The term 'hidden gem' is something of a cliche, but I think that Banbury's Dutch cafe and restaurant Little Amsterdam qualifies. Named after the colloquial term for Haarlem, the owner's hometown, Little Amsterdam offers a menu that's varied, often surprising, and utterly delicious.

When I arrived on a Sunday lunchtime, the restaurant was busy and bustling, but I was still seated straight away. I ordered a coffee and a tap water while I looked at the menu. They arrived quickly, accompanied by a bottle of syrup (stroop), which is traditionally served with pancakes - any pancakes, including the savoury ones.

Little Amsterdam has a range of tasty-sounding dishes on their menu - beef croquettes, sauerkraut mash with smoked sausage, bami bites ('triangular pockets of noodles, vegetables and spices'), and other meals that draw on Dutch and Indonesian cuisine. However, I felt that I had to go for one of the restaurant's signature pancakes. Smoked sausage, leek and almond crumb looked interesting, so I gave the friendly waiter my order, then sat back and watched the many happy diners who were already enjoying their meals.

The plate-sized pancake arrived a few minutes later. The different flavours worked really well together - the sausage was salty and smoky, the leeks added a pleasant freshness and crunch, and the almond crumb was incredible, with a savoury, moreish edge. The pancake itself was perfectly cooked; light and fluffy. I tried a little splash of syrup on one bite, and decided that it wasn't for me, although I'm sure I'd enjoy it on a sweet pancake.

By the time I'd finished, I couldn't manage any more than another coffee - a shame, as I would have loved a serving of their mini pancakes with raspberry coulis, or their 'Haarlem Shake' milkshake. I'll have to save those for a future trip, which I will definitely be making sometime soon. Little Amsterdam is an affordable restaurant with an excellent menu and a great atmosphere - highly recommended for anyone who wants a lunch that's a little different.