JUST the name, Velvet and Vanilla, conjures up comforting, warm tastes and textures. This little café and bar, hidden away in a narrow, sloping back street in Bideford, has a cosy appeal when viewed from the outside.

Inside, while it doesn't exactly scream sophisticated dining, the intimate pew-style seating around the outside of the room, complete with comfy cushions, makes for a snug, casual eatery.

It doesn't take too long before we find ourselves lounging about in this relaxed café and bar, bouncing our heads in time to the various world beats joyfully pumping away through the speakers.

The menu, which during the day includes sandwiches, soups and, (I'm reliably informed) scrumptious cakes, has a largely Mediterranean vibe. Tonight, though, is Saturday night (it is only open in the evenings on a Friday or Saturday) and the choice is a simple one: mezze, salads and stonebaked pizzas.

Our waitress/food preparer, who displays a somewhat original and amusing outlook on life, comes across as friendly while the cocktails are great – we try a refreshing vodka and apple concoction called Autumn Breeze. No doubt, this would be a fun place to hang out with a gang of friends.

For starters, we share a selection of small dishes in a mixed vegetarian mezze. Our tasty titbits include warmed pitta, delicious olives, stuffed vine leaves, an aubergine dip and a home-made houmous, the latter artfully laced with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. To sum up: a filling feast of fab finger-food.

Still enough room for pizzas? In the interest of research we do our best to demolish a couple. The Diablo is a meaty concoction of pepperoni, chorizo, jalapenos, onions and chilli sauce sitting atop a thin crispy base. While the Vegetarian is a cheesy offering with peppers, spinach and olives. Both are very good.

Perhaps the conventional offerings of a pudding or coffee might have made our evening meal experience even more complete. That said, if you want to kick back and relax in a low-key, snug setting and enjoy simple, yet quality, tear-and-share food, Velvet and Vanilla comes highly recommended.

Where: Velvet and Vanilla, 12 Cooper Street, Bideford, EX39 2DA. Bookings: 01237 420 444. Cost: Above meal for two: £23.95. Website: www.velvetandvanilla.co.uk