Tinderbox

Yesterday I returned to Tinderbox to sample their menu. The weather, unusual for Glasgow, was lovely, and my lunch companion and I were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Unfortunately this was probably the biggest highlight of the afternoon.

My latte, unlike the americano of the week before was slightly harsh and although drinkable, not nearly as smooth as I usually like. When it is just a case of needing a caffeine fix this is fine, but not when you have chosen specifically to go out for lunch and good cup of coffee.

My sandwich. On paper it sounded good. Mediterranean veg and houmous, it's very similar to my favourite from Opposite. However, the reality was did not nearly match up. The bread was too cold from being in the fridge and the houmous was average. The aubergine was a nice touch though. It wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't ground shatteringly brilliant, and it didn't leave me wanting to have another one.

I decided that it was time for the chocolate cheesecake they had in the display to enter my life. I'd been thinking about this cheesecake for a while. Again, this was very average. Although the texture was perfect, it had that slightly old, cheap calender chocolate taste and for a chocolate cheesecake it simply wasn't rich enough. In cheesecake terms I think I have been spoiled by the dark chocolate cheesecake from Harvey Nichols, which was so rich it would put off all but a few die hard chocolate fans (I thought it was wonderful). This is a marker that is hard to match up to.

It sounds like I didn't like my lunch at all. On the contrary I did. Everything was very edible. It just wasn't in the ranks of my favourite lunchtime haunts of Leeds. However, I am ever the optomist and I am not writing off Tinderbox as a lost cause. There were other sandwiches and a selection of pasta and noodle boxes which may live up to expectations, and the taste I had of my friends carrot cake (light and spongy, with hints of cinnamon in the icing) restored my faith in their baked goods selection. I think another trial will be neccessary.