After the success of the first site in Leeds, Friends of Ham opened in Ilkley in 2015 in a lovely little building on Wells Road which used to be the offices of the Ilkley Gazette. Doubling up a both a delicatessen and a restaurant, you may have guessed from the name but a lot of the dishes available feature some form of ham. Friends of Ham is a charming, little spot and is ideal if you’re looking for a good quality but cheap bite in Ilkley’s town centre.
From the outside, you would be forgiven for thinking that Friends of Ham is just a local deli with a façade which looks like an old-school shop front. However, as soon as you head in, there’s a large wooden bar straight ahead of you serving a selection of beers on draught, many of which are local.
Next to the bar is the small deli counter with a selection of meats, chutneys, cheeses etc available to buy and a few tables dotted around to enjoy your drinks and taste some of products for sale. Downstairs however, feels more like a traditional café or restaurant and is the perfect place to enjoy its snacky menu.
The food offering begins with a brunch menu, available in the morning during weekends, which includes dishes such as banana toast with butter, cinnamon and honey, and shakshuka. When it comes to lunch and dinner, there are choices such as a classic cheese sandwich with the option to add jambon du pays, chorizo or Bath chaps. Alternatively, you can choose to create your own bespoke meat and cheese board with an unsurprisingly wonderful selection of both to pick from.
As well as the lovely collection of beers on offer, there is also a short list of wines, gins, whiskies and soft drinks to accompany your food.