DURING my commute along Fulham Palace Road I had watched the concept of a new bar café and kitchen first bloom and then blossom into a popular spot for locals from dawn to dusk since it opened in May.

So, it was with interest that as dusk turned to darkness on a mild autumn evening I arrived at Bloom, which is described as being in a corner of Fulham known as Fulham Palace Village, to sample their evening menu.

After a warm welcome we settled down at a pleasant window table looking out at the terrace area, which was still popular in early November. Inside is simply furnished and the compact eating area has an attractive bar and subtle low lit lighting for evening diners.

We were soon joined on the next table by a couple still in their tennis gear  fresh from  a game on nearby courts. This kind of summed up what Bloom is trying to achieve as a community café that turns into a restaurant for locals in the evening.

Husband and wife owners Terry and Elma Duncan are clearly enthusiastic about their business, and keeping it in the family Elma's sister Selma is the manager of Bloom, which describes itself as 'stylishly simple and honest.'

The evening menu is sensibly compact but comes with enough imaginative and interesting starter and main dishes to suit most tastes. 

I was tempted by a main of Lamb Tagine (£9.45) which arrived pipping hot in an attractive white bowl with a wonderful rich fragrant air about it. The slow cooked Moroccan spiced lamb, and there was plenty of it, simply melted in the mouth and was served with green olives and couscous.

The mix of flavours and spices tingled my taste buds and the dish was moist, well seasoned and the portion more than generous.

My partner decided on something lighter and went for the Chicken Cob Salad (£9.95).

The superbly presented and dressed dish came with grilled chicken, chicory, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, crisp bacon, hard boiled eggs, avocado, chives and roquefort cheese.

“On my god this is wonderful” she exclaimed after the first few mouthfuls and “where did they get this bacon from it's fabulous”. In other words she loved the dish and the  harmonious combination of flavours and tastes.

This was one plate of food I definitely wanted to steal something from when my partner was not looking – the dilemma was what to go for first it all looked so good

And the fish and chips served at the next table looked pretty special too – but my good manners stopped my leaning across and pinching a chip or two.

We enjoyed by a bottle of Australian Five Foot Track Chardonnay (£17.50) which was a  tropical mix of citrus fruit, ripe pineapple and mango, perfect with what we ordered.

And then came the defining moment of the meal, Bloom's luscious homemade cake for desert.

Having been persuaded in to try the banana, walnut and pineapple cake my partner declared it 'gorgeous'. She was swept away with the lightness but intense taste and

My chocolate cake equally was delightful, rich but moist and light in taste and the scrumptious chocolate sauce rounded it off perfectly. Lovely.

Elma is the creative cake-baker and she is to be congratulated and left us vowing to go back even if just to indulge ourselves on some more of the cakes.

Bloom is open seven days a week from 8.30am Monday to Friday and 9am Saturday and Sunday until 11pm.  It is ideal for a romantic evening for two, a midweek refuge or a weekend wind-down – that is the beauty of Bloom it caters for all eventualities.