Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, The Pizza Café has become something of an institution in Newton Abbot. Owner Mark Thuell is certainly doing something right. Mark’s philosophy is to offer fairly priced, locally sourced and freshly-prepared food, served in a friendly and informal setting. His many loyal customers are testimony to his success; as are his team, many of whom have been with him since the beginning.

The market town of Newton Abbot is within half an hour of Exeter, Dartmoor and Torquay and there are plenty of car parks within a five-minute walk of the restaurant. The Pizza Café’s unassuming location in the town centre belies what’s going on inside – the decor is light and bright and most lunchtimes and early evenings the restaurant is buzzing with families and parties, business people and shoppers – it is therefore advisable to book before you go.

The menu is extensive and children are well-catered for, but really it’s the pizzas that catch the eye and awaken the appetite. Go traditional or go wild, the choice of toppings is phenomenal: Swedish meatballs, smoked salmon, fire-roasted yellow peppers and coconut, all feature as choices. We chose garlic mushrooms (£3.95) and a stylish rocket salad (£2.75) to start. The pizzas are all big on flavour and Pirates of the Caribbean (£7.75) was no exception – with its sweet and spicy combination of Jamaican coconut rundown sauce, caramelised onions, Cajun chicken, peppadews and chorizo. My friend was impressed at the choice for vegetarians and created her own pizza with spinach, courgettes, sweetcorn, caramelised onions and goat’s cheese (£8.70). The bottle of Chilean sauvignon blanc, Vistamar 2007, was very respectable and only £9.95 – Mark is insistent not to put a huge mark-up on wine. We shared the suitably named ‘heaven can wait’ sundae (£4.15), with warm chocolate fudge brownies, Langage Farm Devon ice cream, melted marshmallows and warm chocolate sauce; then finished with a Fairtrade Americano, and white hot chocolate. This neighbourhood pizza restaurant is so popular for a very good reason.