Lunching out at Baba's in Kirkcaldy

Unfortunately at that time the new owners seemed to be undergoing some teething problems and let’s just say my first experience wasn’t the best.

So I must admit that it was with a bit of trepidation that I decided that the Mediterranean/European bistro style eaterie deserved a second chance and my colleague and I popped along for a quick lunch.

Baba’s describes its food as “where home cooking meets fine dining” and as it was only a lunchtime sandwich we were having, you can’t expect much of the fine dining to be shown off.

However it was a very nice and hearty lunchtime meal that we both really enjoyed, and I was really pleased that I had not let my first visit overshadow what is now most definitely a much improved and recommended place to eat in the town centre.

As it opens at 11am and 10am on Saturdays, it offers a selection of breakfast options from a potato omelette to bagels with cream cheese and salmon, pancakes and maple syrup or Baba’s bacon batch, while the Winter Warmers lunch menu has a choice of five tasty sandwich options on a range of breads from ciabatta to flatbreads as well as a soup of the day and croque monsieur option.

I chose the Italian Stallion – hearty home-made meatballs served in a rustic tomato sauce with melted mozarella served on a flatbread and accompanied by a side salad, while my dining companion went for the Americano – hickory marinated chicken, caramelised onions and peppered cream cheese served on a ciabattina, again with a reasonably sized salad. As it was just lunch we decided to be sensible and shared a helping of chips between the two of us for an additional £1.50, and I’m glad to say they tasted home made. We both had a ginger beer and lime, my soft drink of choice at the moment.

My Italian Stallion was very tasty, with bite-sized meatballs which were definitely home cooked in a tasty but not too tangy tomato sauce, and a generous helping of melted mozarello on a lovely fresh flatbread.

It was a good-sized portion – enough to satisfy without feeling the need to go and sleep it off on the couch afterwards. My dining partner said their Americano was also very tasty and full of flavour without being too overspiced. Her ciabattina however was more filling, and some of it had to be left to the side to make way for some of the tasty chips that accompanied it.

All in all it was a tasty and filling lunch in a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere with attentive, but not pushy staff who were there when you needed them.

We both decided after finishing our meal and reading the a la carte menu that we would love to go back for an evening meal to see what it is like – always a good sign!