While the rest of Edinburgh was basking in the early evening sunshine, I headed to Tollcross for a considerably overdue visit to the curio that is Marcella’s. Long mentioned to me in hushed tones, the place has been valued as a hidden gem, having been talked of under the epithet “secret bakery” by some.

There is something strangely other-worldly about it as you cross the threshold. Rarely has a place that is firmly down-at-heel in its charm had quite so many statues bedecking the place. There’s even some elegant cornicing in the front part of the shop. But it’s plastic tablecloths, mismatched furniture and paper napkins, too.

Their menu is a simple selection of pizza and pasta, available to sit in or take away. I spotted minestrone soup lurking in an neglected corner of the list so opened with that then chose a pepperoni and mushroom pizza to follow.

The soup was of the hearty and chunky variety. It came in a bowl with ‘soup’ written on the side. I liked it – both the bowl and the soup.

The pizza was pretty good, too. A generous amount of pepperoni topped a thick crust base with cheese, tomato and mushrooms performing their expected roles admirably.

I was left a little bemused. The quality of the dishes wasn’t particularly remarkable, but I found myself scraping the plate with both of them. Sometimes you just run into the perfect “meal of requirement” – precisely what you’re looking for at a particular moment. I think this experience was in that realm.

So overall, Marcella’s is a very difficult place to assess, so I won’t even attempt to give it a score. It’s beyond understated and cheap as chips, so definitely worth trying for a cheap Festival eat. The owner was not much of a talker but the atmosphere still felt oddly welcoming. It’s a place full intrigue. I’m glad to have visited.

I ate: minestrone soup, pepperoni and mushroom soup

I drank: water, coffee

I wore: linen

Total bill: £8.40