I found a Greek restaurant in Lancashire you can't miss

In recent months, new independent businesses have continued to appear on its high street, with ventures such as the brilliant Just In Cakes & Co adding to a growing sense that locals are willing to support quality when they find it.

And after a visit to Dine & Dessert in the heart of the town, it is clear that quality is exactly what is on offer.

Dine & Dessert's interior (Image: Findlay Brown)

Located at 2 Market Square, Dine & Dessert began life as a dessert bar, but earlier this summer its owners took a gamble that may well have transformed the business.

Faced with the challenges of surviving as a dessert-focused venue alone, they opted to reinvent the concept by introducing authentic Greek-inspired food alongside the cakes, cheesecakes and sweet treats that had built their reputation.

In a social media post announcing the relaunch, the owners admitted there had been a point when they considered selling up altogether.

Instead, they decided to give the business "one more chance" by adding Greek food, cocktails, wine, beer and a full savoury menu to the offering, saying they believed it was time Kirkham had "something special too."

Having eaten there, I think they might be onto something.

The restaurant itself strikes a nice balance. It is modern, clean and comfortable without trying too hard.

Dark furnishings and gold detailing give it a smart feel, while the dessert counter immediately catches the eye, packed with cheesecakes, brownies and sweet treats waiting to test your willpower at the end of the meal.

I started with the Hot Honey Feta Saganaki (£6.95). This was a seriously strong opener.

A generous slab of feta arrived golden and piping hot, covered with sesame seeds and drizzled in sweet honey.

Alongside came warm grilled pitta bread, a pot of cooling tzatziki and a small dressed salad. The combination was outstanding.

The salty, creamy feta worked beautifully against the sweetness of the honey, while the sesame brought texture and nuttiness to every bite.

Hot Honey Feta Saganaki (Image: Findlay Brown)

Add the fresh tzatziki and warm bread and you have a starter that is simple, unfussy and absolutely mouth-watering.

For the main course I opted for the Lamb Kofta Wrap (£10.50), one of several Greek street-food inspired dishes on a menu that also includes souvlaki platters, loaded fries and rice bowls.

The wrap is served with seasoned fries and the portion size was extraordinary.

The wrap itself was packed with filling, with a good amount of sauce running through it.

Fresh salad provided a welcome crunch and balance against the rich lamb, while the fries seemed to keep appearing every time I thought I had reached the bottom of the basket.

There was enough food on the plate to comfortably satisfy the hungriest of diners. In fact, by the time I had finished the first two courses, I was completely beaten. That presented a problem because I had already ordered dessert.

Baklava with ice cream sounded far too tempting to ignore, but the starter and main had knocked me for six.

Sheepishly, I asked whether it would be possible to take it home instead. The staff could not have been more accommodating.

Baklava with ice cream (Image: Findlay Brown)

Later that evening, sitting at home, I finally tackled the baklava and discovered it was every bit as good as the rest of the meal.

Rich layers of filo pastry, nuts and syrup paired perfectly with the vanilla ice cream.

It was a fitting finish to a meal that never tried to be clever, only to be good. And that is perhaps why it works so well. There are no gimmicks here.

No oversized menus spanning every cuisine imaginable and no attempt to reinvent Greek food.

Instead, Dine & Dessert focuses on doing straightforward dishes properly, serving generous portions and making customers feel welcome. It is a formula that deserves to succeed.

The menu is surprisingly affordable too, with starters mostly below £10 and mains generally sitting around the £10-£15 mark.

Greek beers including Mythos are available alongside wines, cocktails and spirits.

Most impressive of all is the sense that this is a business fighting for its place on Kirkham's high street.

The owners could easily have walked away. Instead they invested, adapted and backed the town. Based on my experience, Kirkham's residents are likely to reward them for it.

If I can guarantee one thing, it is that you will not go home hungry.

If you ever want to leave, that is.