The Fine Cheese Co

AntoniaL

Great place for lunch 8th December 2008

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Above all, this is a superb cheese shop, bursting at the seams with all manner of familiar and more unusual cheeses. On top of this, The Fine Chesse Company is a treasure trove of gourmet goodies from fine salamis and charcuterie to decadent chocolates and delicious jams. The ideal place for a spot of gourmet Christmas shopping although it is small and, due to its popularity, extremely crowded.

On top of all this, there is also a great little café here. The ideal spot to break for lunch mid shopping trip (did I mention that Bath is a shopper's paradise?!). We had to queue to place our order and then leap as soon as a table came available but it was worth the short wait. The menu is simple and, as befits a cheese shop, heavy to cheese. As well as an array of sharing platters (think cheese, tapas, mezze) and tempting sandwiches, there is daily changing specials board. We chose 'Somerset rarebit' - basically the same as a Welsh rarebit only using local cheese and Somerset Ale. It arrived swiftly, along with our glasses of wine. And it was just the thing - seriously tasty and accompanied by an immaculately dressed salad.

To follow, it was hard to choose between the incredibly tempting selection of cakes and bakes. I went for the moist Tunisian orange and almond cake. It was heavenly. My mother went for the lemon tart which was just as it should be: tart but not too tart, creamy and pleasingly lemony.

With all this inside us, it was time to give another customer a seat. Revived for yet more shopping, we staggered to our feet and set off (...but not before stocking up from the adjoining shop!).