VEGETARIAN restaurants in Dorset are a rarity, but at The Salad Centre in Boscombe, vegetarian food is a speciality.

But if you thought it was all about lettuce leaves and tomatoes, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

Situated on the main road through Boscombe, the restaurant takes its place amongst the shops, salons and bars in Christchurch Road.

Now under new management, The Salad Centre, is set for a new lease of life after 25 years. New owner, Bin Ma, who took it over at the end of September, has big plans for the place.

Ideas in the pipeline include an organic delicatessen, a new tapas-style menu and an evening a la carte menu.

Bin oversees a close knit team and his head chef, Asterios Iordanidis, who is originally from Greece, clearly takes great pride in his food.

Asterios gives me a taster of some of the hot dishes including vegetarian lasagne with tomato and broccoli, his adaptation of Briam, a Greek dish with potatoes and leeks, basmati rice topped with Mediterranean chickpeas, hash browns with courgettes, a selection of roasted vegetables, grilled halloumi cheese and home-made hummus.

Everything is cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients. Thought has gone into the presentation, and the mix of flavours and textures.

He explained: “At least 80 per cent of the food we make here is Mediterranean using good quality olive oil, so it is a very healthy diet with emphasis on flavour.”

One of the team makes me a fresh carrot, ginger and apple juice which tastes nutritious and warming – the ideal tonic on a cold, winter’s day.

You can choose one of the hot specials for £6.45 which includes two salads or other options such as a slice of quiche for £4.50. There is a choice of soft drinks, coffees and freshly blended fruit or vegetable juices for around £3.50.

You certainly don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy this hearty, home-made food.

For more information, visit thesaladcentre.co.uk