With some big-name and well-known eateries in Cambridge, it can be easy to overlook the wealth of informal and high quality dining possibilities hidden just around the corner from you.

Trockel, Ullmann & Freunde, Pembroke Street

I am slightly reluctant to spread the word about this kitsch little café, as it is one of my favourite lunch stops, and I know, once it is discovered by the masses, it will be packed. From the polka-dot tablecloths to the bright yellow walls, you can’t help but fall in love with the feel of the place. It is a very basic, down-to-earth café. There is no table service, space is limited, and the bathrooms leave a lot to be desired. However, the big bowls of steaming hot soup and home-made hearty German cakes never disappoint. With a menu that changes daily, and lunch costing under a fiver, I highly recommend it as a quick lunch stop between lectures, or for a sweet-treat pick-me-up after a particularly gruelling supervision. 

The Sea Tree, Mill Road

This is not your standard chippie. The Sea Tree is easily the best fish and chip shop I have ever been to. They have a huge selection of fish, from the classic battered cod, to scallops, mackerel, and occasionally even lobster, presented on ice so you can select the exact fish you want. Everything is freshly sourced from the famous Billingsgate Market, and this is reflected in its exceptional taste. My favourite dish is the seafood salad: piled high with juicy prawns, clams, muscles and squid, and topped with zingy vinaigrette, but the crispy battered cod and chips is always a good choice too. Whether you decide to eat in or take away, this chippie will exceed your expectations. 

The Rice Boat, Newnham Road

The Rice Boat is often compared, rather unfairly, to the nearby India House. However, it couldn’t be more different. The Rice Boat specialises in food from Kerela, with plenty of seafood and coconut-based dishes on offer; reflecting the specialties of the region. I highly recommend their signature dish – Kerela Red Fish Curry.  It is served in a small bowl, with a generous portion of meaty King Fish steak (imported especially for the restaurant), cooked in a thin but deceptively spicy red sauce. You might think the flavour of the fish would be lost in the sauce, however the robust King Fish steak really holds its own. The restaurant also offers a wide range of rich, buttery and warm breads, excellent for soaking up every last bit of the mouth-watering sauces. The restaurant lacks slightly in atmosphere, but it more than makes up for this in flavour.