No. 12 Easton

So it’s a Saturday afternoon and my partner is bizarrely craving salt beef. Now I was worried that this was far too specific a request. However it must have been written in the stars, because this Saturday also happens to be the day that we decide to head over to No. 12 Easton for the very first time. And what is their sandwich special? Oh salt beef of course.

Lots of people have been telling me to go to No.12 after it opened in spring of this year. Now after being there, I’m kicking myself for all the months I’ve wasted! Located on the corner of Easton’s High Street, No. 12 grabs your attention with a very stylish shop front. Especially as it has the word ‘provisions’ above it. That word isn’t used enough. No. 12 is a deli and café, serving homemade grub accompanied by excellent foodie products that are available to buy.

From stepping foot inside, it was pretty clear I was going to like No. 12. The warm welcome from the staff and the murmur from happy-looking customers immediately make you feel at ease. You are drawn to the serving area, which holds lots of excellent home-made goodies and a cabinet of meat and cheeses available to take home. To the right is a super trendy display piece full of store-cupboard deli items for your perusal, many of them locally made.

After an extremely detailed description of how the beef is made (it involved the words “nine hours”) we were both sold and headed to sit down. The tables are quite large so sharing is a must, especially on a Saturday afternoon. Although we did manage to spread out a little later on – and thank God we did, for the mess I made eating my lunch would have appalled anyone in my vicinity.

Essentially, I blame the aioli. When slathered on top of warm, home-cured salt beef there was nowhere for it to go apart from all over my hands, down my arms and once (embarrassingly) dripping on to the floor. But who cares? When a sandwich is this good you shouldn’t be looking at anyone else anyway.

The portion was generous – in fact, I couldn’t quite manage it all (which is a ridiculous statement for me), and they certainly didn’t stint on the star of the show, the beef.  There’s something really pleasing about somewhere that feels like they really want to feed you. The espresso (from Extract Coffee Roasters) was also well made and for those who really enjoy it, there are bags available to buy to try out at home.

The model of a deli and café is one that I enjoy. It’s like when people in supermarkets give you bits of cheese on a cocktail stick – if you like eating something, you want to buy it. The produce on offer at No. 12 is excellent and I will definitely be back for the chorizo alone. Maybe next time I visit I won’t let myself down by being to full for a pudding. What a waste of an opportunity. I can barely look myself in the eye.

So my advice to you is to get down to No. 12 – but not on a Monday because it’s closed. For all you Twitter users out there, I would also make sure you follow them too. No. 12 like to post photos of their amazing food and produce, which can really brighten up a rainy work day (although it can make your wilted salad look really miserable). But promise me one thing? If you see me in there – don’t laugh if I’m licking aioli off my shoulder.