Greasy Spoon Cafes

[43096]

If you're sufficiently wealthy, why would you bother to visit such low-class establishments?

Because you might like the food? It may be low cost, but there’s something about an old fashioned fry-up.

 

[eoff]

Would that include 'square sausage' ? Perfectly fine on a breakfast plate, but something of a surprise the first time I encountered it.

The first time I went for a breakfast sausage roll (bread based) in Glasgow they asked if I wanted Red or Brown, was not sure if this was a test of how local you were.

I like the diners in the USA that do reasonable (or too large) breakfasts.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes, it always makes sense to carry some English mustard !

I adore mustard with just about everything, but particularly like wholegrain

 

[baz962]

Sullivan’s outside Penzance station is excellent. The only downside is you leave smelling of hot oil.
I had a nasty experience that put me off greasy spoons for a while in the taxi cafe at Bristol TM. I asked for a sausage sandwich. The employee put out her cigarette,took my money,put two pre-cooked bangers in the microwave,wiped some marge onto some bread then cut the sausages in half and inserted them between the bread. All done with her unwashed nicotine stained fingers. Yum

So did you eat it or bin it.

 

[Dai Corner]

I have a really sore tongue due to having to bite it so hard. As I said earlier, you're clearly not the target market as far as "greasy spoons" are concerned.

This is as polite as I can possibly make it without falling foul of forum rules: don't visit "working class" establishments if you don't want to mix with the "great unwashed". Having read many of your posts about "first class this" and "first class that", it's quite clear that you're not comfortable mixing with the plebs. If you're sufficiently wealthy, why would you bother to visit such low-class establishments?

Gosh, no, I think you’ve misunderstood the point of my post. This isn’t 2017 where young and immature, I might have tried to wind anyone up. There’s absolutely nothing to do with class related to my thoughts here, I just find the atmosphere of these cafes really rather dated and miserable. That’s why I dislike them, not for any unpleasant prejudiced reasons.

If you want the same meal in posher surroundings, you can have it. At a price. As Time Outt report

But what would pay for your important breakfast fry-up? A fiver? A tenner? How about 20 quid? How about 38 quid? That last one is apparently the most expensive full english you can currently scoff in London, according to some new research. The fry-up at both the Amaranto Restaurant at Four Seasons and The Promenade at The Dorchester both arrive with the eye-watering price tag of £38. Fry-ups at The Oval Restaurant at The Wellesley, The Foyer at Claridge’s, Thames Foyer at The Savoy, Cut at 45 Park Lane, the Lobby Bar and the Goring Dining Room all clock in at £30 or more. You might notice a pattern here. Most of these babies are in restaurants attached to fancy-pants hotels, generally in or near Mayfair. So they’re aimed at a very particular kind of captive audience. Not scaffolders, basically.

 

[yorksrob]

I adore mustard with just about everything, but particularly like wholegrain

It certainly adds a bit of zing to any meal.

 

[gg1]

Gosh, no, I think you’ve misunderstood the point of my post. This isn’t 2017 where young and immature, I might have tried to wind anyone up. There’s absolutely nothing to do with class related to my thoughts here, I just find the atmosphere of these cafes really rather dated and miserable.

Where you see 'dated and miserable' I see 'simple and unpretentious' which for me is part of the appeal of them.

 

[yorksrob]

For "dated and miserable" I would say "traditional". And i'd take that over trendy and modern anyday !

 

[Busaholic]

Sullivan’s outside Penzance station is excellent. The only downside is you leave smelling of hot oil.
I had a nasty experience that put me off greasy spoons for a while in the taxi cafe at Bristol TM. I asked for a sausage sandwich. The employee put out her cigarette,took my money,put two pre-cooked bangers in the microwave,wiped some marge onto some bread then cut the sausages in half and inserted them between the bread. All done with her unwashed nicotine stained fingers. Yum

Living in Penzance and having lived in three places in South Bristol, I feel I can make some comments:-
1) Sullivan's is okay, but not as good as a few years ago, though I've not had a cooked breakfast there for twenty years or so.
2) Bristol in general has, or had, the dodgiest takeaways and cafes imaginable, particularly from Temple Meads south and southwestwards. I think all of the worst six fish and chip shops I ever visited were in Bristol, not great when you're an impecunious student, as I was. Expect to pay extra for the nicotine flavour.

 

[Ashley Hill]

So did you eat it or bin it.

I binned it and never went back.

 

[D365]

Gosh, no, I think you’ve misunderstood the point of my post. This isn’t 2017 where young and immature, I might have tried to wind anyone up. There’s absolutely nothing to do with class related to my thoughts here, I just find the atmosphere of these cafes really rather dated and miserable. That’s why I dislike them, not for any unpleasant prejudiced reasons.

You've not found the right cafes then. For example, there are some fantastic cafes and sandwich shops in the immediate vicinity of Derby station.

 

[Box]

Can you recommend anything similar in the vicinity of Victoria station? I’m due to visit one of my company’s sister offices in that area, and could use a quick fresh-cooked lunch in that style

I used to use the Regency Cafe quite often when I worked in Victoria, about a 10 minute walk towards Millbank, good quality traditional greasy spoon

 

[GusB]

Gosh, no, I think you’ve misunderstood the point of my post. This isn’t 2017 where young and immature, I might have tried to wind anyone up. There’s absolutely nothing to do with class related to my thoughts here, I just find the atmosphere of these cafes really rather dated and miserable. That’s why I dislike them, not for any unpleasant prejudiced reasons.

I'm willing to accept the fact that you didn't intend your posts to come across as all pretentious and snobby, but I'm sorry to say that it's exactly how your posts did come across. You really ought to be more careful with your wording.

You could have considered the wording of the poll question too - "Yes, perfect for some old English "grub". The UK is not just England, and I make no apologies for reminding you of that fact.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, you’re right, I’m wrong. I’ve been calling it the treble six for years and nobody’s corrected me! Until now. But not going to fall out over it

Probably should be called the 666 given the other shops on that road.

 

[D365]

You could have considered the wording of the poll question too - "Yes, perfect for some old English "grub". The UK is not just England, and I make no apologies for reminding you of that fact.

To be honest, I think the poll is missing another option. I wouldn’t go to a ”greasy spoon” for a full cooked breakfast or dinner. But a grilled sandwich or breakfast roll? Definitely.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

To be honest, I think the poll is missing another option. I wouldn’t go to a ”greasy spoon” for a full cooked breakfast or dinner. But a grilled sandwich or breakfast roll? Definitely.

I prefer smashed avocado, flaky sea salt, cracked black pepper and a runny poached egg on sourdough to a heavy fry up myself. I’m cringing as I admit it, as that’s rather conformative to millennial stereotypes

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

^Oh, and crispy streaky bacon on the side, preferably a little too well done. I need a bit of protein.

 

[LowLevel]

The King of Cafes used to be the 24/7 taxi drivers cafe outside Liverpool Lime Street. You could go in at 0550, mix with drunks, students, taxi drivers and railway staff and have a decent fry up with nice strong tea. It looked grotty but the food was lovely and the ladies who worked there took no messing but were pleasant enough. San San Chinese next door was another institution along the same lines and their home made chilli sauce was legendary. We used to have an evening job where a train arrived and waited an hour for the next one to couple up and then went back together. The driver/guard for the first train would take orders for the crew of the second train and keep it warm on a cab heater. Then the first crew would work the train back whilst the second had their dinner.

Now just a memory with student flats on the site.

 

[John Luxton]

I avoid greasy spoons like the plague ever since I was a child when my parents had a very bad experience at a "The Sycamore Cafe" at Prees Heath near Whitchurch.

We were driving back from Cornwall to Liverpool late 1960s perhaps early 70s on a Sunday and it was getting late.

Back then it was much more difficult to find places open for meals and my mother did not want to prepare a meal when we reached home.

My father who had been a bit of a biker in the 50s before he married indicated that that he knew a good café that was bound to be open at Pres Heath.

Well "The Sycamore" as it was known then was a typical old style transport café. It was filthy! Grubby tiles and servery, basic tables etc and a horrible pervading smell of bad fat.

The sauce and ketchup bottles on the tables didn't have lids presumably to stop them being stolen - that is the one thing that I recall vividly because they were also dirty with congealed sauce down the necks.

My father ordered an all day breakfast and it was vile. My mother was fuming whilst my father was trying to make out it wasn't that bad. I doubt it would have scored anymore than Zero if the current food premises inspection system had been operational back then.

When we returned to the car there was almighty row. My parents seldom argued but my mother blew her top and I ended up joining in too.

Things eventually calmed down - my father realised he had made a mistake and "The Sycamore" became a standing family joke.

I occasionally pass that way myself and whilst I note the Sycamore has gone there is another transport cafe on the site now called The Raven.

After the Sycamore experience I have never been to a greasy spoon!

 

[XAM2175]

I prefer smashed avocado, flaky sea salt, cracked black pepper and a runny poached egg on sourdough to a heavy fry up myself. I’m cringing as I admit it, as that’s rather conformative to millennial stereotypes

^Oh, and crispy streaky bacon on the side, preferably a little too well done. I need a bit of protein.

Just move to Melbourne already

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just move to Melbourne already

I would love to, but as my mum’s family are all based in Perth and Sydney (and Bolton ), I guess I’d be a traitor ahaha.

 

[theblackwatch]

I like a fried breakfast about once every 3 or 4 months, and the best fried breakfasts come from what are characterised as (but aren't really) greasy spoons. Bridge Cafe in Todmorden is good - quick and cheerful service, inexpensive, and happy to substitute items on the menu so I don't have to endure the hell that is eating tinned tomatoes. And its only a couple of hundred yards from the station too

That's one worth knowing about - one things that does put me off such places is when they have 'NO SWAPS' written on the fixed item menus.

The station Cafe in Alton is frequented by Watercress Line volunteers.

Similarly AJ's cafe in Kidderminster, its where you'll find many of the SVR diesel volunteers. Stonking value breakfast, even if you just have a bacon or sausage butty, it's a doorstop one which will fill you up.

I'm wondering, would the excellent station buffet at Huddersfield, where you can get a good fry-up or sandwich, with bacon cooked as you want it, be too lower class for @TT-ONR-NRN ? I know I'm not the only forum member to have frequented the establishment. Proper honest good value food, instead of the dull chain stuff (offering a croissant/danish pastry plus a milky coffee given a posh name) at most stations for what you should pay for a full breakfast.

Looking forward to my breakfast at Crewe Truck Stop next Saturday.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That's one worth knowing about - one things that does put me off such places is when they have 'NO SWAPS' written on the fixed item menus.

Similarly AJ's cafe in Kidderminster, its where you'll find many of the SVR diesel volunteers. Stonking value breakfast, even if you just have a bacon or sausage butty, it's a doorstop one which will fill you up.

I'm wondering, would the excellent station buffet at Huddersfield, where you can get a good fry-up or sandwich, with bacon cooked as you want it, be too lower class for @TT-ONR-NRN ? I know I'm not the only forum member to have frequented the establishment. Proper honest good value food, instead of the dull chain stuff (offering a croissant/danish pastry plus a milky coffee given a posh name) at most stations for what you should pay for a full breakfast.

Looking forward to my breakfast at Crewe Truck Stop next Saturday.

I’ve told you my dislike of greasy spoon cafes is not due to class

 

[route101]

I'll agree with those who don't like tinned tomatoes. Normally there's a choice of baked beans instead in the cafes I frequent. I have to disagree with those who like fried bread though; toast every time for me. The best places will offer thick brown toast and not the thin white stuff.

You do have to be choosy though. If in an unfamiliar place I choose the busiest as it's likely to be the best. In Wales they have to display food hygiene ratings outside, which is useful. I'm not sure if that applies elsewhere.

Food hygiene ratings are displayed in England but not Scotland. I did see a Papa Johns with a 2 star rating, enough to put you off.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2022 ==

I'm not a fan of the full English but I do like Breakfast rolls, more of a Scottish thing I gather. A tattie scone and black pudding roll.

 

[david1212]

Round here, most pubs have priced themselves out of the market for me (with the exception of a few chains). Lunchtime you want something quick and cheap - not a £15/20+ gourmet burger with brioche bun and triple cooked chips. Give me a decent caf any day over global corporate coffee and muffin shops.

Exactly. When paying that much I want something rather different to what amounts to a dressed up offering from McD's, BK or an independent or indeed their other offerings.

When on holiday for a week or more two meals a day adds up. One needs to be budget but given the option more than a supermarket meal deal.

One thing I do like about independent greasy spoon cafes is that even if they have a choice of set breakfasts on the menu they mostly seem perfectly happy to swap out the egg and beans for something else (I don't like either) when having a cooked breakfast - haven't been to one in a while though unfortunately.

Indeed. If they're not prepared to do reasonable substitutions, they'll have to substitute me with another customer.

Going back ~40 years a certain Little Chef decided to charge for swapping a sausage for an egg. Even if the trade price of the sausage was more at their prices hardly a noticeable dent in the profit. It cost that branch what had been several visits a year for breakfast and after while occasional use of other branches they became last resort.

 

[XAM2175]

I would love to, but as my mum’s family are all based in Perth and Sydney (and Bolton ), I guess I’d be a traitor ahaha.

Yeah but Sydney's a dud place to live, and as a fellow smashed avo + poached egg + sourdough + bacon connoisseur I can emphatically confirm that Melbourne is a tasty tasty place to be a turncoat

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yeah but Sydney's a dud place to live, and as a fellow smashed avo + poached egg + sourdough + bacon connoisseur I can emphatically confirm that Melbourne is a tasty tasty place to be a turncoat

Good place to tram bash too, but don’t let me digress -> are the traditional Greasy Spoon Cafes we talk about unique to the UK?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I think the "baseline" was a wooden shack at Dagenham Dock , by the crossing - and after a tough meeting with Ford and being starving - went there for a beef and onion pie and chips in takeaway mode , intending to consume said on a typical slam door 302 unit towards Barking.

Said "meal" - ended up on the platform as the grease saturated brown paper bag collapsed , to the joy of the gulls. (and probably the local rat population - which some one else said lived under the floor of the "shack")

As I said before , standards have risen - you can get a decent omlette and chips these days......

 

[Ediswan]

I'll voice support for The Silver Ball Cafe at Reed on the A10 (south of Royston). Transport Cafe during the week. On a Sunday, mostly cyclists, motorcyclists, and classic cars. Also does (or certainly used to) a very generous Sunday roast. Beware of potholes in the car park.

 

[AlterEgo]

Good place to tram bash too, but don’t let me digress -> are the traditional Greasy Spoon Cafes we talk about unique to the UK?

No, you get greasy spoon type places all over the Anglosphere. It’s just a name for a low-budget caff which serves large portions of sloppy greasy food. The USA has loads and it’s where the term originated. There are not many in Australia and NZ though.