KATHERINE MACALISTER realises she can’t keep the joys of The Milkshed to herself forever...

It’s been a torrid few weeks here in restaurant land, when nothing has gone according to plan.

My voyage to new Abingdon restaurant Broadface wasn’t a great success. Shall we just say a misunderstanding with the chef and leave it at that?

I then screeched up to another popular restaurant The Dashwood in Kirtlington to find it fully booked, leaving me hungry and restaurant reviewless.

What to do? Luckily my car wheels turned themselves the following day and I found myself heading once more to my favourite place in the world to console myself – The Milkshed on Weston-On-The-Green - and then realised I hadn’t told you about it yet. Serendipity!

Or maybe there’s method to my madness and I wanted to keep it to myself. On arrival however I realised resistance was futile and the place was packed on Friday lunchtime.

Situated where Godwin’s Ice Cream parlour used to be, Lucie Greenwood has converted the former farm building into a gorgeous café/deli/shop/ gelaterie which you’ve been flocking to from miles around.

And for good reason, because not only is the set up tasteful, gentle and relaxing, but the food is divine, not flashy or pretentious, but what Lucie does, she does brilliantly.

I have eaten most things on the menu since she opened about two months ago, but this time opted for the spring minestrone soup with fresh broad beans, pesto and parmesan, followed by the ciabatta with mozzarella, baked tomatoes and pesto. My wee Scottish friend had the Caesar salad, and we waited while sipping the divine coffee in little glasses decorated with a frothy leaf. It’s the finishing touches that count here.

The fellow Scot adored her generous and well dressed chicken Caesar salad – as good as it gets.

My soup, when all mixed together, was delicious and the accompanying home-made bread with goat’s cheese, butter and pumpkin seeds a lovely touch.

The sandwich itself was again the sum of its locally sourced parts, the mozzarella veering towards a burrata in softness, the bread and filling being plump, unctuous and succulent. Put it this way, it ticked all the boxes.

Full to the brim we obviously then ordered dessert, and when I arrived back from the loo found an enormous slice of cake on my plate and my friend hidden behind the most orgasmic looking knickerbocker glory I’ve ever seen.

But first the cake – coconut and banana with icing and crème fraiche – and utterly scrumptious in every sense of the word. I squealed inadvertently, offered it to my friend, who squealed too, before quickly reverting back to her own offering from the gods, and ploughed on regardless. She did this both relentlessly and systematically until it had all disappeared, at which point she smacked her lips and smiled blissfully.

Another convert then to join the queue. Yes, The Milkshed once again lived up to all expectations and rescued us from a world of swollen egos and inconsistencies. It was like being rescued by a St Bernard’s dog, cuddled and given a large whisky. So go by all means if you must, but make sure you leave a place for me.

The Milkshed is at Weston-On- The-Green.
Call 01869 351387 or visit themilkshed store.co.uk