Zerno, High Street, Wrexham

EXCITEMENT seems to build whenever a new small business opens within a local community - and one in particular has caught they eye of many in Wrexham.

Zerno Cafe may have only just opened a few weeks ago in the city centre, but it has certainly already been met with great reception by residents.

The team behind the cafe have themselves said that they enjoyed a 'truly special' opening day on September 19.

Based at the bottom of Hope Street, right on the corner, the cafe is run by Ukrainian couple Yaroslav and Oksana Izviekov.

They brought their dream of opening a small business to Wrexham after the war destroyed all plans of opening a cafe in their hometown of Chortkiv, Ukraine.

After searching across Wales for the perfect location to build a new home and business, they say that 'nowhere felt like home' more than Wrexham did.

And while Wrexham offered plenty of hope and a new home for them, it's fair to say that Zerno also has a lot to offer Wrexham in return too - as I found out when I visited them for a lunchtime treat.

As I walked into the cafe, just before midday, it was fair to say that is was lively yet not too loud, with people scattered about the venue tucking into their drinks and treats.

What made that even more impressive was the fact that the roadworks, currently ongoing right outside the cafe, were not nearly enough to stop people from popping in.

The menu offered a wide range of wonderful options, both Ukrainian and not so.

Among the most popular, according to the team are the raf coffee (which is popular in Ukraine) and a slice of the honey cake.

What also stood out to me was a long-list of freshly-prepared desserts to enjoy on the day, from cinnabons and carrot cake to pumpkin rolls and coconut cookies - it's clear to see that the team is working hard to keep customers coming back for more.

There are also toasts, sandwiches, crepes, stuffed croissants and even French hot-dogs to enjoy at Zerno, as well as a range of hot and iced drinks available.

As I'm not a tea or coffee drinker, I opted for the hot chocolate, which at £3.60 was reasonably priced (in comparison to Costa, Starbucks etc).

That was topped with a cute little leaf design (nice touch) and was rich and creamy in flavour, just what is needed from a hot choc in my humble opinion.

(Image: NQ) I thought I'd couple that up with a Ukrainian crepe (which turned out to be three of them) for £6.10 - and I didn't ask what was in them beforehand as I wanted to leave room for a surprise and truly capture just a little taste of the Eastern European country.

And what I was greeted with was indeed a surprise of the good kind as I took the first bite.

The freshly-prepared crepes were accompanied by blueberries and a dash of sugar and wrapped within them were raisins and cream cheese - surprisingly a great combo!

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The dish is commonly known in Ukraine as 'nalysnyky' and is a tradition which has been passed down from generation to generation, with each family said to have their own unique recipe and filling.

It was an unusual but nevertheless lovely snack and it was great to try something that wouldn't normally be offered in this part of the world.

My quick yet delightful lunch at Zerno Cafe.My quick yet delightful lunch at Zerno Cafe. (Image: NQ)

The process of ordering to eating took just over 10 minutes, which is perfect for anyone looking for a quick treat on their break.

As people around me left the cafe, many of them commented on how 'delicious' their food that they had bought was. Others came in to ask if the team offered takeaway options - which they indeed do.

This charming cafe on the corner is a delight and is well worth the visit if you're looking for a quick and enjoyable treat during the day.

And with a promise of an evening of Ukrainian cuisine set for the coming weeks, there's plenty to look forward to from Yaroslav, Oksana and the rest of the Zerno team.