlich