IT IS good to get away from the sandwiches-at-your-desk scenario and actually catch up with friends in person over lunch, rather than on the phone or electronically.

It is even better when you find a new place that offers quality food at decent prices.

Sense recently moved from one side of Weymouth’s St Mary Street to larger premises on the other. Once through the deceptively small entrance, you find yourself in a Tardis-like room that can sit 118 diners.

Despite not having any windows in the large, rear area of the restaurant, the atmosphere is far from claustrophobic, being well-lit and not cramped.

It was all looking good. However, into every life a little rain must fall, so let’s get the gripes out of the way first.

I know I keep going on about boring salad but surely, in this day and age, it can’t be beyond the wit of man to serve up salad that is crisp and exciting. A few bits of shredded lettuce, even if it does contain some funky red leaves and a couple of cherry tomato halves, does not pass muster.

I’m not suggesting that a side salad should be all bells and whistles, but a little thought and variety wouldn’t go amiss.

Then the water. We asked for still water and when the bill arrived it said £3.95 for a bottle of Hildon, which really is taking the proverbial.

I could have driven to Hampshire where it is bottled and welled it myself for a fraction of the cost.

The lunch menu was fabulous. You could have a two-course meal for £10.95 or opt from the a la carte selection, which is lengthy and varied.

The Light Bites section contained farmhouse chicken liver paté with caramelised red onion and toasted French bread, home-made fresh Portland crab cake and avocado, Parma ham, mozzarella and tomato drizzled with fresh pesto and balsamic vinegar, alongside filled baguettes.

Heftier dishes include a range of steaks plus linguine and home-made fresh meatballs, stroganoff and baked fresh skate wing.

There is also a devilishly tempting array of desserts.

My companion selected grilled tiger prawns and scallops in garlic butter from the Light Bites, which came with crusty bread and a lemon-scented finger bowl. The prawns were substantial and looked stuffing, while the scallops resembled sweet meaty cushions.

A woman who knows her food, she professed delight with the dish and polished it off with gusto.

After humming and hawing, toying with the idea of the delicious-sounding slow cooked lamb shank or duck cassoulet, before rejecting them for potentially being too heavy for a working lunch, I settled on chicken and Parma ham stuffed with mozzarella.

Good choice! The dish was succulent and the two meats worked well together. They came with just the right amount of red wine and cream sauce – not too much to drown the flavours, but enough to add a luxurious richness – and gorgeous golden, crunchy chips.

The only slight disappointment was the salad, as I’ve already mentioned.

We ended the meal with a livening shot of espresso each, which came with chocolate mints.

All in all, it was an exceptionally pleasant way to spend a working lunchtime and comes highly recommended.

Just give the bottled water a miss.

• Sense, 59 St Mary Street, Weymouth. Call 01305 771111 or 01305 777222.

This is an independent review by a reporter without the cooperation of the establishment.

The bill

Grilled tiger prawns and scallops with garlic butter and crusty bread: £6.95

Chicken and Parma ham stuffed with mozzarella: £6.95

Large bottle of Hildon still water: £3.95

2x espresso coffees: £3.30

Total: £21.15