Caterham rail commuters will be well aware of Coffee Bay, the delightful coffee bar and caf¨¦ opposite the ticket office in Caterham Station. Open at 5.30am every weekday (6am Saturdays), Coffee Bay is the perfect stop-off for a traditional cooked breakfast, or to pick up a sandwich for lunch and a delicious Italian coffee for the trip into work.

Tucked away it may be, but Coffee Bay was bustling with customers when I visited for lunch last week with my partner Keith, and there was some friendly banter going on with the regulars.

There was plenty to choose from on the menu, from jacket potatoes with a large choice of fillings, to the allday breakfasts, soup with buttered crusty bread and a selection of salads and pasta dishes. There is a also a great choice of sandwiches, baguettes and ciabattas to eat in or take away. Cakes and pastries are on offer if you fancy something sweet. The food represents exceptional value, with nothing on the menu costing more than £5.

Keith's Honey Roast Ham salad (pictured right) looked amazing and Keith said it certainly tasted as good as it looked. My lasagne came with a generous portion of side salad and was very tasty and satisfying. The young assistants, Faye and Dee, provided excellent service.

Paul and Lucy Colairo, theowners of Coffee Bay, are Barista-trained coffee professionals, so coffee for afters was a must. We gave in to temptation to have cake with our coffee, and shared Lucy's delicious home-made fruit cake and chocolate cake with great pleasure! Coffee Bay closes at 3pm weekdays and 2pm on Saturdays, so get in there early to avoid disappointment!