Food hygiene inspectors have this week slapped a 5* grading on Esquires - one of the city's newest coffee spots.

The New Walk Place coffee shop could not be faulted by inspectors running the rule over its food handling, with it being awarded a five star food hygiene rating.

But is the food itself up to scratch too?

Upstairs in the new coffee shop
Upstairs in the new coffee shop

We headed down one lunchtime to see for ourselves.

The menu - and the prices

Approaching the relatively new premises in The Circle building it looked quiet, but this was just as nobody was sitting outside due to the less-than-summery summer we've been 'enjoying' this week.

Inside was busy enough as I approached to scan the menu. The breakfast and brunch section did look appealing, which ranged from smashed avocado (£4.95) for a full English or full vegan breakfast (both £7.95).

Customers can enjoy hot and cold food as well as drinks
Customers can enjoy hot and cold food as well as drinks

But I instead opted for the Deli Menu, picking a turkey ham and cheese toastie (£4.50) over the soup (£4.75) or a jacket (starting from £3).

To drink I had a flat white with soya milk (£3).

The meal

I grabbed my coffee and sat in the window to bask in what sun there was, in a seat that looked comfier than it was next to a table that looked Insta-friendly as I was about to photograph my food, but was too low and a bit wobbly.

The lunch dished up at Esquires Coffee
The lunch dished up at Esquires Coffee

It came promptly, and looked fantastic. The toastie had been cooked on a pan or hot plate rather than squashed down so was nicely light and fluffy inside.

The flavour was light too however, with the cheddar too mild and the mozzarella not gooey and stringy enough for my liking.

The coffee was a delight by comparison.

The verdict

For the food, it was a tad on the bland side although reasonably priced, but the coffee was a real pick me up and drags the overall experience up for me.

I'd give it a solid 4/5 rather than the 5/5 the food hygiene ratings would suggest - but I'd be very interested in heading back for a full English some time soon.

Food hygiene ratings

These other premises also had 5/5 food hygiene ratings published this week.

  • Vintage 186 11 Main Street Evington Leicester LE5 6DN
  • Easy Wok 463 Welford Road Leicester LE2 6BL
  • Shamim Balti 54 Woodgate Leicester LE3 5GF
  • The Blackbird Blackbird Road Leicester LE4 0FW
  • Cafe Dido 12 Loseby Lane Leicester LE1 5DR
  • A And Vee Frozen Foods 55 Evesham Road Leicester LE3 2BE
  • Martins 297 Aikman Avenue Leicester LE3 9PW
  • Humberstone Day Nursery 11 - 13 St Marys Avenue Leicester LE5 1JA
  • Leicester High School For Girls 454 London Road Leicester LE2 2PP
  • St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy Armadale Drive Leicester LE5 1HF

The above list does not contain just restaurants and takeaways as all places which serve food in the city need to be checked over, from traditional food outlets to schools and care homes and staff canteens.

This task is carried out by a team of 10 officers from Leicester City Council.

Earlier this year the authority released its findings with an annual report to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) - showing the vast majority of places do make the grade .

However at the other end of the scale, work needs to be carried out at scores of establishments.

Where standards are so poor or when an officer revisits and there are no signs of improvement, they can take formal action.

This is a formal warning that goes on the record of the food business operator and can be taken into account should other failings be found in future.