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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be overly impressed with nice simple old fashioned cafes/restaurants

108 replies

soupyspoon · 28/01/2026 16:45

I popped out to go to a little cafe today which does some fancy flavoured latte I havent tried yet at a fiver a pop, all industrial and fashionable inside, selling overpriced soaps and 'statement pieces' but they were full up

So I went next door instead which was a little old fashioned Greek restaurant/cafe, with brick wall paper and ordered a latte

It was your bog standard 'milky coffee' and served with a Mcvities digestive

I dont even like digestives but I just loved the simplicity of it, the old fashioned coziness of it. The unashamed not keeping up with so called fashion and expectations

Dont know why

I ate the digestive and very much enjoyed it.

OP posts:
Alouest · 29/01/2026 19:53

Do any Londoners remember Bonbonniere at the top of Carnaby Street? I miss that place so much!

SouthernNights59 · 29/01/2026 20:08

ZookeeperSE · 29/01/2026 14:25

My friend runs her own business supplying afternoon tea/catering for all sorts of events - kids parties, funerals even weddings. She has based her model on ‘old fashioned’ afternoon teas. Everything made from scratch though but white bread sandwiches with fillings as you have stated: cheese, ham, egg mayo and sausage rolls, basic Victoria Sponge, rock cakes, scones, jam etc. She’s got a big tea urn and serves squash and has bought lovely old fashioned crockery to serve it all. Not a fancy item on the menu and in huge contrast to the other tea party businesses available locally. She is absolutely run off her feet. There’s definitely a market for it!

There are still women here who do catering to raise funds who provide food like this, and it's always lovely. If there was a cafe which provided the same sort of food I would patronize it more than those which serve massive cakes, muffins, scones and overfilled sandwiches.

ThatWasMyLastFatFreeFrush · 29/01/2026 20:23

If anyone is in Sheffield, I thoroughly recommend Sarnis on the High Street. Not quite greasy spoon, not a tea room, just a nice friendly cafe with sandwiches, jacket potatoes, breakfasts etc. It's lovely. (I do not work for them!Grin)

Thecatandme · 29/01/2026 20:31

If you are ever on the East Kent coast you may like to visit this place. Not my "ahem" cup of tea but very popular

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186314-d12646396-Reviews-The_Home_Front_Tea_Room-Ramsgate_Isle_of_Thanet_Kent_England.html

mdinbc · 29/01/2026 20:48

Thanks for the clarification on the cheese and pickle. To me it sounds like an odd mix, but hey ho, I can try new things. I've never seen such a sandwich on offer here, nor have I ever tried Branston pickle. The relish here is green, so not sure if it would go with cheese!

soupyspoon · 29/01/2026 21:33

mdinbc · 29/01/2026 20:48

Thanks for the clarification on the cheese and pickle. To me it sounds like an odd mix, but hey ho, I can try new things. I've never seen such a sandwich on offer here, nor have I ever tried Branston pickle. The relish here is green, so not sure if it would go with cheese!

Where are you?

This is a cheese and pickle roll (although thats a fancy pants roll, I couldnt find an image of an old fashioned crusty bakers roll)

https://www.paulhollywood.com/winter-rolls-recipes/cheese-%26-pickle-sandwiches

Cheese & Pickle Sandwiches

c8e7e9f6-07cb-44a6-90ad-3e877283033d

https://www.paulhollywood.com/winter-rolls-recipes/cheese-%26-pickle-sandwiches

OP posts:
LittleArithmetics · 29/01/2026 21:46

Crikeyalmighty · 29/01/2026 16:04

What you want is Terrys in Southwark or that one down near the river at Putney Tube, look like they haven’t changed in decades but there’s something about them!! - we’ve got one I like here in Bath called Rosarios - run by lovely chatty, camp Rosario - it’s not fancy but does lovely stuff , decent music, fantastic amount of gluten free , good wifi , always warm when needs to be.

Rosario's isn't exactly unfancy. It certainly does a range of fancy matcha lattes and the like. I guess the food is fairly traditional, but traditional Sicilian stuff which is much more appealing than a basic cheese sandwich or whatever. I think in my book there's a big difference between an old-school Italian/Greek/Turkish etc cafe, which are likely to be good, and an old-school British place, where I'll be expecting bad coffee and boring sandwiches.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/01/2026 22:34

@LittleArithmetics yep , you are right - I think it has the vibe people were talking about , guess it’s that an Italian /greek cafe often has in my opinion an understanding of hospitality!! Actually we struggle in Bath in centre at all for an old school greasy spoon!!

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