Not so long ago my colleagues and I were moaning about the shortage in Bradford city centre of smart coffee shops, then suddenly a whole bunch of them sprang up out of nowhere.

Maybe there's a god of coffee shops who was listening to us and decided to work his powers on our city centre.

One such place, Feroni's, opened this week so I went to try it out.

Feroni's, named after the pet name 'Tony Feroni' given to owner Tony Jones by his children, is an Italianstyle delicatessen and coffee shop, offering a range of continental food to eat in and take out.

It's located on North Parade, the smart, chic area of town where stylish shops nestle alongside attractive eateries. The North Parade entrance leads into the coffee shop and a little staircase goes up to the delicatessen, where a colourful array of bottles and jars selling things like olives and sauces are arranged on pretty wooden shelves, with delicious-looking Italian cakes and dairy products in a glass counter. A door from the deli leads out to Northgate.

There was a relaxed, friendly feel about the place, I warmed to it straight away. Light, airy and spacious, the decor is simple but stylish, with wooden floors and cream walls. There's an inviting-looking leather sofa near the counter and a selection of glossy magazines to flick through.

I got there about 12.30pm and there was a real buzz, with most tables full. People came and went, taking helpings of sandwiches, soup and coffee with them.

The reasonably-priced menu has a range of sandwiches on ciabatta, rustic bread and traditional baguettes, with fillings like roast ham and beef, poached chicken, Italian salamis, smoked salmon and Greenland prawns. There are baked potatoes, salads including Greek salad and roast ham and blue cheese with a honey mustard dressing.

There's also a pasta selection, yesterday's pasta-of-the-day was mushroom ravioli.

I had winter vegetable soup with a roast pepper, pesto and mozzarella cheese ciabatta sandwich from the 'melt section'. I was served with a decent-sized white bowl of freshlymade soup which was tasty and quite filling.

The sandwich, which came with a salad garnish, was crammed full of soft peppers and big chunks of cheese. With thick crunchy bread and a hint of olive oil, it had a lovely fresh taste that wouldn't have been out of place in a bistro on the Continent or a deli in New York.

It could have done with being a bit warmer, but that was probably down to me leaving it on the plate while I finished my soup.

There's a selection of Italian coffees, as well as tea and soft drinks, on the menu but when I asked for a normal filter coffee I was asked if latte was okay. I'm not a huge fan of latte but it seemed the easiest option.

Feroni's is ideal for a light lunch or coffee break, or for picking up some tasty Italian products to take home. With good food, stylish decor and friendly, efficient service, I liked it a lot and will certainly return.

FERONI'S 25 North Parade, Bradford.Tel 01274 744466

  • Our writers comment on what they find during a single visit. They accept standards vary from day to day. In the interest of fairness, they do not reveal their identities, and they pay for their meals in full. Each venue is judged against other restaurants of a similar type.