Blog | Cafe Portico

Café Portico one of “Britain’s best budget eats”.

We’re very proud to be featured in The Guardian’s piece on budget eating in Lincoln.

In particular the author, Tony Naylor, praised our customer service and our crazy salads, describing the one he ordered as “phenomenal”.

Here’s what he had to say about us (or click here to see the full online feature):

“Portico’s owner, Sim Bellandini, has the right attitude. When I phoned ahead, to check what time he serves lunch until on a Friday, he said around 4pm, but if I was going to be late, just let him know, and he would sort something out. He didn’t know I was reviewing it. I was just a punter on the phone. Then there are his “crazy” salads. Choose one or two sandwich fillings, promises the chalkboard menu, and the kitchen will build you a showpiece salad around it. This is no hype. Topped with plenty of tender, nicely fatty free-range roast pork (from Gainsborough’s Redhill Farm), dressed in a rugged Italian tomato sauce, a sample salad was a healthy hillock of adventure, its 12 or so components ranging from oats to shredded fennel. For £6.50, it was phenomenal. Little wonder that this boxy space off the lobby of the Terrace – office space for the creative industries – was packed. While the daytime menu is broadly Italian (pastas, deli platters, toasted pannetone on the breakfast menu), Portico is also open late on Fridays, for regular music events. When there’s a gig on, Bellandini serves a set menu (one course, £9.50) that reflects who’s playing. For instance, US dishes on a blues night.
• Daytime menu, dishes £3.95-£8.95. The Terrace, Grantham Street, 07956 653156, blog.cafeportico.co.uk“