IT was a special occasion when we decided one Wednesday evening to return to The Sauce Factory in Worcester's London Road. We had been before, but that was several years ago, and with my companion's birthday to celebrate we were keen to find out if the food was still as good.

We weren't disappointed.

From the moment we walked through the door we were treated to a warm welcome by owner and chef David Thatcher and his wife Dimple.

The couple have retained the building's unique decoration and over the past few years have converted it from a pub into a stylish eaterie.

The couple pride themselves on talking to all their customers and ensuring they get the most from their delicious, freshly cooked menu. Clearly this wasn't going to be too difficult - we were their only customers.

For his starter my companion chose whole king prawns in a sweet and spicy chilli sauce, which came with a side salad and crusty bread. He thoroughly enjoyed his first course and described the prawns as succulent and tasty.

I was tempted by the selection of smoked meats and fishes, but in the end opted for the baby whole calamari in a white wine and cream sauce. The generous bowl of calamari was delicious, not at all rubbery or tough, but firm to the bite and along with the squid, the bowl was overflowing with leeks, garlic, and onion. The dish came with fresh, crusty bread - to soak up the delicious, rich sauce - and a side serving of salad. Starters were priced between £6 and £7.

For our main course I chose medallions of pork cooked in a rich tomato and red wine sauce. The pork was tender and the chunky sauce was laden with peppers, onion, chorizo sausage and baby tomatoes. Again the serving was very generous and the meal came with side dishes of vegetables and mashed potato to soak up the tasty sauce.

My partner chose a rack of lamb with a herb crust in a rich sauce.

We were both pleased with our choices, although I gather the duck and slow-roasted lamb dishes are the most popular on the menu - maybe an excuse to return in the future?

Main courses varied in price but ours were £11.25 and £14.95.

Unfortunately neither of us could squeeze in dessert but we could have chosen from a variety including several chocolatey concoctions and a cheese board.

The Sauce Factory remains one of Worcester's finest restaurants and I'm told it gets very busy at weekends.

It is a great shame that it's not busy every night because both my partner and I agreed it continues to serve some of the best food we have eaten in Worcester.

THE SAUCE FACTORY, 55 LONDON ROAD WORCESTER Tel: 01905 350159

SERVICE: 5 stars FOOD: 4 stars VALUE: 4 stars AMBIENCE: 3 stars