We visited the Isle of Wight’s Calon Cafe and Bistro, in Brighstone, on a day when the two-course lunch special menu was in season; an utter bargain for £16.

We were lucky to get a table, as this was a clearly popular offering.

Our giant cheesy meatball lived up to its name.

The megaball squatted on a bed of creamed potato, like a plump mincemeat Buddha enrobed in the house barbecue sauce and sprinkled with shreds of cheese.

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It was deliciously hearty.

If we'd arrived rosy-cheeked from an autumnal country walk, come into this place and been faced with that dish, it would be fine by us.

(Image: Matt and Cat) It was a really lovely, warming, and tasty meaty gravy-filled delight.

From the lunch offer we chose Thai prawn curry with chapatis.

It was almost a spiced Asian stew, with plenty of liquid for the plump juicy prawns to bob about in. The thin chapatis didn't have the requisite heft to soak up the plentiful juice, but were great to scoop up some of the central island of well-cooked and fluffy rice.

The curry had lots of flavour; spicy with a hint of hotness, plus a suggestion of coconut milk.

(Image: Matt and Cat)Again, hearty and enjoyable.

Alas we missed out on the marmalade brioche bread and butter pudding, but we did manage to snaffle the last portion of lemon and raspberry trifle.

It was right in the goldilocks zone.

After the generous main, this ramekin of layered dessert with creamy light custard was not too heavy.

(Image: Matt and Cat) Its flavours were nicely balanced; not too tart - just the right amount of everything.

From the chiller we chose a very sound Brighstone apple crumble cheesecake.

It was a very good rendition; not too sweet and with a smooth gentle texture.

We'd have preferred a lighter hand wielding the cinnamon shaker, so that the intrinsic autumnal apple flavour could make itself more discerned, but that's just us.

We certainly had no complaints about the size of the slice, and the good thumb-depth of the biscuit got the thumbs up.

For a mid-week lunch in a village cafe, we were blown-away.

With decent, generous and flavoursome dishes to suit the committed carnivore and the vegetable lover, via a respectable prawn curry, we will certainly be paying a follow-up visit in the hope of some of that marmalade pudding.

(Image: Matt and Cat) (Image: Matt and Cat)