Saturday 30 September 2023

Soprano's in Sevenoaks

I've been visiting Soprano's in Sevenoaks for some time. It's one of those places where you know you're going to get some good food. I'm not saying it's something special. No, it's a caff at the end of the day, but in all honesty, caffs are where it's at, they always have been. Simple. If I had to guess how many times I'd visited this particular caff, I'd say half a dozen times, not that many, but I know one thing: it's a place I can trust for a good snack. And trust is the crux of everything.

Soprano's in Sevenoaks, 30 September 2023

I was there today (30th September 2023). But I narrowly dodged a bullet. Those with me wanted to go to Wagamama, but no, anything but that I was thinking! Fortunately there were huge queues outside of the place so I thought we'd head to Sopranos instead, although that's not strictly how things happened. My companions had been to Soprano's already - while I was parking the car. They found it full and sent me a text saying they were heading for Wagamama instead. I really wasn't that happy, but fortunately I passed it before they did and noticed the huge queues. We headed back to Soprano's where a vacant table certainly lifted my spirits.

We were shoe-horned in and handed laminated menus. Two salmon pancakes were ordered and I chose a traditional Tuscan flatbread (Jerzy Piadina) filled with chicken, pesto and cheese. And it was that last ingredient that was nagging at me. When I examined the menu I soon realised that virtually every dish included cheese, it was hard to avoid it. But there was no point going elsewhere. 

There were problems. The waiter committed the ultimate sin: he tried to upsell us with a portion of chips. We didn't want chips but he foisted them upon us and I wasn't quick enough to notice what he'd done. That was annoying. So annoying that it coloured our entire experience. We felt a little bit conned and I hate that. There's nothing worse. In fact, it was so annoying and affected everything and will probably mean that we don't visit Soprano's for a very long time. Why? Because we will always remember it and that will drive us to find somewhere else to eat until, one day, we forgive them. It's amazing how small things can change my entire relationship with a restaurant. One of my favourite all-time 'caffs' is the Pop Inn in Redhill. I used to go there all the time and slowly made my way through the menu, loving every minute of the place, getting to know the staff and so on. Recently, however, I asked for one piece of toast and marmalade and was told by the waitress that I have to order two slices. I did, but I have now resolved never to go back there. Why couldn't I have just one slice of toast? There was no reason and that's why I'm not going back there for a very long time.

The bill for the two salmon pancakes, the Jerzy Piadina, the infamous small portion of chips, a cappuccino, a pot of tea and a hot chocolate was £36.35.

Saturday 21 January 2023

Coffee at Kiwi House, Limpsfield Village, near Oxted, Surrey

Riding down Titsey Hill on a bicycle weighing up my options: do I turn right and head towards Oxted where a choice of Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero and a couple of independents nestle quietly in the High Street awaiting my custom or do I bear left and ride through Limpsfield Village where I think there's an independent coffee shop. If I opt for the latter will it be open, is it still there? It doesn't matter as I can always double back, head up Granville Road and ride into Oxted for cup of chain store cappuccino.

Coffee at Kiwi House, Limpsfield Village, Surrey

Fortunately, it was open and it was called Coffee at Kiwi House, a rather strange name for a coffee shop, but what a wondrous place! Wooden floors and furniture, a little bit on the trendy side, run by women (the best coffee shops are run by women!) and there was also a very feminine edge to the clientele too. Alright, there were two men in there, chatting away, plus yours truly, but there were more groups of women, some old, some young and the vibe was laid back and friendly.

Cappuccino and an almond croissant
And now I'm going to make a huge claim. I would argue that the cappuccino I enjoyed at this great establishment was, by a mile, the best I've experienced... anywhere in the world - and believe me when I say I've had my fair share of frothy coffee in stores throughout Europe and in the USA. Now, you might think that an extravagant claim, but I stand by it in the same way that, up until recently (and I'll qualify that word 'recently' in a minute) I would argue that the best almond croissant I've ever eaten was purchased from an AMT Coffee kiosk on East Croydon station. Recently, however, there appears to be either none left or they've stopped using that particular supplier. And talking of almond croissants, the ones on offer at Coffee at Kiwi House are certainly 'up there'; they're a million times better than anything I'm likely to experience in a chain operation and I would say that my purchase of a cappuccino (the best in the world) and an almond croissant (let's for now say the second best in the world) was well worth the money spent. I can't remember exactly how much, but let's assume it was in the region of £7. 

I sat there looking out of the window and then perusing the laminated menu left on the wooden table. It was nice to be in the warm and I certainly wasn't looking forward to going back outside, jumping on the bike and riding up the rather daunting Titsey Hill. And that, of course, is the problem with coffee shops in general: you're not there for the long haul, it's a quick fix, a coffee, an almond croissant and then you must be on your way. 

The all-day menu had plenty to offer the weary and the not so weary. Scrambled egg made with three free range eggs (£7.50); avocado and tomato with coriander, extra virgin olive oil and lime (£8.00). Both the scrambled eggs and the avocado are served with either wholemeal or white bloomer, bagel or toast (gluten free); and let's not forget the additional extras ranging from grilled tomatoes (£1.25); baked beans (£2.00); sliced avocado (£2.50); sausages or bacon (both £2.75) and then smoked salmon (£3.25). A toast portion is £3.00 with an extra £1 charge for sourdough. Home-made granola will set you back a fiver, creamy porridge is £3.50 and then there are a range of panini breads for £6.75, fairly pricey sandwiches ranging from £7 for thick smoked bacon or pork sausages up to a staggering £9.75 for an egg, bacon and sausage sandwich - although I can't vouch for what you get for the money (that's why a return trip is needed). I'm guessing, based on my assessment of the place and having enjoyed the ambience with a coffee and croissant, that it's good and filling and not disappointing, I just get that vibe from the place. Posh Cheese on Toast comes at a posh price (£7.50) although it is served with a side salad as is a home-made quiche, which also comes with salad. There's a ploughman's lunch which will set you back £9 or £11 depending on what you have - sliced ham, mature Cheddar or brie. Two choices for the lower price, three for top dollar.

My almond croissant set me back £3.00. A plain one costs £2.50 and is served with jam and butter. Cakes range from £2.50 to £3.50 for small and large varieties and believe me, the larger ones are large and look very impressive. Home-made scones and toasted tea cakes cost £2.75.

I sat there enjoying the vibe, enjoying the almond croissant and calmly sipping my cappuccino, which must have set me back just over £3.00. The price list is on a board behind the counter and I can't remember exactly how much it was. All I do know is that I'll definitely be making a return visit to sample the food on offer.

Wednesday 7 September 2022

The Peckish Café, Haywards Heath, East Sussex...

There's a whacky music shop next door to the Peckish Café in Haywards Heath in East Sussex and I simply had to take a look before checking out the culinary delights of the caff, of which more later. I didn't spend more than a minute in the music shop as a change of ownership was underway. I spoke to the man who had taken over, who hailed from a more well-known establishment in London's Denmark Street, and he explained how there were big plans afoot for the shop, but from what I could see there was nothing but a jumble of musical instruments of all shapes and sizes. I figured I might be able to get a decent Fender Precision bass guitar for a next-to-nothing price - not that I can play a note, but I'm good at working things out and have always fancied sitting around at home on a cold winter's night trying to work out the bass line of this or that tune. The man started talking about some obscure brand of instrument for just £299 and I figured that it wouldn't be up to much so I made my excuses and left (and I won't be returning despite exhibiting a level of crazed enthusiasm for what the man was planning to do with the place).

You can see it from the train!
I bowled into the Peckish Café next door with all the bravado of a seventies television game show host and was immediately taken aback by the general finish of the place; let's just say it was a little, well, down at heel is probably the kindest way to describe it. I don't know about you, but when a place looks a little rough there's a strong chance that the food might be equally rubbish, although there was a fair choice of breakfasts and omelettes, 'jacked potatoes', main courses, paninis, sandwiches and what have you all at the sort of prices you might expect to pay in a 'caff' these days. And when I say 'the sort of prices you might expect to pay', I mean 'extortionate'. That might be a little harsh, but then it is a criticism of caffs in general where simple menu items (like, say, a chicken baguette) will cost the earth. Take, for instance, a chicken and pesto panini (not on the menu, but I asked for one as I preferred not to eat the chicken and cheese panini which didn't really appeal). They gave me an initial strange look – 'he wants to veer off of the main menu!' – but they agreed and soon, along with a large mug of tea that set me back a reasonable but oddly priced £1.59 – I was given my lunch. To be honest (because I'm nothing but honest on this blog) it was a little disappointing mainly because of its size; it was small and I expected more for the money, even if they did offer salad and I refused it. I guess the salad would have made it look a little more value-for-money than it was, but it was £5.49 for the panini and £1.59 for tea (why £1.59?) and together that added up to £7.08. I suppose, judging by the prices in other caffs it's on a par, but I still felt a little resentful paying just over seven quid for a tiny chicken roll and a mug of tea. And guess what? No dessert menu. I was in the mood for an apple pie and custard, but was told they don't offer them anymore. Why the hell not? Surely an apple pie and custard is a caff staple, or it should be. Clearly not at the Peckish Café where those feeling peckish might question the very name of the establishment if they can't order a simple dish like an apple pie.

Chicken and pesto pannini and tea
The general grubby nature of the decor was a little off-putting, especially when there was a large Waitrose café just across the road where, dare I say it, slightly more well-heeled people were on their iPads and doing things Waitrose people like to do; but don't get me wrong, I'm a caff lover through and through and places like the Peckish Café are always high on my agenda. I just think it could do with a lick of paint and some decent tables and a dessert menu... and they need to take a long hard look at their portion sizes. To me, caffs are all about big portions (huge portions) and value for money and for some reason the down-at-heel decor didn't do the Peckish Café any favours. Not that I was longing for the Waitrose Café, I wasn't, but the meal was just not cricket I'm afraid, something was amiss and it had plenty to do with portion size and no desserts. That said, I'm glad they didn't have any desserts because I'm in the mood for comfort eating at the moment (I need the comfort, believe me, I need it) and it would have been something else to fret about on the bike ride home. Talking of which, I need to change into my cycling gear and get out on the road!

Thursday 10 March 2022

Flavours, Warlingham Green, Surrey, United Kingdom

Discovering a new 'caff' on my doorstep is always cause for celebration, even if the caff in question has been in place for some time. I've passed by many times, but I've never been inside, until recently. It's one of those long and narrow affairs with a servery counter on the left as you walk in, widening out at the rear, and my favourite seat is right at the back in the left hand corner.

One of the best aspects of Flavours, well, actually, there are many 'best' aspects so let's discuss them one-by-one: first the full English breakfast consisting of sausage, bacon, fried egg, toast and a choice of either baked beans or tomatoes (choose the former as the only thing I don't like about it is the tomatoes. Why? Because they're tinned plum tomatoes and for me, they're only good when used to make chilli con carne or spaghetti bolognaise, although, to be honest, my preference would be for tinned chopped tomatoes. How true this is I don't know, but somebody once told me that tinned tomatoes - be they plum or chopped - are better for you healthwise that actual tomatoes.

The Full English at Flavours, Warlingham
The second plus point of Flavours is the fact that they make their own millionaires shortbread. The 'lady of house' is in charge of these and I think the man (who I'm guessing is her other half) makes the breakfasts, although there is help in the kitchen so who knows who does what, I'm just guessing.

A third plus point is that the people working there: they're friendly, they like a chat, they put you at ease and that's all you want at all times, to be put at ease, to feel relaxed and in safe hands.

I've only ever had the full English breakfast plus a mug of tea, everything else seems to pale into insignificance, if that's the right phrase; it's the place to go when you're in the mood for a full English, a good old nosh up, and for two people it will cost you around £20 if you indulge a little and order a millionaire's shortbread.

I mentioned tea, and for good reason: it's excellent and it comes in a decent-sized white mug. It's been a few months since I last visited and now that I'm writing this I feel I ought to go again and soon. Well, to be honest, since that last sentence was written I have been there again. I was there just the other day, last Saturday to be precise, and every time I visit I order the same thing, the Full English.

There is outdoor seating for hotter, drier days when customers can take in the fresh air and watch the hustle and bustle of Warlingham Green.

But there is a problem. They only accept cash and it doesn't matter how many times I go there, I always forget. Fortunately, there's a cashpoint virtually next door and a Co-op across the green that cashes money so I doubt you'll be caught out. Personally I think people who don't accept debit and credit cards are behind the times, but each to their own. All I know is that the food is good and it's always worth a visit. You can always assess the quality of a caff by the quality of its sausages and Flavours offers brilliant sausages with their full English breakfast, so I have no real complaints and will, no doubt, return again soon.

Wednesday 18 September 2019

Skylight Diner, 402 West 34th St, New York, USA

It's been four months since I last found myself in New York City. The last time was because the hotel I was staying in stole my passport. I was in Pittsburgh, but had to travel to New York to get hold of an emergency passport in order to fly home. This time I was in New York for a better reason: I was on holiday.

Inside the Skylight Diner in New York...
There was (and is) plenty to do and see: the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Macy's, the 9/11 memorial and, of course, a traditional American diner.

I was staying in the NewYorker Hotel on 34th Street, a great place, it has to be said, and an even greater concierge who knew just the place to visit for breakfast.

The Skylight Diner was just across the road and I couldn't wait to have a big breakfast. And by 'big' I only really needed a bowl of porridge and fresh fruit, just like what I eat at home. Here in the USA, they call porridge oatmeal and I ordered a huge bowl of it along with strawberries, blueberries and sliced banana (see photo below). That and a cup of Lipton's English Breakfast tea (decaff) was very English, but it was all I wanted. I could have eaten much more; there was, for example, a whole section devoted to omelettes hovering around the $9 to $12 mark. How about an avocado omelette ($10.95) or an egg white low cholesterol omelette ($12.45) and containing peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato and basil. There's a classic Denver omelette containing ham, peppers and onions ($10.95) or an Anthony Quinn omelette with tomato and feta cheese ($12.45).
Oatmeal with fresh fruit - wonderful!
There's pancakes and French toast (I love French toast) and there's steak too, like an NY boneless strip steak and two eggs ($19.95). There are breads and pastries, egg white breakfast wraps, variations on an egg sandwich, yoghurts, cereals, tea, coffee, soda, it's all here at the Skylight and it's retro, just like I'd expected it to be and I would have gone back for more, but it all adds up and there's a Pret on 8th Avenue that sells oatmeal, a large cup of English Breakfast tea, and an almond croissant for far less than I paid for breakfast at the Skylight, but that's not what it's about. Yes, you can pay less for your breakfast at a Pret, but the Skylight is the real deal and that's all that matters. 

Friday 24 May 2019

The Morning Star Cafe, Second Avenue, New York, USA

Mooching around New York on a Friday can get a bit boring as wherever I go, I find throngs of people milling about, not mooching, but milling. I don't know the difference - between mooching and milling -  but I think mooching is more meaningful, more inquiring, more subversive, perhaps. Anyway, I'm mooching around, walking along Lexington heading nowhere in particular, although I was heading in the direction of Times Square, but eventually realised that it would be good to stop for lunch. Perhaps the mint tea and a cookie earlier made finding a lunch spot less urgent than it might have been, I'm not sure, and I need to put a stop to cookies, I really do, but lunch is always an absolute necessity.

If you find yourself on Second Avenue in New York, visit this place!
There are plenty of restaurants in New York, some pricey, some not, but I didn't want a pretentious establishment, I wanted something that offered a proper lunch. Remember, I gave up alcohol 18 months ago so I don't need the ponce-a-rama of a licensed eaterie, anything (within reason) would do, although a takeaway was out of the question.

I've passed the Morning Star Cafe once or twice since I've been in the Big Apple and as I pass it again I think that destiny, fate, call it what you will, has decided that I must go in. It looks promising from the outside: a caff that is open 24 hours (that could be good or bad), a place that sells good, wholesome food at reasonable prices and a place that is just what the doctor ordered in terms of being the sort of place you can get comfort food. After hesitating I go in and peruse the extensive menu and eventually I choose a pasta dish: penne with brocolli and sliced chicken, lots of garlic. It was fantastic and I began to wish I'd had dinner here last night instead of the ridiculously expensive Montebelo's, a recommendation of Danny, my hotel's concierge.

There's diner-style seating and friendly staff and there's even online ordering of food, with 10% off on your first order.
Penne with brocolli, chicken and garlic
The Morning Star serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is really a classic American diner. The menu is extensive, too big to cover here, but let's just take a few items: pastries and bread, fresh eggs (any style) - and that includes corned beef hash and eggs for $14.95. Bagels and Lox. Fine, I know what a bagel is, but what does Lox mean? It appears a lot on the menu and I'll have to investigate. There's a few variations on an egg sandwich including the Western Sandwich (with peppers, onion and ham, $8.95). Let's not forget omelettes ranging from $9.95 (plain) to $16.95, the latter being Lox and Onions. What is Lox? But forget Lox for a minute, check out the extensive range of omelettes. There's loads of them! I've never seen such a wide selection.

There's a 'healthy corner' where you can find all the usual suspects (fruit, porridge and yoghurt) and then there's the less healthy stuff (pancakes, French toast and Belgian waffles). I love French toast, by the way. Sandwiches are another 'big' part of the menu and again there's a few of the usual suspects on parade (tuna, cheese and BLT) but what about a veal cutlet parmigiana for $14.95? Sounds good to me. And if that's not right, there's carved sandwiches (beef, ham, turkey, brisket and meatloaf). And then there are triple decker, 'specialty' and hot open sandwiches, plus wraps.

Home-made soups, side orders, salads, 'diet delights', 'Greek Corner', burgers, sautes, seafood, pasta, entrees, desserts, roasted or broiled chicken dishes, beverages, juices, smoothies and alcoholic drinks too. The Morning Star Cafe is the place to be in my opinion.
The New York subway we know and love...

I chose penne with chicken, brocolli and garlic olive oil. It was amazing. Perfectly cooked, although the brocolli could have been tenderer. I added a couple of mint teas and the bill came to something around $28.00. Perfect. Better than the $70 I spent in Montebelo's the previous night.

They've got wifi here too and I wish I hadn't visited that coffee shop for the tea and cookie earlier as I could have come straight here and chilled out for longer. Unfortunately, the trip to the airport and a flight home was playing on my mind.

The Morning Star Cafe can be found on 2nd Avenue. The web address, where you'll find out more about the extensive menu, is www.morningstaronsecond.com




Sunday 14 April 2019

Poppins Restaurants, Redhill - at last it's open and it looks very promising!

The big dilemma in my life at present is hardly a matter of life or death. In truth, it's pretty unimportant in the general scheme of things, but I'll admit that it's bugging me slightly, hence my desire to get something down on paper, as I'm doing now. The dilemma in question is this: is the Pop Inn cafe in Redhill better than Poppins? The latter has recently opened. And let's face it, it's been a long time coming. For months, possibly years, Poppins has covered its windows with newspaper and I was beginning to think it would never open in Redhill. I started to wonder if the potential operators, the franchisees no less, had had second thoughts, leaving the franchisor (Poppins Restaurants) to find somebody else, but no, it's now open and I've been there twice. The first time was for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake, allowing me to make my first comparison between the two restaurants: a cup of tea in the Pop Inn (which on the A23 on the outskirts of town heading south) is £1, but it's £1.60 in Poppins (although it's a larger cup). I'm not sure if they sell toasted tea cakes in the Pop Inn.

On Friday (12 April) it was time to visit Poppins for a full-blown meal, although, in the end, I settled for baked beans on toast, a cup of tea and apple pie with custard. Unfortunately, I opted for cold custard, which was a mistake on my part. Next time it'll be warm apple pie and ice cream.


Mug of tea, £1.60, but a big mug!
And let me add now that beans on toast doesn't really count as a proper meal, which means I'll be back for something more substantial.

Poppins, it has to be said, is much more comfortable than the Pop Inn, not as basic. There's padded banquette seating, American diner style, and the decor is slightly better, although that might be because it's new and the Pop Inn has been around for a few years.


Both establishments offer good service. Faultless service, in fact. It might have something to do with the familial connection between the two restaurants. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but there definitely is a familial link between the operators of both restaurants.


I guess it would be fair to say that Poppins is a tad more upmarket than the Pop Inn, and that might be the reason behind the slightly higher prices. Perhaps the rents are higher in the centre of town. In terms of menu variety, they are about the same. I've already reviewed the Pop Inn restaurant on these pages, so here's a little bit of information about the Poppins menu.


Breakfasts range in price from £5.50 for a Late Breakfast Special consisting of griddled bacon, fried egg, sausage, fried bread, tomatoes and mushroom; and for £7.80 there's the Inclusive Breakfast (two bacon, sausage, tomatoes, beans and hash browns, two slices of toast, butter and preserves, tea and coffee).


There are jacket potatoes (ranging from £4.80 to £5.80); burgers (from £3.60 to £6.70); omelettes (£5.20 to £7.20); salads (£3.50 to £6.40); main meals (everything from chicken nuggets to pies and, at the top of the pile, a sirloin steak); fish dishes, 'world favourites' – like curry and chips – and a wide range of 'sweet treats' and pancakes, including apple pie and ice cream or custard. There's also a children's menu and a takeaway menu.


And if you think that's more than enough, there's a wide range of snacks – and they look pretty substantial too – plus a range of hot and cold drinks.


There are Poppins outlets all over the UK (including one in my home town of Sutton, Surrey) and I'm sure they're all on a par with the Redhill outlet, which will provide healthy competition for other operators in town, including the M&S cafe and others, although the Piazza in the Belfry has gone, sadly.


I like the Poppins Restaurant in Redhill – I'm back in on Wednesday 17th April. The staff are very good, the portions ample and the general decor is good. It's a cosy place AND there's free WiFi.


And guess what? It's open from 0800hrs to 1700hrs six days a week and from 0900hrs to 1600hrs on Sunday.


Postscript, 20 August 2019: I went to Poppins for lunch today and I must put it on record that the Pop Inn café on the A23 offers far better value. The Pop Inn offers the most amazing chicken fillet baguette for just £3.30 whereas Poppins offers a chicken baguette with mayonnaise for £4.00 – they're chalk and cheese. My advice? Go to the Pop Inn on the A23, it's simply better.