New places can inspire the kind of hushed reverence that is possible in a church, and this is no ordinary place of worship either. St. Mary-le-Bow in the heart of the City of London is a magnificent Christopher Wren edifice, renowned for the famous Bow Bells. But in the Norman crypt, a warm and friendly place named Café Below flourishes on, serving delicious home cooked fare with its roots in the past two decades.

Owned by the irrepressibly enthusiatic Bill Sewell, they have extended their opening hours to include evenings, as well as adding a short but excellent wine list, and moved from being a purely vegetarian restaurant previously.

An increasing repertoire of daily menus ring in tasty dishes such as Tudge's bacon butty in a homemade bap at breakfast time, and sea bass with salsa Verde and leek and gruyere quiche for lunch. Late afternoon sees an increase in customers at Café Below clamouring for a glass of sherry and a plate of chorizo; whilst others stay on to enjoy a little dish of gordal olives or habas fritas, followed by Yorkshire rabbit and cider casserole and chocolate and chestnut cake with crème fraîche, plus, of course, coffee by Illy.