EDitorial ± 28-May-2021

Ipswich Lunches: Good Inside

For weeks there's been a folded bit of Guardian on the fridge headed "Path out of lockdown: key dates to remember". Having got past 8 March (schools), 29 March (six people outdoors) and 12 April (hairdressers), the most recent of these was 17 May (rule of six indoors). So with a quartet of jabs between us, it's finally time for the first officially sanctioned light lunch since Feb 2020.

Despite one thing and another, a handful of new eateries have sprung up over the last 18 months. Right next to the lovely Green Room -- where myself and Andy could be pictured on Street View until recently -- stands Good Inside, "a real food cafe" with a (checks notes) paleo-ancestral ethos. Think low carb, high protein. Already sat in the prime window seat is Captain Caveman himself, Eco Andy. I thought we might have sat outside in the sun, joining that young couple sipping wine in short sleeves, but he thought it was equally good inside.

We're greeted with a smile by a cheery young woman: she's wearing a face shield, a reminder that we ain't done with this whole thing just yet. Ginger iced tea, please, while we scan the smartly printed A5 menu which includes:

  • aubergine parmigiana
  • peposo -- Tuscan shin of beef
  • parmesan crusted chicken wings
  • roast chicken laksa
  • kapuska -- lamb stew
  • Brancaster mussels

Andy goes for the eggs benedict -- he very much likes the sound of that cheese waffle -- while it's the grilled sardines with fennel for me, ta v. much. Fresh from Felixstowe, apparently, and splendidly fishy. Locally sourced light floods into the sparsely decorated downstairs room while we chomp away.

I'm obliged to try the maple and pecan cheesecake -- smoother than Smooth FM -- while Andy doggedly declines dessert. As shown by their zingy macchiato, this is clearly a classy joint and will hopefully say nice things and possibly even complement the neighbouring Green Room, turning St Margaret's Green into Ipswich's very own 18th Arrondissement.

If it was a car -- Fiat Palio.
If they were passing by -- Harry Hill.