ucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Cowley Road is a charming little café that sits amid a beautiful organic garden. The Garden Café, which was once an old workshop, stands midway down Manzil Way and is surrounded by herbaceous plants and herbs. It’s difficult to believe such a lovely place can exist in such a busy area.

The Garden Café, is Restore’s latest project. Restore is an Oxfordshire charity that supports people with mental health issues and helps them to gain confidence to do the things that they want to do. The charity provides training, encouragement, a supportive environment, one-to-one support and the chance for those who use their services to achieve things that we all take for granted.

Created out of an old workshop, The Garden Café provides a way of bringing so many Restore projects together. A dedicated working group made up of clients and staff undertook much of the structural work needed to turn a shed into a café. The fruit, vegetables and herbs used in the Garden Café kitchen are produced by the Garden Group who tend the Elder Stubbs allotments in Cricket Road, just a mile away, which also come under the charity’s umbrella. Other clients man the café.

It was Restore trustee Anne James who introduced me to Restore’s Garden Café. Anne knew about my pledge to eat only local or British food throughout 2009, and was convinced I would be delighted with the food served there, given that the menu was designed around seasonal vegetables that the clients had grown themselves.

The café is open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and serves at least 50 main meals a day, which are prepared by a staff of three and their helpers. Home-made cakes and beverages are always on hand too. As Anne explained, customers get far more than just a slice of cake and a cup of tea. “Loads of regular customers visit the café because it gives them a chance to relax in a beautiful little garden. It’s always so peaceful here,” she said as she watched the many butterflies flying nearby that were attracted to its flowers.

Esme Phillips, the café co-ordinator, is very proud of what Restore has achieved since opening the café in April 2008.

“Our service users are from all walks of life and of varied ages. They come here for work therapy.”

She went on to say it’s a win-win situation, as those working in the café get a chance to train in the kitchens and serve at tables, and so gain confidence through meeting people, while the customers get good, wholesome food created from home-grown ingredients.

The menu is not fancy, choice is limited, but regular customers don’t mind at all.

As main dishes change every day, there is always something different on hand.

The organic strawberry smoothies were voted one of the most popular drinks on offer. When the strawberry season is over, other smoothies feature on the menu.

Anne loves the salads, which are created from freshly harvested allotment produce. At the moment they include juicy fresh tomatoes which are ripening now.

Those working in the kitchens make up pickles and chutneys from any spare produce. They bake all their own cakes, too, including gluten-free chocolate and walnut brownies, which are always popular. Naturally, the chocolate they use is Fairtrade.

Fairtrade bananas go into their banana cakes, too.

Esme pointed out that as there’s loads of space between the tables, mothers with young babies are able to wheel their pushchairs into the café with ease, which is another plus for the café. Actually, the day Anne and I called, it was buzzing with life and several mothers were enjoying the space it offers.

I ordered the free-range local sausages, served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables, and Anne ordered the home-made spinach quiche. We were tempted to try the chicken and spring vegetable soup, too. Other items on the menu included beef chilli con carne, baked sweet potatoes with chilli butter and braised red cabbage.

I accept that this might not sound the most exciting menu in the world, but that doesn’t matter. Infinite care goes into cooking the meals they serve and just as much care goes into serving them. Anne had promised me that I’d be impressed with the café and I was. I felt at peace there and the food tasted really great. In fact it proved a very humbling experience, Like so many, I’m one of the lucky ones, I have the strength to leave my home each day, interact with others and go about my business without fear.

Those cooking and serving my meal at the café that day are not so lucky. Things I find easy, or take for granted, can prove great stumbling blocks for them, such that they need the help that Restore can offer to get through the day.

Esme said: “Every step forward that they make by being here is enormous.

“Some small things they manage to achieve are all they need to help build up their confidence and move on.”

Many who have worked in the café go on to take their NVQ. Indeed more than 100 people a year that work in the café, gardens and workshops go on to gain useful qualifications that enable them to join the workforce.

Restore relies a great deal on the expertise and dedication of volunteers who give their support in so many ways. If you would like to learn more about the way this remarkable charity works why not call into the café for a slice of home-made cake or a meal – you won’t be disappointed.