NEWSFLASH

Breakfast Liverpool Latest News

Due to a chnage in personal circumstances Breakfast Liverpool will not be updated anymore but a new blog has been started that will be a mixture of good food and breakfasts with a Liverpool and North West emphasis from a personal perspective

Food Man Chan - the Blog

037 - Breakfast on board the Lady Margaret

LadyLine Hotel Boats - check out the link for full details

I spent a week onboard the Ladyline Hotel Boats - the Lady Margarent to be precise, though they travel around in pairs, the other boat being the Lady Selena. If you want to know about the canal stuff then look at the website, this is about the breakfasts that I had whilst living aboard the Lady Margaret for the week.

Let me say from the start that the breakfasts were superb and the choice each day was very good - always on offer was a selection of cereal, fruit juices, toast, jam and marmalade, tea, coffee and a decent selection of cooked items including kippers.

Anyway here are some piccies of the breakfasts I had during the week:-


The classic English Breakfast - superb bacon and sausage with a fried egg and tomato and mushrooms


Another morning saw the addition of some very good locally made black pudding from the deli at Ellesmere


One morning some rather splendid kipper fillets grilled in butter came with poached eggs and mushrooms


Another morning they came with a fried egg


One morning I decided on a fried slice topped with scrambled eggs and two slices of seriously good bacon


Toast was a selection of white, wholemeal and granary


As already mentioned there was a good selection of cereal, juices, jam and marmalade

The last morning saw the weeks only decent sunrise at 5am


Which was followed by a classic breakfast of bacon, sausage, fried egg, fried slice and mushrooms


A week of spme seriously good breakfasting onboard the Lady Margaret!!!

Starters Orders

It’s the first and most important meal of the day, so whatever you do, don’t skip breakfast - The Liverpool Echo did a feature on the importance of breakfast as the first meal of the day. breakastLiverpool was interviewed and contributed to the article - see the link above

036 - Kavanagh's II

Kavanagh’s and Kavanagh's II - Retail Market, St. Johns Precinct, Liverpool L1 1NN - 0151-709 3667

I Had just been to the Radio City Tower to take part on a radio discussion on the Full English breakfast that was being hosted by Phil Easton and Kim Hughes as part of the Big Issue discussuon of the day on the City Talk FM morning show and so was looking for a decent city centre breakfast as it was still only 8:45am.

Thus I headed for St Johns Market and Kavanaghs II Cafe - the other branch of Kavanaghs wasn't quite ready to open though the two are very close to each other and serve identical menus. However what caught my eye was the "Early Breakfast"

I had both the blackpudding and hash brown, chose the beans and added a mug of tea - and the total cost came to a very reasonable £3.50.


Service was from mien host Mr James - who is the boss man of both cafes which are named after his grandmother.

But enough of this background banter - was the breakfast any good. As always, breakfastLiverpool believes the condiment selection is a KPI on the quality of the breakfast and yet again Kavanaghs II did not disappoint -

Look at the size of that sugar bowl plus please note all the essentials are there in that collection of sauces etc.




A great breakfast and comes with a full recommendation from breakfastLIverpool.


A fellow satisfied customer!!!!

Is a Full English Bad for You?

City Talk FM's Phil Easton will host a discussion on the matter - 8am Friday 18th April - breakfastLiverpool will be taking part

Well its seems that The Times restaurant critic Giles Coren has decided to condemn the Full English breakfast in his current rant in The Times today where he seems to have lost all perspective on what is one of the truely great achievements of the English nation - the Full English Breakfast.

The Radio City Tower


View from the Tower


Anyway local Liverpool radio station City Talk FM (based in the Radio City Tower) and their Breakfast program with Phil Easton and Kim Hughes will feature a discussion on the topic of the Full English breakfast. Taking part will be breakfastLiverpool and the redoubtable Anthony Zausmer of The Scouse House who will be speaking in defense of the Full English Breakfast.


Kim Hughes from City Talk FM and a Scouse House All Day Breakfast

I think the conclusion was that whilst A Full English Breakfast may not be the healthiest of meals - as with all things - if done in moderation it is one of life's simple pleasures and can be balanced out with less calorific breakfasts such as porridge, fruit and yoghurt and wholemeal toast.

035 The Scouse House

The Scouse House - 3 Oliver Lane, Birkenhead, CH41 6AP - 0151 647 6427



The latest venture of the redoubtable Anthony Zausmer, formerly of Posh Nosh Kitchen in Market St. - The Scouse House is quite unique as a space and all the better for it. Rather than describe the interior it is best for you to go along and see it for yourself. The menu, which can be viewed at the website, promises alot and on the two visits made so far, it has delivered.

One thing that I have noticed is that choice seems to be a key ingredient at the Scouse House. Tea is in a mug or a pot, you add your own milk, toast comes with butter on the side and eggs are surved as you like it - which in my case is sunny side up and runny.

But how was the breakfast as at the end of the day this is what the blog is all about - well I can happily report that the Scouse House Full English is very good indeed.


The condiment collection was of a standard - one can say no more.


Toast was served with real butter and you really can taste the difference

The breakfast really was superb -



Bacon, Sausage, Blackpudding, Ulsterfry, Egg, Beans, Fried Tomato and Mushrooms with two rounds of quite delightful toast and butter - it hit the spot nicely.

The Scouse House even has its own Facebook Group

Guardian Breakfast Supplement

Coming out the weekend (11-Apr-08) is the Guardian Breakfast Supplement - breakfastLiverpool has contributed to some of the reviews of classic English Breakfasts - full details and links will be posted once they are known

The Big Breakfast @ Cafe Express Deli - one of the featured cafes

The Guardian gives breakfastLiverpool top billing

In their bloggers guide to The Pool - breakfastLiverpool gets the number one spot for our fair city - where girls are so pretty.....and in need of a Full English

034 - Guinea Gap

147 Brighton Street, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH44 8DT 0151-637 1723



This will be a breakfast review with a difference as it will not actually feature a breakfast (this has niow been rectified - see the piccies at the end)- I saw breakfasts being served to other customers and I have previously eaten a Full ENglish here at the Guinea Gap Cafe and can testify to the veracity of the breakfast fryup but today as I entered the cafe I was overwhelmed by the desire to have a proper cafe dinner instead and much as I would have liked a proper fry up, I think that will have to wait another day. But anyway ere is a sneak preview of what you can look forward to breakfast wise:-


As usual the condiment selection was spot on for a quality cafe - it even had two types of pepper on offer as well as three types of sauces - quality


Mine hosts are the charming Heather and Gaynor who were happy to take my order for a small Shepards Pie Dinner



If this is a small dinner then I am impressed - it was the full works - a glorious slice of shepards pie, roasties, sprouts, peas, cauliflowwer and mashed carrot and tunip and lashings of gravy. A lunch fit for a king - roll on next Saturday when I will come and sample their breakfast again and post up some photos.



I did end up sampling breakfast the following Saturday - I went for the Small Breakfast and got a fried slice thrown in for free. Great VFM and very decent sausage and bacon and a generous serving of beans and tomoates - definately recommended - a fair number of people sitting around me were ordering the Mega Breakfast.

033 - Cafe Express Deli

Cafe Express Deli - 180 Picton Rd, Wavertree, Liverpool 0151 733 8567



For better or worse Big Baps 2 is now history and in its place is the quirkly named Cafe Express Deli. An impromptu need for a lunchtime feed had me sample their egg chips and beans a few weeks ago

and I saw a couple of breakfasts being served to another table and I knew I had to come back and have a breakfast soon - they looked very very good.

Anyway I was a man with a mission today - Cafe 23 last weeek had been a disappointment not because the food was bad but rather because the people who served just didn't really seem to care, I need to reverse that experience and I felt the Cafe Express Deli would not let me down and I am glad to report it didn't. Andy the man behind the hot stove and mine host seems to have the knack of making his customers feel very welcome


The great Russell M Davies - of Eggs, Bacon, Chips and Beans fame always put great store by the condiment provision of a cafe as an indiciation of the quality of its food - based upon this display of classic condiments I was going to be in for a treat of a breakfast.


A full English should always be washed downh by a proper mug of tea and Cafe Deli Express certainly delivered the goods here


This is the Large Breakfast and at £3.00 it is great VFM - even more so on a Sat when you can get two for a fiver. I had one of my two rounds of toast replaced with a slice of fried bread. As I have previously indicated - a fried slice, properly executed can be the crowning glory of a proper cafe breakfast. All the items were up to scratch and breakfastliverpool would heartily recommend this to any of its readers out there


Bargain of the Week!!!!


Open - All Day Breakfast - four of the most beautiful words in the world!!!!

032 - Cafe 23

23 Church Rd, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EA 0151 733 8800 Cafe 23



Cafe 23 presents BreakfastLiverpool with a dilema - a great breakfast but crap service and soggy toast.

The place was buzzing on a Sunday afternoon when I felt the need for a full Englisgh but the usual cafe haunts of South Liverpool were all closed for business when I chanced upon this place. Not exactly a greasy spoon - more your upmarket neighbourhood cafe with leather sofas and coffee tables at the front of the cafe and the more usual tables and chairs at the rear.


The kitchen is open plan and looks as if it can do the business and best of all you can see your breakfast being freshly cooked and not come out of a nicrowave - but this still does not excuse the half hour wait without the meerest hint of an apology for the delay. Also my tea order got lost even thoigh it was part of the breakfast and I did not get my cup of tea till I asked


Teabag still in a cup - this happens in greasy spoons not places like Cafe 23 with upmarket intentions and prices to match




Breakfast when it came was very good indeed though spoilt a little by the refusal of a request for a fried slice. The blackpudding was to die for, tomatoes freshly fried and there was an unannouced portion of fried potatoes. A very nice breakfast imdeed.


Pity the toast was soggy

Cafe 23 presents a bit of a dilema - will I be back - I think so and in the hope that the poor service was a one off

031 - Il Bacino

Il Bacino - Brunswick Way, Liverpool, Tel: 0151 708 5005 - Il Bacino

If you want more details about the place about see the entry in FoodManChan. This entry will deal with the breakfast I had there. The breakfast menu tries to be quiet sophisticated and despite serving all the ingredients that you would normally find in a full English breakfast - it did not actually serve one as such. You could have a toasted ciabatta sandwich with a choice of fillings that included bacon, sausage and black pudding, other dishes had beans, mushrooms and egg and you could order toast but when I enquired about why no Full English at the end of the meal - I was told by the waitress it was because the chef wanted to do a something a little bit different - bizarre.

The question is - was the something a little bit different any good. Well- here is what we had:-

Smoked Haddock Fishcake with chunks of smoked haddock, topped with a poached egg and coated in Hollandaise sauce


A potato tosti topped with a slice of ham, wilted spinach and poached egg served with a small ramekin of hollandaise


Well they say good things come in small packages and these two breakfast dishes were certainly good and just a little different from the breakfast fayre usually available - the only place that comes close is Neighbourhood in Woolton - but the portion size could have been a bit more generous, espeically as the price tag was not exactly cheap at about £6.50 per dish with tea and superb toast seperately charged -


Intersting - tea is served in Illy coffee cups


The toast served was very good, the bread they used was responsible for this - a plain batard loaf but curiously it came pre-buttered but with a tray of jaam pots and butter as well.

Breakfast came to £20 for two which is not exactly cheap and given that here are places doing a plate of sausage, egg, bacon, beans, fried bread, hash brown and two slices of toast for £2 - it makes you think but on balance I would breakfast/brunch at Il Bacino again because quality costs and sometings its nice to hafve so,mething a little bit different.

030 - The Copper Kettle

The Copper Kettle
19B Tarbock Road Huyton, Liverpool L36 5XN 0151 489 7805



After last weeks disappointment at the First Floor Cafe in Windermere where culinary integrity had fiven way to corporate greed, breakfastLiverpool was in desparate need to a good old fashioned, honest "full English" fry up served in amiable, traditional greasy sppon surrounds from a kitchen that was at least honest in its approach to this most basic but fundamental cornerstone of British cuisine.



I had always known of the existance of the Copper Kettle in Huyton but it had been many years since I had last crossed the threshold of its door. I had a good feeling about the place and felt sure that it would restore my faith in the great institution of the English Breakfast. The menu is short - following the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principal of doing what you do well rather than be a jack of all trades.

As is usual with these places, the signs were good as the KPI (key performance indicators) were all positive - the classic condiment set and proper mug of steaming hot tea.




The breakfast itself was a stunner £3.80 inc tea and toast - with a portion of fried mushroom 50p extra - three rashers of very decent quality bacon, sausage, runny egg, beans, tomatoes, blackpudding and a fried slice - a classic breakfast, served in a friendly, welcoming environment and a world away from flashy style over substance cafes that seek to play on customer ignorance using the worse kind of deception.



The Copper Kettle is a great place, a proper neighbourhood cafe that serves honest to goodness food - appreciate it for what it is and give it your custom.

029 - First Floor Cafe

First Floor Cafe
Lakeland Plastics, Alexandra Buildings Windermere LA23 1BQ 015394 88100



First of all let me make it clear that the First Floor Cafe whilst in Lakeland Plastics flagshop store in Windermere, it is in fact a totally separate business owned by the famous chef Stephen Doherty - and this blog entry is about the First Floor Cafe and not Lakeland Plastics.



To those who know - the name Stephen Doherty is usually associated with quality of the first order - once described as the enforcer for the Roux brothers and the first Englishman to hold 3 Michelin stars. Thus any eating place that bears his name will always bring with it a high level of expectation. Thus it is all the more disappointing that breakfastliverpool had such a poor experience at the First Floor Cafe when hopes had been so high.

Initial signs were good - tea was served quickly and with a pot of hot water as well:-


Granary toast with a pot of marmalade and butter was of a standard - nice bread, decent marmalade but why oh why those nasty foil packets of butter - they smack of convenience and penny pinching over quality and class, why not just butter the toast and be done with it. Also 2 packets is never going to be enough.


The rot started to set in when the breakfast muffin arrived - both the bacon and and sausage had seen seriously too much time in either a bain marie or were left over from the previous days service - dry and very hard - not nice at all


However the really nasty piece of work was left to the poached haddock and coddled egg - at least that was how it was described on the menu - the fish was not only a very small portion, but much worse it was seriously over cooked and the egg was fried not coddled - when I drew attention to this I was told that it was a coddled egg as it was fried in butter - I could not believe my ears - if you want to know what a coddled egg is follow this link - Coddled Egg


Despite protracted email correspondance about being served a fried egg when the menu clearly states coddled egg, First Floor Cafe have refused to comment and the matter is now in the hands of Cumbria Trading Standards.

First Floor Cafe was a very disappointing experience - very much a case of style over substance. The use of the term coddled egg on a menu to described an egg fried in butter is nothing more than a cynical deception of a public generally ignorant of what a coddled egg really is and who mistakenlly trust in the reputation of a once great chef. Its like saying a scrambled egg is an egg boiled in milk. breakfastLiverpool will not be returning and suggest that a better breakfast dining experience can be had elsewhere.

028 - The Cleveland St Cafe

The Cleveland St Cafe
212 Cleveland Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3QH 0151 650 1050


It used be known as the Caf and it was the most basic greasy spoon I had ever come across, it had a very limited menu and the surroundings were somewhat down at heal but the thing was the grub was good and the welcome warm. When it passed away and closed its doors breakfastliverpool was sad. But now the Caf has risen from the ashes in the form of the Cleveland St Cafe. A lick of paint and an substantaial upgrading of the interior and kitchen has transformed the place, so after an all nighter at work a full english was required to restore life into the soul.

My heart and spirits are always lifted by the sight of a classic condiment selection - there is something reassuring about red and brown squeezy sauce bottles with white caps, glass bottled salt and pepper shakers and a vinger bottle


Tea is served in proper sized white mugs


The Full English consists of - sausage, bacon, bloackpudding, egg, tomatoe, beans amd mushrooms and an extra of ulster fry - just what the doctor ordered after an all nighter at work

027 - Tasty Bites

Tasty Bites
116 St. Marys Rd, Garston, Liverpool, L19 2JG 0151 494 3145


Enthusiastically recommended by a reader of the blog, Tasty Bites in Garston is not easiest of place to find - signage is not its strong point. But it is a bright and pleasent cafe and apart from the breakfast menu there is a good choice of lunchtime meal options.

Breakfast cmoes in three size options and pricing is VFM as even the small breakfast comes with a mug of tea or coffee


Condiment are the usual cafe classic which is good to see - I hate the use of plastic sauce sachets which speak of cost cutting and lack of the personal touch.


A proper mug of cha


A small breakfast of bacon, sausage, egg, blackpudding, beans , tomatoes and an optional extra side of fried bread - delicious


Worth the effort in seeking out the place even if the signage could be better

026 - Karen's Cafe

Karen's Cafe
467,Stanley Rd,Bootle, Liverpool, L20 5DN 0151 922 8086


Karen's Cafe in on your left as you cruise down Stanley Rd towards Seaforth and I chance upon it one Sunday morning as I was on my way to a shoot and was looking for a spot of breakfast before a long day behind a camera. As I have already mentioned in this blog - the number of decent cafes that are open on a Sunday morning are woefully few and far between and so when I come across one I always aim to try it and see if it is any good. Karen's has the look and feel of a classic greasy spoon and a this is always a good sign.

As usual the condiment selection is a key performance indiciator in the classic cafe stakes and Karen's not only has the classic condiment collection but it adds a new twist to the genre by having them all placed on a trivet.


As usual there is a good choice of brteakfast options from the ubiqiutous bacon toastie to the Full English which comes in various sizes. I usually opt for a small breakfast unless I am particularly ravenous. Anyway Karen's does a lovely small breakfast which consists of bacon, sausage, blackpudding, tomatoes, mushrooms and a lovely soft fried egg.

025 - Jo's Place

Jo's Place
77 Lisburn Lane, Tuebrook, Liverpool L13 9AF 0151 253 0052


Unless you live in Tuebrook it is unlikely you would just happen along to Jo's Place, but despite it's slightly out of the way location it is a real gem of a neighbourhood cafe with great food and a great welcome. Well worth making the effort to go and have a brteakfast there of a weekend. Its opens seven days a week - which is a real bonus if you don't live close by during the week.

I forgot to take any pictures of them but seating is on some lovely, deeply padded leather banquets which is just a bit different from your more usual cafe chair.

As always, the condiment selection is a good indicator of things to come and here Jo's Place has on hand the classic cafe selection inc a bottle of vinegar.


Tea comes in a proper mug - so full marks for that


My breakfast came to £3.10 as I ordered the small breakfast but optd to have both blackpudding and ulster fry - usually it is either or - I swapped my toast for a fried slice, something I am doing more and more often - I am starting to think that a properly executed fried slice is an essential component of a proper English Breakfast - like bacon, sausage, fried egg and beans are. I can report my breakfast was the bees knees and recommend you seek it out as well.

024 - Di Scala Cafe

Di Scala Cafe
22 Newington. Liverpool. Merseyside. L1 4ED. 0151-706 0440


Di Scala came with a glowing recommendation from a breakfastliverpool reader and it had been on my to do list for some little while. A chance requirement to be in that part of town paved the way for a quick breakfast and to see if such a glowing recommendation was indeed deserved. I am happy to say that it was.

For a start the condiment selection was not only comprehensive but delivered in a classic cafe style that even included a vinegar bottle and two sugar bowls - one for white and one for brown - for those who drink coffee. Such a selection bodes well for the Full English


Tea is included in the price of a breakfast and comes on its own serving tray - how delightful - a great little touch


But the nicest surprise is the cup - it does what it says


The standard breakast is £2.95 and comes freshly cooked with bacon, 2 sausage, egg, blackpudding, hash brown, beans, tomaotes and mushroom, toast and tea tray - it was superb - another 2 thumbs up breakfast

023 - Bridge Bistro

Bridge Bistro
Bridge Chapel Centre, Heath Road, Liverpool,L19 4XR 0151 281 9716


Church's with cafe's are not a new idea, Frontline in Liverpool has one as does the City Mission and City Church has their Cafe Connect on a Sat Morning but none of these have the rather impressive operation that is Bridge Bistro that is part of the Bridge Chapel Centre. It's a little bit off the beaten track in the Garston/Halewood area of the city but well worth seeking out, especially if you live near by.

From 8:30am onwards Monday to Friday it serves a very creditable breakfast in a clean, comfortable environment. Yes it is part of a church - but not church as you or I would normally expect - no stained glass windows, no wooden pews. The Bistro is in the main reception area of this former school complex and has a welcoming servery with an open plan kitchen that is plain to view from the seating area.


There is a choice of breakfast options as you can see above to suit a variety of appetites and pockets - I opted for the 5 items plus toast for £2.30


My beans, sausage, egg, bacon and black pudding was well up to scratch. No complaints from BreakfastLiverpool


Condiments come in individual paper sachets apart from the classic red and brown plastic squeezey sauce bottles.

022 - Big Baps 2

This plave has now changed hands - a review under the new name and ownership is pending

Big Baps 2
180 Picton Road, Picton, Liverpool - 0151 733 8567


I kid you not - your eyes do not decieve you but there is a cafe in Liverpool called Big Baps 2 -the original Big Baps is in Tuebrook. Your certainly can't help but notice the blue and yellow frontage of Big Baps 2 and it comes with a very good reputation. So it was inevitable that BreakfastLiverpool would have to see if all the fuss was justified.

First off the interior is both smart and functional and the service is friendly


A good key performance indicator (KPI) under these circumstances is always the condiment selection on each table and in Big Baps 2 the signs are good - on each table you will find classic red and brown sauce bottles, salt, pepper, vinegar and sugar bowl - what more can one ask for -


Another good KPI is the way tea is served - big mugs are always a good sign and in Big Baps 2 the mugs are BIG


But the main KPI is the Full English or in Big Bap land - the Belly Buster Breakfast - a steal at £3.50 - you get 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 eggs, blackpudding, tomato, mushrooms, beans, hashbrown, 2 toast and choice of tea, coffee or orange juice


BreakfastLiverpool gives Big Baps 2 - 2 Thumbs Up - the fried eggs deserve a special mention - they were cooked to perfection.

New Kids on the Blog

BreakfastLiverpool has come to the attention the local media - we were the main part of a double centre page spread about blogs based in Liverpool. Read the article for yourself Daily Post Article - New Kids on the Blog

021- Posh Nosh Kitchen Update

Posh Nosh Kitchen
66, Market St, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 5BT 0151 647 3618



When I last visited Posh Nosh Kitchen it was still sporting the livery of its previous incarnation - Crackpots2. Well to mark the occasion of the new frontage and the refurbishment of the inside, a second review of the Full English seemed due. Also it would hopefully put to bed the memory of the errant sausage that blighted the first review.



Well, I can happily report that the Full English was well up to scratch this time. VFM wise it ticks all the boxes - bacon, ulster fry, sausage, egg, blackpudding, beans, tomatoes, two thick slices of freshly toasted bread and a mug of tea or coffee - at £3.50 its a steal.

Couldn't resist - the toast looked so nice




If a Full English at lunchtime is not to your liking, they do a very acceptable liver, mash, peas and onion gravy or if offal is not your thing then the sausage dinner is equally enjoyable - their mash is the real thing made from real potatoes and not the stuff aliens eat that come from a packet.

Breakfast Poll

Neighbourhood Cafe/Bar/Brasserie is actually located diagonally opposite Tasty Snacks Cafe on Woolton Rd and is at the opporsite end of the scale in more ways than one - for a start it is not a caff, it has more upmarket lifestyle aspirations - their Full English costs £5.95 and comes with curly fries, but they do a whole range of breakfast options which include a bacon and cheddar omlette and that classic mexican breakfast egg dish huevos rancheros. There is also that classic astronauts breakfast of Steak and Eggs and the mothers day favourite of scambled eggs with smoked salmon.



The poll that I am running is to see if you the readers of the breakfastliverpool blog think that I should review Neighbourhood and if so, which breakfast I should try. Answers as they say in an email or leave a comment. Once a reasonable number of replies have been recieved I shall act accordingly.

020 Quarter Cafe Update

The Quarter
7 Falkner St, Liverpool, L8 7PU



It’s not a café, it doesn’t do a Full English and I have a love hate relationship with it - this much I have said before and more - see the original entry.....


But I noticed last week that they do a brunch pizza - toppings - bacon, sausage, egg, baked beans, blackpudding, tomatoes and cheese - the last time I had one of these was when I was a student in Preston and they served a breakfast pizza with the same toppings in the now defunct Pizzaland. The Quarters version was actually quite decent - but why not offer a Full English if you can have everything it requires on a pizza? Answers on a postcard please. Anyway here is the Brunch Pizza


I suggest washing it down with a much improved Mocha - perhaps they now have a barista that knows what they are doing -


The signs are things seem to be on the up and up at the Quarter - maybe soon I will actually be singing its praises

019 - Sans Cafe

San'S Cafe
Lightbody St, Liverpool, L5



No the spelling is not wrong - it is San not Sams and the reason for this is that whilst to all intents and purposes Sans Cafe is a traditional greasy spoon, it is now run by a Chinese family that has a long history in Liverpool - they used to run a takeaway and San, the patriarch of the family once cooked for a team of visiting mainland Chinese dignatories as part of a team of 4 local Chinese Chefs at a banquent hosted by the Liverpool Chinese Business Association, but that was then and this is now. And now San plies his trade serving the Full English Breakfast and variations there of to the good burghers of Liverpool.



It has come to my notice in recent years the number of greasy spoon cafes that have been taken over by Chinese familes and it seems to a growing trend. Jackies by the start of Mancunian Way in Manchester was the first one I noticed. Then there was the cafe I went to in Birmingham when I went for my Indian Visa at the consulate nr. the Jewellery Quarter. Liverpool obviously has Sans but there is also one on the edge of Sefton Park and one in Old Swan and there may be more. There's even an ex chippy owner doing a roaring trade in bacon barms and chip butties from a mobile unit by Birkenhead Docks. I suppose the attraction is better working hours - you finish at 3pm in the afternoon instead of 3am in the morning.



Anyway can San deliver when in it comes to the traditional greasy spoon fry up - well I am happy to report that this was one very good breakfast - served in lightning quick time but everything was piping hot and tasted fresh and at £3.50 inc tea and 2 toast it was pretty good value.



You collect your required condiments from the serving counter and the only gripe in the whole operation is the size of the mug of tea. Minor I know, but I do like a proper sized mug of steaming hot tea to go with my Full English.



I came across Sans because I was looking for a greasy spoon fry up at 9am on a Sunday morning and had great difficulty finding one open that early. There is a good concentration of caffs around the Stanley Dock/Heritage Market but remarkably not many of them are open on a Sunday. As for the posher places like Tabac, The Quarter and the like - they often don't open till later in the morning - more like 10am or 11am, which makes the Full English seem more like a brunch rather than a brekkie. If any folk know of greasy spoon type caffs that are open on a Sunday morning - do drop me a line and give me the heads up.

Musing upon the lack of early Sunday morning breakfast venues I thought I might start trying some of Liverpool's hotels and see what they offered by way of a decent brekkie. It could be quite revealing, especially as the prices will be quite a bit higher than my usual greasy spoon fayre. Imagine it - the Full English being reviewed at Hope Street Hotel by BreakfastLiverpool!! I think there might be a few red faces - just a hunch - hopefully I will be proved wrong.

018 - Tasty Snacks Cafe Update

The Tasty Snacks cafe
258 WOOLTON ROAD, CHILDWALL LIVERPOOL L16 8NE



This was my first breakfastliverpool blog entry and so I felt that it was time for an update - anyway it had been an month or three since my last visit. Well I can report that not much has changed except that the pices have gone up by the odd 10p or 20p, but given there previous modest nature it would be churlish to complain.



Tell me where else you can get a half breakfast that consisted of bacon, sausage, egg, hash brown, fried slice, beans or tomatoes and two toast for a shade over two pounds - I think it was £2.10. Tea is extra but comes in a nice big mug and the serve yourself from the counter condiments are still cafe classics.





What I like about Tasty Snacks breakfast is that it is not only value for money but it always tastes as if it has been freshly cooked and not had that standing around in the bain marie taste and texture - I know its not cooked fresh but at least it does feel likes its been hanging around in the kitchen for hours.



Also, a big plus in the Tasty Snacks Cafe favour is that it is open 7 days a week - 8am Mon to Sat and 9am on a Sunday. It should be given some kind of an award for services to to community.

017 - The Housewives Kitchen

The Housewives Kitchen
97 Edge La, Fairfield, Liverpool, L7 9LQ - 0151 228 0452



Once upon a time I worked but a stones throw from the Housewives Kitchen and it was an occaisonal lunch venue, and I have to say I was always very impressed with it, especially the chips. They do proper chips, made from real potatoes, peeled on the premises and double fried for that crisp outer texture and fluffy inside that make eating them such a pleasure, but be aware - always check they haven't run out as they will then serve the nasty frozen crinkle cut stuff that is indeed a poor substitue. They will do fresh ones if you ask be prepared for a wait - good food takes time.

Anyway this blog entry is dedicated to Russell Davies, the inspiration for BreakfastLiverpool - his book and blog - Eggs, Bacon Chips and Beans (EBCB for short) is legend amongst those of us who have an appreciation of the traditional greasy spoon cafe and the classic foods that they serve. So, in a departure from my usual Full English of bacon, sausage, egg, blackpudding, beans, tomatoes and toast I have opted for a Russell Davies special - an EBCB


A classic EBCB - but its those chips that lifts this plateful from the ordinary to the truely memorable - the best chips I have ever tasted bar none.


These chips are the real thing - never been frozen, peeled on the premises and cooked with pride and care and washed down with a proper mug of tea -


Condiments are well up to cafe standards - red and brown sauce bottles.


In addition to the breakfasts and EBCB the steak pie dinner is to die for and my dining companion that day had the roast beef dinner - another cafe classic

016 - The Seaside Cafe

The Seaside Cafe
63, Marine Promenade, Wallasey, CH45 2JS - 0151 691 2991



New Brighton on the Wirral Penunsula was once THE seaside resort that had a tower that not only rivalled Blackpools, but was taller. However Blackpool has gone from strength to strength and New Brighton is but a shadow of its former self.

Yet when the sun is shining the masses throng to this Merseyside seaside resort and if truth be told there is a definite charm about the place. A walk along the prom, the smell of fish and chips, Fort Perch Rock and of course a proper seaside cafe in the form of The Seaside Cafe.

VFM, quality home cooking is normally assured in places like this and so it was with high expectation that I ordered my breakfast on a cold, crisp but sunny spring morning.

Its a proper cafe with a proper counter in the traditional style of these places


First up let me say the breakfast menu read well - bacon, sausage, blackpudding, fried egg, hash brown, fried slice, beans and tomatoes with tea/coffee and toast for the very reasonable sum of £3.95.


A very good breakfast - the inclusion of a fried slice is always a good sign - forget the health police, this is the stuff of legend. mouthful of proper fried bread, runny egg, salty bacon and spicy blackpudding is but a foretaste of heaven.

Condiment selection is cafe classics - just wish there was a bottle of brown sauce on every table


But the ace in the pack at the Seaside Cafe is without doubt their coffee - look at the sign below - it should be complusory in every seaside cafe - this is what made Britain great and no doubt one of the reason why the Seaside Cafe is still there on New Brighton prom when others have gone.

Breakfasts to Come........

Coming Soon:-
Will be doing a few updates in the next week or so
The former Crackpots2 is now been rebranded the Posh Nosh Catering Company
Also The Tasty Snack Cafe will get a revisit this weekend
May do Lets Eat in Woolton and Neighbourhood, though I feel Neighbourhoods pricing is a tad aggressive.

In the Wirral
Also - please note - as I work in an office block on the corner of Hamilton Square, Birkenhead - there will also be a series of reviews of cafes in the Birkenhead area where a lunch time Full English is the ideal antedote to a morning infront of a computer screen.

Bank Holiday Breakfast Brunch

I know its been a while since this blog has had an entry but you know how it is - life just gets in the way of really important things like a proper English Breakfast. Anyway this May bank holiday just gone I decided to cook a Full English and have a few friends round for brunch so here we have a record of this finest of brekkies

First off some decent sausages and what better ones to use than Debbie and Andrew's Classic Breakfast Pork Sausage - which is now kindly been stocked by Tesco's - much better than their finest range


Black Pudding was from Shaws Farm - available from a farmers market near you - by far the best black pudding I have ever tasted - just make sure you get the full fat version. It comes is nice rectangular slabs with lovely pieces of pork fat for flavour and moisture and a lovely spicy peppery taste.


Next in the pan was field mushroom fried ina mixture of extra virgin olive oil and butter and seasoned with ground black pepper and coarse sea salt


I like my bacon thick so Tesco's mild cure, unsmoked bacon chops were just what the doctor ordered. I chop is a really decent sized thick rasher of bacon and so much better that the normal packets of bacon.




A full English needs fried bread


So my Full English brekkie consisted of:-

Bacon
Sausage
Black Pudding
Fried Bread
Fried Double Yolk Eggs
Fried Field Mushrooms
Grilled Tomatoes
Tinned Plum Tomatoes
Baked Beans

015 - Mia's Cafe

Mia's Cafe
121 St Johns Road, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 - 0151 920 1100



I had been at the Gormley Statues that Saturday morning at the crack of dawn and it had been cold and very windy and it was all beacuse I thought I would get a good image for my photo assignment this week - the theme was Castaway - something that conveyed getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life and showed a certain amount of peace and tranquility.

Well the wind had been blowing hard and was much colder than I had expected and it was now 8:30am and I had been out since 5:45am so was hungry and thirsty.

A Full English was required and so the search was on for a place that did the business and looked as if it did the business well.

My first observation is that not only was Mia's Cafe bright, welcoming and friendly - it was open at 8:30 - the only place that was in that area. The second observation is that its breakfast menu is the bees knees. Have a look below:-



I had the big breakfast - 2 sausages, 2 slices of bacon, slice of ulster fry, slice of liver sausage, fried egg, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms - two rounds of toast and mug of tea or coffee - at the sale of the century price of £4 - fantastic value and a fantastic breakfast. Please note that a fried slice and hash browns are available as optional extras at 35p - I missed this - I feel a decent fried slice makes a Full English.



Condiments are well up to standard and when in comes to the size of sauce bottles - size does matter.......



Mia's Cafe get two thumbs up from the BreakfastLiverpool Blog - Enjoy!!!!!

014 - Posh Nosh Kitchen

Posh Nosh Kitchen
66, Market St, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 5BT 0151 647 3618

Please note - old photo - see update entry


It was taken over last year by the Posh Nosh Catering Company - an established upmarket outside catering company and though prices have remained VFM, there seems to have been a noticeable upgrading of standards of food, cleanliness and customer service. The Eggs Bacon Chips and Beans was of a high standard when I tried it recently but did it do the business when it came to the Full English. Well I can happily report that but for one minor faux pas it would have got an A+ rating but sadley until I try another full English it will have to make do with an A-.



The basic Full English at £3.50 is good, infact on paper or should I say on the plate it looked very good indeed. The usual egg, sausage, bacon, blackpud, beans and tomatoes were all present and correct but what took this breakfast to another level was the addition of a slice of ulster fry as standard. I am a great fan of this wonder of the post industrial society - not all processed food is bad and UF is good stuff indeed. However what spoilt this breakfast was a dry and shrivelled up sausage. I suspected it had been microwaved one too many times but was assured they did not microwave anything so it must have been a very over cooked sausage - I expect it was an uncharacteristic aberration rather than a common fault.



Tea comes in a proper white mug and the condiments are cafe classics. I like this place and will surely report back when I have sampled another Full English

The Full English

So what is the "Full English?"



Is there an agreed standard as to what makes a "Full English?"

For me a breakfast fry up cannot be called a "Full English" unless the following items are present as a bare minimum - bacon, sausage, fried egg, beans and tomatoes.

Bacon, sausage, fried egg, beans and tomatoes are the basic foundation of any true breakfast fry up - but what can you add to this list that would truely guild the lilly. For me the perfect fry up would need to include black pudding, fried bread, and mushrooms. Other items that would enhance a breakfast fry up are hashbrowns, ulster fry, white pudding, lorne (square sausage) sausage and even chips. In more up market places or in establishments that are true to tradition, the addition of items such a kidneys, liver and bubble and squeak would make for a breakfast that is truely fit for a king.

So my ultimate breakfast would consist of the following:-

Grilled Middle Bacon Rind On
Finest Traditional Coarse Pork Sausage
Free Range Eggs Fried
Heinz Baked Beans
Napolina Tinned Plum Tomatoes
Shaws Black Pudding Slabs
Fried Portabello Mushrooms
Fried Bread
Devilled Kidneys
Bubble and Squeek

Have I left anything out? I have yet to visit a place that served such a breakfast - perhaps Simpsons in the Strand or the Savoy Grill.

Anyway have you ever thought what your ultimate Full English would be made up of?

013 - Riverside Diner

Riverside Diner
corner of Waterloo Rd and Vulcan St, Liverpool 0151 236 7070



One Sunday as I was on my way to the Heritage Market, I noticed the Riverside Diner had opened up on Waterloo Rd. What made it stand out from the many caffs along the dock road was that it had a smarter than usual decor and looked as if it was a cut above the rest. So a mental note was made to go and try it at some point in the near future, especially as I thought it might have been run by the same people as the now defunct Riverside cafe up by Sefton St. Alas - it was not the case - the Riverside Diner is a new outfit and it even has its own Mersey Ferry logo - how cool is that.



But what about the brekkie - well there are a number of choices but not being in a mega hungry mood I declined to have the mega breakfast which would have fed the average family of four for a week during the great potato famine. Instead, I went for the standard breakast (still a veritable feast) which consisted of bacon, sausage, egg, black pudding, hash brown, beans, tomatoes, 2 slices of toast and a mug of tea - a complete steal at only £3.



I suspect this breakfast could have been better - it was served very quickly and was a bit on the luke warm side but visually it hit all the right spots and so I will hold fire on a final judgement until another breakfast is sampled

012 - Alley Cats Dining Room

Alley Cats Dining Room
42 Argyle St, Birkenhead.Merseyside CH41 6AF

So finally I get to eat breakfast at the famous Alley Cats Dining Rooms - a café with a 20 year tradition of excellence amongst the Birkenhead cognoscenti. However my mission to day was to sample the delights of their Full English which is rumoured to a bit on the special side.



Located mid way between historic Hamilton Square and the main shopping area of down town Birkenhead, Alley Cats is the haunt of Wirral ladies who lunch and the place where the many office workers who surround Alley Cats in its Argyle St location, especially if they want a bit of a treat or a mid week pick me up after a hard session at the photocopier.



It is always busy at lunch times, both in the seated café area and at the takeaway/sandwich counter. The tone is definitely what would pass for up market in this locale. Men wear jacket and ties and ladies are in their best office wear and at £4.75 for the “Famous All Day Breakfast” – tea extra – the fry up here is not exactly bargain basement – but quality costs and the AC Fully English did not disappoint.



I thoroughly enjoyed a breakfast which consisted of - two eggs (fried in a retro steel ring mould), two above average sausages, black pudding slice, nice bacon that is hidden under the rather tasty fried bread which is nowhere near as heavy as normal, a couple of button mushrooms, baked beans, fried tomato and two rounds of toast. Tea came in a pot and the condiments came is their own individual ramekins – class in a glass as one might say.



Not quite the classic greasy spoon treat of a fry up but Alley Cats Dining Room is a must try for those who enjoy their Full English and as a venue for a mid week lunch when a ham salad on sliced white just doesn’t appeal, then why not have their crusty baguette with Cumberland sausage, caramelised onion and sweet chilli chutney – but that’s another story…………..

011 - Antonio's

Antonios' Cafe and Takeaway
Gateway House, 14-17 Piccadilly South, Piccadilly



Right at the top of the approach to Piccadilly Station – Antonio’s café is one of those places that has survived the test of time because it is in a perfect location for those of us who have to use the rail network for our travel.



There is competition on that stretch of the ramp up to the station entrance in the form of a Costa Coffee and some health juice and salad bar and of course there are all the food and drink concessions in the station concourse itself inc. a M&S Simply Food outlet. But you know something – its very hard to beat a steaming hot mug of tea and a Full English and at £2.80 that beats the living daylights out of places like Costa where a tall skinny latte may come in at the same price.



Service is friendly and very fast - you order and collect your food from the counter. The usual suspects are there – kebabs, burgers, chips with everything and of course the ubiquitous Full English.




Undeniably Antonio’s is a very popular place and there are many good reasons why it deserves to be so (vfm, ambiance, service, speed, convenience) but on the evidence of my breakfast the food could be better. £2.80 for a Full English of bacon, sausage, black pudding, hash brown, fried egg, beans, tomatoes, two toast and a tea or coffee is undeniably the best deal in this part of town but the quality unfortunately was not top draw. At £2.80 and given the location, it would be unreasonable to expect the very best of ingredients, but things that can be achieved with a bit more care would be the likes of hotter food – my breakfast was lukewarm and the toast had only just caught site of a grill or toaster. The breakfast was functional rather than truly enjoyable – but then sometimes functional is all you need. Either way Antonio’s would always be my venue of choice if the alternative was Costa’s or the like.

010 - The Tea House

The Tea House
69 Bold St, Liverpool, L1 4EZ



The Tea House is really quite unique amongst the cafes of Liverpool - if not to most of the places I have been to. Basically it does a mixture of Chinese style fast food (better than a chippy but not quite restaurant standard), basic cafe fayre such as a Full English, a selection of sandwiches and a very comprehensive Hong Kong style beverages menu that includes the famous Hong Kong Tea (tea made with condensed milk)

In the interests of cultural diversity I felt that to eat a Full English in Tea House would be missing the point somewhat So, having perused the menu I decided to opt for a a typical modern Hong Kong breakfast.



So what did I have - I had that Hong Kong classic of French Toast Sandwich filled with Peanut Butter and covered in Golden Syrup and melting butter, this was followed by chilled tofu pudding and it was washed down with a glass of Hong Kong Tea. It was magnificent. It was not the same as a Full English but it its own way it fulfils many of the criteria that makes it a breakfast classic. It is simple, comfortinng food that is taking the concept of comfort food to another level. For those who have come from Hong Kong it is a potent reminder of home in a foreign land where the bacon buttie takes presidence over a bowl of rice porridge (juk) with pigs liver and doughstick (but thats another story)

This breakfast is a fusion of the past and the present, incorprating influences from a number of cultures but bound together with that unique Asian style that is Hong Kong. Like the Full English in Britian, the French Toast sandwich has become a culinary classic in Hong Kong and now you can try in in the Tea House in Liverpool.

009 - Bar Bruno

Bar Bruno
101 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0UG



So finally I get to visit and sample the wares of the legendary Bar Bruno. An overnight coach ride from Liverpool with complusory breakdown and replacement coach meant that I arrived in London just as dawn broke. I was tired, I was hungry and I was not in the best of moods but the thought of eating breakfast at one of the finest greasy spoon cafe's in the land revived my flagging spirits and gave me hope for the future.



It has been said that the outside betrays the tardis like interior - there is a feel to the place that defys description - you need to be there to experience it. The lively banter between the staff and the customers and just the way in which the staff go about their appointed tasks is beautiful to behold.

It speaks of an era that is fast disappearing and Bar Bruno should have a preservation order slapped on it by English Heritage or the National Trust. To eat here is to be help preserve the nations heritage.

The menu is a classic of the London Italian Cafe genre with a mixture of Full English Fry Up and Italian staples such as homemade Lasange and spaghetti with meatballs.



But first up - what about the breakfasts - well Bar Bruno does the Full Englsih proud. As has been previousl noted by others who have dined there - the serving of bacon is generous and very tasty, the sausage is well above average and when accompanied by a fried egg, tomatoes and fried mushrooms - its a hard act to follow. But then maybe my breakfast was in some ways even better.



So what made my breakfast even better - it was served with a portion of bubble and squeak. It was the perfect foil to all that lovely bacon - if I lived in London I think I would be feeding on bubble and squeak on a regular basis accompanied with bacon and lambs liver, which was also on offer. Thinking about it my perfact Bar Bruno breakfast would be bubble and squeak, bacon, lambs liver, mushrooms, beans and scrambled eggs - next time!!!!!!!!

In conclusion Bar Bruno has to be the Mecca of the world of fry ups - its not just the quality of the food or the way in which it is served or the timeless surroundings - it is the complete package. Bar Bruno is truely more than just the sum of its parts - together they create an entirely new entity that you and I have the previlige of experiencing whenever we dine there.

008 - Duke St Bridge Cafe

Duke St Bridge Cafe
Duke St, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 1LG

Once upon a time I believe this place was known as the Sizzling Sausage but in the time that I have worked in Birkenhead it has always been known as the Duke St Bridge Café.



Open 6 days a week from 7am to 3:30pm – it is located on the far side of the infamous Duke St Bridge, amongst the Birkenhead docks with watery views to all sides including a view across to the East Float Warehouse residential conversion development. No doubt future residents will become future customers of the Bridge Café as they feel the need for a proper fry up and don’t want to pollute their des-res rabbit hutches with real smells like frying bacon and sausages and steaming hot pans of baked beans.



Décor is somewhat basic and sterile inside, with two rooms, one of which leads into the kitchen and a TV sits in the corner alongside a table laid out with the classic condiment collection of salt, pepper, red and brown sauce and of course vinegar.

Whilst all the usual standard café fayre is available at lunchtimes – it is the Full English that is the heart and soul of this place. Fry ups come in three sizes – small, large and mega. Prices start at a startlingly good value £2.45 for bacon, sausage, egg, black pudding, hash brown, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, slice of toast and mug of tea or coffee. The large breakfast comes with two of everything and the mega comes with three.



First up – the toast is really nice – thick, crunchy and spread with decent marge, the slice of bacon is generous and the sausage is certainly above average for a greasy spoon – not quite Harrods Gentleman Links but certainly better than the usual bright pink offal tube. It’s a good breakfast and perfect trencherman fayre if you have been up since the crack of dawn photographing the sunrise over the Mersey.

I have had the ubiquitous Pie Dinner here once for my lunch – steak and kidney (is there any other pie), chips, peas and gravy – all good stuff.

The Duke St Bridge Café gets my vote and is certain worth a visit if you are in the area and the views from the Café car park are also pretty good.

007 - Dixie Diner

Dixie’ Diner
280, Cleveland St, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 4JN



Set amongst the light industrial landscape that is the bottom end of Cleveland St in Birkenhead – the Dixie Diner has all the potential of being a great place for a fry up. For a start, the reason it gets a review is it was the only place open before 8am on a weekday. The competition, which is literally on the other side of the road, was still closed as I arrived at 7:40am. It services a manual labour force that expects calories to fuel them up for a days hard graft and steaming hot sweet tea to replenish the sweat of their hard labour.



My breakfast looked and sounded good but I have to admit it was a tad disappointing, but the jury is still out and a second visit may well be needed before final judgement. At £3:60 for 1 sausage, 1 bacon, slice of black, fried egg, beans, tomatoes mushrooms, two slices of toast and a mug tea – vfm was average – I’ve had better I’ve had worse so the saying goes. It was just that everything was just lukewarm rather than piping hot. Still and a Full English is still a Full English.

The Dixie Diner has a serving hatch and a dining area which is actually quite smart and a little bit out of place, but the number of hi-vis jackets present at any one time testifies to the type of clientele this place attracts – and these people generally know a good thing when they eat it. Also, the driver of the Merc in the photo walked in as I left – owner or punter, who knows. Either way it must be a good sign.

006 - The Quarter

The Quarter
7 Falkner St, Liverpool, L8 7PU

It’s not a café, it doesn’t do a Full English and I have a love hate relationship with it - so why does it get a mention - read on..........



I love the fact that it has free Wi-Fi and is open on a Saturday and Sunday morning. I love the tea, coffee and cakes and pastry selection and the fact you can sit and linger over your laptop or paper for hours at a time. I hate the unpredictable service which can range for the superb to the downright unacceptable - both from the kitchen and the front of house – I was once served quite badly burnt toast which should never have even made it out of the kitchen and when I asked for it to be replaced I did not even get the merest hint of an apology, also they don’t have a no smoking policy where the Wi-Fi signal is the strongest.

But that is not the point of this place or this review – free Wi-Fi as you sip a cup of Earl Gray and munch on a slice of thick granary toast spread with unsalted French butter and quality raspberry jam or marmite (the choice is yours) in more than civilised surroundings is not to be sniffed at. Bacon and sausage is available till 12pm and even mushrooms but alas eggs, beans, tomatoes and black pudding is off the menu unless of course you count scrambled eggs with smoke salmon.



It’s a great place to sit with your laptop and write your blog and upload the pictures you have just taken of the latest greasy spoon that you have just visited earlier that morning in the quest for the "Full English" nirvana. Or,if you have more of a life than that – it’s a great place to take your lady friend for breakfast where she won’t feel uncomfortable in her Manolo Blahniks, D&G jeans, latest DKNY top and Vivian Westwood accessories. It is unlikely you will ever see a hi-vis jacket in here - unless it is worn by an architect who is visiting the site of a restoration job on one of the local listed Geogian town houses and his Aston Martin is conveniently parked outside.

005 - Cafe Connect

Café Connect
City Church, Jubilee Drive, Kensington, Liverpool - L7



Not strictly speaking a greasy spoon as it is run by City Church and even more importantly it is only open for two hours a week -10am to 12pm on Saturday morning, which of course is one of the prime times for a Full English. But the main reason for inclusion must be the best value breakfast in town - £1.00 for bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, egg (fried of scrambled), toast and a mug of tea or coffee or a glass of orange juice – yes your eyes do not deceive you - £1.00



This is a fine breakfast and the choice of fried or scrambled egg is a nice touch. If you are in Kensington on a Saturday morning it is not to be missed and if in Liverpool - it is well worth making the effort for a visit

Despite the obvious faith connection and the fact the café is in fact held in one of the large rooms in the church that is used during the week for all kinds of activities that range from language school to mothers and toddlers group - it is still great place for breakfast on a Saturday morning and there is no obvious proselytizing by any of the staff.

For those who are really hungry, the big breakfast consists of 2bacon, 2sausage, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, 2 eggs (fried of scrambled), 2 toast and a mug of tea or coffee and all for the princely sum of £1.60.

Do they make a profit – well they don’t lose money. City Church sees Café Connect as a service to the local community in Kensington where money can be very tight and £1 is quite a lot of money when your weekly income is less than £50.

Other items are also on the breakfast menu and there is a breakfast bar that looks just like one that you would find in an unreconstructed seaside B&B – pricing reflects the value of the breakfasts.



Café Connect is well worth a visit and you may be pleasantly surprised at the experience. Certainly the breakfast is up to scratch and in a non trad-café style environment.

004 - Me Mam's Kitchen

Me Mam's Kitchen
The Old Haymarket, Liverpool L1



Close by to the entrance of the Queensway Tunnel - for many years this place was known as the Hole in the Wall – a stalwart amongst the city centre cafes that survived longer than most. But towards the end you could see that the changing demographic of the city centre was taking its toll. I remember a morning a couple of years ago when I popped in for a mug of tea and a bacon on bread and I got chatting to the then owner and he was reminiscing about past times when the place would have been heaving with early morning diners and he would get daily bread deliveries instead of having to call into the 24 hr Tesco’s on his way in to by their basic no frills loaf.

Trendy cafes like Starbucks and Costa Coffee were offering a younger working crowd their perceived style of a skinny latte with a croissant over the real substance of a “Full English”. But all this was set to change. As the previous owners closed the shutters on the Hole in The Wall so twelve months ago saw the birth of Me Mam’s Kitchen. A fine example of a proper city centre caff, replete with all the trappings of a café style that is now part of history – yet somehow it has been created in the present day.

But first things first – does Me Ma’s Kitchen do the business – does it do the Full English? Rest assured it does – The Full English consists of – 2 Bacon. 2 Sausage, 2 Eggs, 2 slices black pudding, beans, fried tomatoes, two slices of toast and a proper mug of tea - all for the princely sum of £3.40, if you want a mug of coffee the price goes up to £3.60. As I could not face a Full English I had the half English which was one of everything and a choice of either beans or tomatoes - £2.60 inc a mug of tea.



Me Mam’s Kitchen is an oasis in a dessert of trendy coffee shops and sandwich bars where bread has strange names like foccacia and baguette instead of white of brown and look at the tables and chair – matching chequered sticky back plastic – how cool and retro is that. The wall are decorated with the usual Beatles photos and famous road signs like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields etc. and in homage to Russell Davies EBCB - I include a shot of the absolute classic table condiment selection.

003 - The Redbeck

The Redbeck Motel and Cafe
Doncaster Rd, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RR



Not in Liverpool, but well worthy of a mention in any guide to the great British fry-up. A legendary local reputation and open round the clock, 7 days a week long before the phrase 24/7 became part of the English language.

The clientel arrive in anything from a scooter to a Bentley and range from whole families out for a weekend fry up treat to workmen in hi-vis jackets fuelling up for a hard days manual labour. The menu includes steaks and mixed grills but the spiritual heart of the place is the great culinary institution of the "Full English."



I have only ever been to the Redbeck mid morning but would love to eat a breakfast there at 2am in the morning or at the crack of dawn with a beautiful sunrise outside the window.

Anyway back to the important stuff - the pride and joy of the Redbeck is the Breakfast Special



Two eggs, two slices of black pudding, two slices of bacon, sausage, fried bread, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and a portion of chips - oh and don't forget the slices of bread and butter - a veritiable mountain of a meal - quality, quantity and value for money - the mantra of all decent cafes the nation over.



However, just to show that the breakfast can be customised if required - on my last visit to the Redbeck a full fry up seemed a bit over the top for me so instead I opted for black pudding with two exquistely poached eggs on two slices of toast. A class breakfast - the soft creamy yolks of the poached eggs were just the most perfect accompaniment for the rich and spicey black pudding. - heaven.



It may not be in Liverpool but it is well worth a detour if you are anywhere near the area.

002 - The Riverside Cafe

RIP - It is my sad duty to report the demise of the Riverside Cafe in this location but I do believe it has been re-incarnated as the Riverside diner about a mileand a half further down the road - a report will follow

The Riverside Cafe
23 Stanhope Street, Liverpool L8 5RF



The closed shutters don't make it look very welcoming but as they say beauty is but skin deep.

Just off Sefton St, opposite the entrance to the Liverpool Marina complex and just down the road from the famous Cains Brewery and the Brewery Tap pub - the Riverside Cafe is not the most salubrious of places and from the outside - like some many a good cafe - the signs are not promising. Expectations are not much improved upon actually walking into the place but the Riverside is certainly one of those places where reality exceeds expectation.

I had been recommended this place by a former work colleague who said it served the best breakfast fry up she had ever tasted - so despite my mis-givings about the environment - I gave this place a try and boy was she right. This was one of the best breakfasts I have come across in Liverpool and though the exact price eludes me, I am pretty sure I got change from £4.00



The kitchen obviously takes some pride in its breakfasts and the way it is presented. The standard breakfast includes - two sausages, two slices of bacon, a thick slice of black pudding, a fried egg, tomatoes, beans and fried mushrooms. Properly cooked and served piping hot and nicely presented on the plate, which was covered to the rim.

As far as I know it is open Mon to Sat, and given the pretty basic surroundings, don't go in your Sunday best - however, you will be treated to one of the better fry ups the city of culture can offer!

001 - Tasty Snacks Cafe

The Tasty Snacks cafe
258 WOOLTON ROAD, CHILDWALL LIVERPOOL L16 8NE



So why does the Tasty Snacks Cafe have the dubious honour of being the first place to be reviewed in the BreakfastLiverpool blog. The main reasons are - I have a photo of a recent breakfast, I have a regular monthly Saturday morning breakfast get together there and last but not least, breakfasts are great value for money and the quality is good. It is open seven days a week.

Located in the middle of a row of shops along Woolton Rd, on the same side of the road as and close to the infamous Half Way House, the Tasty Bite has been there since the year dot and provides a welcome change to the local college canteen to the students who study there. However students are not its only customers, locals and local workers are often seen sat down with their hi-vis jackets etc tucking into mountainous fry-ups and steaming mugs of tea.



My breakfast of choice is the small breakfast which is probably the best value breakfast in the land at £2.00. It can be customised but my usual configuration is bacon, sausage, egg, 1/2 slice fried bread, hashbrown, beans, tomatoes and two rounds of buttered toast. A mug of tea comes in at 60p extra. Adding a couple of slices of black pudding won't break the bank and can lift a breakfast to another level!

Breakfast in Liverpool

Inspired by that titan amongst writers of the greasy spoon - Russell M Davies and authour of Eggs, Bacon Chips and Beans - this blog is a personal and I emphasise personal tribute to the great and unique culinary colossus that is the "English Breakfast" - also known as the "full english" and "a proper fry up".

Most of the places featured will based in or around Liverpool but cafes of special interest from further field will get a mention - eg the Redbeck in Wakefield

The plan is to review one cafe per week - a cafe breakfast will be had on a Saturday morning and the blog updated by the end of the weekend - initially there may be a flurry of reviews just to get things started. Occasionally an entry may be diverted to other breakfast cultures other than the traditional fry up - which of course is what we need in these times of multi-cultural diversity and community cohesion.

Venues will range from the most basic of greasy spoon with no upper limit - all that is required is that they serve a decent breakfast.