Roast

I’m obviously a bit of a sucker for marketing, but from the trendy logo, intriguing name and inviting interior of The Roast I think I expected a bit more than an average sandwich shop. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I found when I visited this place right in the heart of office worker city. While the meat options that presumably give this place its name look exciting on paper, with offerings like topside of beef and roast pork fillet, my carnivorous companion was less than impressed with his beef roll, although he did mention it was fairly filling for the price. As a vegetarian, my choices were very limited — just three cold options, all of them variants on the cheese sandwich — which was disappointing. I’m used to not having much choice when I’m out in the sticks, but I’d expected such a cosmopolitan looking place in such a prosperous area to be a little more with the times. Had I been a vegan, I’d have starved.

In the working week I see lunchtime as an integral moment and regularly moan over the unstoppable rise of Gregg’s and their crappy sandwiches, I’ll avoid making any ‘blandwiches’ pun here but you get my point.
Praise be then for the The Roast. Their main selling point is the variety of freshly roasted joints each day, allowing for a choice from beef, pork, lamb etc all available for sandwiches. The quality and flavour never fails and they offer a variety of excellent sauces, fillings, breads and other such additions. They even have capers, capers I say!
On top of this the staff are polite and friendly, they have a little courtyard outside at the back for summer days and all their ingredients are always fresh and high quality.
UPDATE:
This has now changed hands to Café Lopez, which has kept a similar menu, but decided to cut costs (but not prices). Therefore what used to be a fresh ciabatta, full of tender warm roast beef, fresh rocket and freshly shaved parmesan, is now a cheap bap full of tough, cold beef, topped with iceberg lettuce and smothered in cheap, pre-​grated parmesan.
Not impressed — avoid!

The Roast is a great little coffee shop and café, situated just a couple of minutes walk from the hospital exit.
The food is well cooked and prepared, I’m a big fan of their soups; they’re always delicious!
You can eat in, or take out which is good when the tables are all full, which does happen a lot around lunch time.
The staff are friendly, and happy to help go through the menu with you.

Fabulous café approximately 50 yards from the hospital exit! Lovely food, desserts especially, but not cheap. Try the falafal and cous cous. The crème brûlée is amazing, but you need to share it unless you want to feel a little unwell afterwards. Good coffee. Usually full at luch, but does take away. The soup is always yummy.