THE rumour mill has been hard at it for some time that Sowerby Bridge has been blessed with a cafe to die for.

Turns out it's true, only this is no ordinary cafe. For while it might serve up coffee and cooked English breakfast during the day, at night it turns into a very different creature.

The Heinz ketchup bottles are replaced by candles, customers exchange their work clothes for their finery and in the kitchen one family member leaves to be replaced by another.

It would be fair to say Cafe No5 is a place that is all about food, and in the past seven years has become something of a landmark for the discerning eater thanks in no small part to the efforts of its owner Angie Turner and right-hand helper, her mum, Jean Thornton. Angie's sister Sue also works there.

Thirty-nine-year-old Angie, the chef, has always followed a simple concept for her evening bistro. To serve unpretentious comfort food sourced from regional suppliers in a relaxed setting. She says her dishes are modern English with a touch of the Med (her husband Robert is half-Italian) and she likes there to be an element of surprise. "What I use has to be good quality, it has to look bold and fresh," says the mother-of-two who has always worked as a chef and opened Cafe No5 seven years ago.

The 40-seater bistro opens every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening (she opens other nights for private parties) and rarely has a spare table thanks to Angie's loyal followers who claim she is a woman who can (and does) make Brussels sprouts taste interesting.

Then there is Jean's home-made desserts, the buzzing atmosphere and the fact you take your own alcohol (which keeps the price down) that makes it a firm favourite with so many.

Jean, who lives with Angie and Robert and their sons, 16-year-old George and 15-year-old Ben, works in the cafe during the day and is up at 5.30am on a Saturday baking her pudding specials which include white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, New York baked cheescake, chocolate lumpy bumpy, sticky toffee pudding and warm chocolate and orange sponge.

She also preps for Angie who changes her evening menu on a monthly basis and usually offers around seven starters and seven mains. Several dishes such as home made soup and pate, fillet steak on mustard mash, and chicken enchiladas with rice and salad are nearly always included due to demand.

"I've probably got the smallest kitchen in the area so I have to be organised and keep the menu fairly tight. Having said that I love a challenge," says Angie who always has fish and veggie options available.

I have to admit I'm a regular at Cafe No5 and like the fact that Angie's food is always so consistent. I always have fish which I'd describe as simple but with big flavours. My pan fried seabass with creamed leeks and spinich was a perfect example. My starter, goat's cheese and warm beetroot salad with hazelnuts, rocket and mint dressing was also divine. My partner had the oriental warm duck comfit salad with spring greens followed by a fillet steak. He swears it's the best fillet he's ever tasted. Other mains which I would recommend include lamb moussaka with a Greek salad and steak and venison pie with potatoes and sweet onions.

We both had one of Jean's delicious deserts and a couple of coffees, and the bill (with corkage at £3 for two bottles of wine) came to less than £60. No wonder then that diners beat a path to its door.

There's no fanciness in either the food or the decor at Cafe No5 (the walls are adorned with paintings from local artists) and the only downside, if you can call it one, is navigating the steep steps on the way back from the toilet.

But then as everyone is in the same boat I'm sure no one would mind if you landed in the middle of the restaurant on your bottom. As I said very unpretentious.

Ratings
Name: Cafe No5
Address: 5, Ryburn Buildings, Sowerby Bridge
Phone: 01422 831587

Food 5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Service 4/5
Value 5/5