Since it opened, Bath's award-winning Seafood Cafe has attracted a great deal of publicity and a host of accolades, including The Good Food Guide's Best Fish Restaurant 2000 and Country Living's Fishmonger of 1999.

The 50-seater restaurant is situated up a winding staircase above a traditional fishmonger and shellfish bar and promises simple, high quality meals and an accessible approach to fish and seafood.

The decor is clean and simple with a nautical feel: white wooden chairs, blue paint, pictures.

My brother and I were treating our mum to a birthday meal so we were planning on splashing out. I'm often wary of feeling out of place at expensive restaurants but the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly and we were greeted warmly and served quickly.

The menu is made up of Fishworks classics meals prepared in the restaurant since it opened and specials dependent on 'daily landings'.

Wanting to save room for dessert, I opted for something light to start: the Branade appetiser, which was cod roe with toast.

My mum chose sardines on toast, while my brother went for steamed River Fowey mussels with wine and garlic.

The Branade was tasty but the two slices of accompanying toast, despite being drizzled with oil, were a little dry and I ended up dipping into the bread basket.

The huge, succulent mussels arrived in a large bowl and my brother, a big seafood fan and a bit of a chef himself, was impressed.

Mum loved the sardines but had a bit of a problem with the bones.

For the main course, I went for the whole grilled sea bass with rosemary and sea salt, my brother chose the roasted sea bream with north African spices and mum opted for spaghetti with crab, chilli, coriander and mint.

Side dishes are extra and, at £1.75 each, a little pricey. We chose a selection: slow-roasted tomatoes with green tapenade, spring onion mash and salad of wild Chew Valley leaves.

The meals arrived quickly and both mine and my brother's fish were superb: succulent, tasty and perfectly cooked.

The spaghetti, despite looking appetising, was a bit of a disappointment. Mum said it was too rich and she only managed to eat half of it.

My mum and brother needed to refresh their palettes after their flavoursome mains and opted for Sicilian lemon tart with apple sorbet for dessert.

The large slices of tart arrived with a dollop of sorbet and disappeared in a flash. I chose the cheese board, with good portions.

We finished off the meal with coffee, and the bill, including two bottles of wine, came to £107.

Fishworks very nearly got it right but I have to admit, after all the hype, we came away just a little bit disappointed.

Fact File

Open: Tuesday to Saturday. Lunch served midday-3pm and dinner 6pm-10pm.

Meals: Starters £5.50-£8.50, main meals from £9.50-£14, all side dishes £1.75, all desserts £4.95.

Parking: In the nearby Podium car park.

Smoking: Not allowed.

Disabled: Access only to downstairs fishmongers and shellfish bar.

Children: Welcome.

Credit cards accepted.

Fishworks Seafood Cafe, 6 Green Street, Bath, Tel: (01225) 448707