Popular Isle of Wight cafe Cook & Baker awarded 5 star review

We were drawn to the venue's cosy modern interior with its hanging plants and trendy lighting, plus wood-burning stove for the winter, and charming courtyard garden during summer.

But the food? That's the real reason to come here.

Once a week they bake doughnuts so popular that to get them, you need to either queue early, or book your doughnut in advance.

Currywurst served up by Cook & Baker (Image: Matt and Cat)

We were unprepared so there was no hope of obtaining one of these sought-after gems.

However, we took the advice of a regular and reserved the cake we wanted for dessert before we'd even ordered our mains.

Currywurst — a rare offering on the Island — was a far cry from the street food of a Berlin imbiss.

The Godshill variant was served on a toasted sourdough bagel with a magnificent piping-hot spiced wild boar sausage.

The Bavarian banger oozed juices, imparting a smoky ambience over melted cheese, a thick slice of ham, and krautsalad.

On top, balanced a fried egg, and the whole thing was decorated with an unusual yellow style of the classic curry ketchup.

If this sounds like a great lunch for a crisp winter's day, it really was.

In contrast to a dish which was more complex than expected, the smoked salmon croissant was the epitome of simplicity.

A salmon croissant at Cook & Baker (Image: Matt and Cat)

Cook & Baker's lemon meringue (Image: Matt and Cat)

Thick, rich salmon slices, piled inside the freshest croissant, with a subtle lick of cream cheese and a big lemon slice to squeeze.

That's all. You don't need any more. It would be hard to improve this.

Finally, do you remember the reserved cake? We certainly did.

The last slice of lemon meringue was worth the wait. A towering fresh meringue with a subtle caramelised crust wobbled precariously on top of the curd.

This exquisitely-tart layer tasted as though a dozen fresh lemons had given up their essence.

A cake at lunchtime seems indulgent, but honestly, to go to Cook & Baker and not have any cake would be unjustifiable.

Cook & Baker is a delightful destination for tourists and locals alike.

Quality and detail are evident both in the kitchen and front-of-house — with outstanding results.

The baked goods are particularly impressive, making us vow that one day we will get up early enough to try those doughnuts.