Source specialise in healthy, fresh food, slow meats and vegetarian options, so it doesn’t really get more perfect for us. We’d actually tried some of the food from Source before from Deliveroo as they do a tabbouleh and I have been on a quest for many years to find the perfect tabbouleh (specifically, one which lives up to the first one I ever had which was made by my uncle, who just maybe might maybe happen to be a Michelin-starred chef). Dan was impressed with his slow cooked meat dish but I was less than pleased with my tabbouleh, but I still had a hankering to give the restaurant another go because of the promise of its ethos and menu.

Thus, one delightful mid-week evening towards the end of summer, we ventured in for another go.

The atmosphere in Source is just lovely; a mix of cosy and fresh, with low lighting, rustic wooden tables and a bright open kitchen that fills the smallish space with all the right smells to make an empty tummy rumble. We were seated at a small table and had our drinks order taken by a friendly waitress, before pouring over the menu.

As a starter we chose to share the Yorkshire black pudding and golden crispy hens egg. A healthy slice of hot black pudding arrived with a lightly bread-crumbed egg that oozed a completely runny yolk when we broke it open. It was a delicious combination alongside a rich tomato sauce that was light enough that we could barely wait for our mains.

A short wait later they arrived; a pulled pork burger for Dan and ratatouille (or confit byaldi if you’re being fancy) for me. Dan’s burger was filled with the most tender meat and he assured me it tasted as good as it looked, accompanied by a tasty dry slaw and some incredibly salty chips.

My ratatouille was the prettiest I’ve ever seen, served in a cute cast iron pan and smothered in red pepper and tomato sauce. The veg was tender and the sauce thick and rich – luckily I had two hearty chunks of warm bread to mop it up with. It was a generous portion but not too filling as it mostly (entirely?) consisted of vegetables, and I’d have it again in a heartbeat.

Source is the perfect example of a restaurant that caters equally for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans, with a host of veggie options from salads to shakshuka, and even vegan fried chicken or a whole baked cauliflower. It’s an example to other eateries, and I think that’s it’s standout feature. They fare they serve is comfort food with a healthy, wholesome twist, and I reckon it’ll satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I’ll certainly be returning for tabbouleh take two, and I’m crossing all my fingers it lives up to this most recent experience!

The most striking thing about Cosy Club is most definitely the décor. The interior of the huge space has been decked out in full art deco glamour in a nod to the building’s history as the old Curzon cinema, with 1920s inspired lamps and chandeliers providing atmospheric lighting and almost every inch of wall covered in framed posters, illustrations and pictures.

We arrived a bit early so had the perfect opportunity to enjoy a couple of cocktails before our meal, and my, oh, my, oh, boy, oh, my. We’re both suckers for a cocktail but since being spoiled by Dan’s drink-making skillz after two years of working in a fancy pants bar, we’ve got a wee bit picky, but I can safely say we were pretty taken with the cocktails on offer here. They were so specifically to our tastes and as amazing as they sounded on paper, they were even better once they passed our lips. I had the rhubarb and ginger bramble which was as sweet and tangy and spicy as you could wish for and I drank in a shockingly quick amount of time. Danman had the maple and pecan old fashioned which sounds like a glass of bournbony heaven and truly was. I could have skipped the meal and sat with cocktails all night but experience tells me that’s a recipe for disaster!

When our reservation rolled around we sat in the wonderfully atmospheric (if a little noisy!) dining area, which has the added touch of having all the tables facing different ways giving each table a little more privacy, which I thought was a brilliant idea and something I’ve not seen before. Then for the food! DanMan couldn’t resist some salt and pepper squid to start, which was lovely little starter and came with the softest warm bread. For the main event I went for the roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese salad, which came with butternut squash, baby kale, edamame beans and a balsamic and honey dressing. I don’t think that combination can really fail, and I ate it all happily and quickly. My only criticism was that despite advertising that the dish comes with quinoa on the menu, not a grain (or whatever the hell quinoa counts as) was to be found, and the salad really could have done with the extra carbs as I was left a little hungry. Regardless, I would gladly eat this again, but pray for quinoa.

Dan had the sirloin steak which was perfectly cooked and came with literally the perfect number of chips. He had no complaints and was much fuller than I come the end of the meal!

The food was solid and great considering the prices, but the real reason to visit Cosy Club is to soak in the1920s atmosphere and grab a few cocktails. I would return for food if we were in need of a quick bite, but I think I’ll be back for drinks at the next opportunity!