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.