THINK brunch means stuffing yourself full of bacon, black pudding and buttery pancakes?

Think again.

A popular west end deli and restaurant has reinvented the whole idea of breakfast-meets-lunch, with homemade ricotta and in-house cured duck replacing old-fashioned staples like sausage and fried egg.

“Brunch doesn’t have to mean heavy, and I wanted to create something lighter, more seasonal and spring-like,” explains Giovanna Eusebi, owner of Eusebi’s in Woodlands.

“Our new weekday brunch menu is a selection of our customers’ favourites which offer some healthier options, with opportunities to mix small plates including pasta.

“It is all about respecting our values of cooking from scratch and using local produce with an authentic Italian twist.”

She adds: “For example the schiaccata sandwich is made with the lightest roman dough, and we do homemade ricotta, using organic Scottish milk, and cure our duck in-house for the duck, watercress and hazelnut salad.”

The weekday brunch menu covers all the bases for dietary requirements, with gluten free and vegan options up for grabs too.

A ‘Spring Kitchen Specials’ section includes pork tagliata, a tasty pork cutlet served with cannellini bean and pesto trapanese and sea bream served with vignarola salad and salsa verde, while the small plates feature a delicious burrata - crostini with lemon, bottarga and crushed pink peppercorn - and a wonderful, melt-in-the-mouth ricotta served with smashed broad bean, mint and pistachio.

You could argue brunch isn’t brunch without eggs, and the new menu includes several options which are a welcone twist on the traditional.

Energia, for example, comprises two poached eggs with avocado, chilli and lime purée on sourdough toast, served with sunblush tomatoes; or you can choose poached eggs with either ham hough and watercress pesto or crab and avacado.

As always with Eusebi’s the emphasis is on flavour, quality and a warm welcome.

Giovanna and her brother Eddie took over the running of the business after their father’s death more than a decade ago. Eddie senior started a fruit and vegetable shop in the east end, which grew gradually into the business now based in Park Road.

Diners love the relaxed, friendly atmosphere - despite how busy it is - almost as much as the fantastic food.

On a sunny day, tables inside and out are packed with lunching ladies, groups of friends enjoying a leisurely afternoon, couples and families with young children.

Giovanna explains: “When we wrote the business plan for Eusebi, the constant on the page was making everything from scratch and slowing things down when it came to cooking, eating and socialising.

“We want to honour our family traditions that connect us to them at any moment in time. Every dish tells a story.

“From my grandparents in the Italian mountains through to my love of tomatoes, everything we do in the restaurant is because of our passion for real, authentic food that puts a smile on your face and warms your soul.”

The new menu is served weekdays from 12 to 3.30pm. eusebideli.com