Competition between restaurants is fierce in Sheffield’s Broomhill suburb, sandwiched as it is between university and hospital catchments area. But Thyme Café, founded in 2003 by Adrian Cooling and Richard & Victoria Smith, has been busy ever since it opened.

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Richard has a fine history of developing eateries in the area, including a highly regarded fish restaurant, award-winning gastro pub, and the newly opened Smith and Baker on Ecclesall Road. His Thyme café delivers great quality food in a no-nonsense way, and the chefs are determined to get everything right: fries, served in little metal pails, are perfectly fluffy; burgers have just a hint of pink; and where else could you choose Eccles cakes with Mrs Kirkhams crumbly Lancashire cheese for pudding?

The menu is broad, with recognisable British standards (fish 'n' chips, 28-day aged Derbyshire ribeye…) rubbing shoulders with ethnic-inspired dishes including Moroccan spiced bulgur wheat salad with peas, courgette, mint, carrot chutney and feta. No surprises on the pudding menu – they are easy to order and difficult to leave, especially the New York style baked cheesecake with caramel popcorn and sour cream.

Thyme is a place that entertains all manner of occasions – working lunches, birthday meals with friends, first dates, grandparents treating malnourished undergraduates... it seems to work for them all. With a no-reservations policy, it's wise to arrive early on busy nights, or be prepared to retire to one of the local pubs until your table is free.

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Images taken by Sacha Ferrier of Chester Morris Photography

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