Greasy Spoon Cafes

[PeterY]

I actually prefer a greasy caff but not everyday, over a posh pub. I'm Mr food Fussy (eggs have to be avoided) and I like the cafes that I can build my own breakfast.

 

[RailWonderer]

One thing I cannot stand is traditional greasy spoon cafes.

To me, I can think of nothing worse than sitting in a busy terraced building with a dirty beige "Jimmy's Caf' " sign on the front eating greasy thick-cut fatty bacon in cheap rolls with milky tea and an industrial-sized bottle of wholesaler ketchup on the counter.

I find the atmosphere of them very depressing and the food quality to be dire. Yet, it would seem that they're often rather well-patronised if ever I pass by... and I'd love to know what it is that people enjoy about it.

Do you like greasy spoon cafes? If you do, I'd love to know what you like about them. Please do leave a comment

Personally, I'd rather pop into Bills or Cote for brunch or something, but I'd prefer even a Tesco meal deal, or hunger, to a trip to a greasy spoon.

This could have only been said by a young person. People (more older people) like greasy spoons because of the portion value for money, and for the nostalgia factor as well. Many shut down in the 90s, 2000s when we saw the rise of chains. People also like them as opposed to chains that provide a substandard product and overcharge.

That said I would only go to one if I was told by word of mouth it was a very good one and I suspect that's why most people go to them.

 

[yorksrob]

Bit like how I know my local Chinese is a good 'un because it's where the cops from down the road get their dinner

Indeed !

 

[hexagon789]

In Wales they have to display food hygiene ratings outside, which is useful. I'm not sure if that applies elsewhere.

It's a requirement in Wales and Northern Ireland, I believe a similar requirement was in the process of becoming law in England but COVID may have stalled the parliamentary process on that. The Scottish system is not compulsory and I can't see any suggestions of any move to make it compulsory being in the pipeline.

A good tip is to try and go to somewhere frequented by truckers and builders. Those guys will expect a decent feed.

Bit like how I know my local Chinese is a good 'un because it's where the cops from down the road get their dinner

Very similar to when you go abroad - they always say look at where the locals eat, it won't be such a rip-off/tourist trap and the food should be decent enough if they are eating it!

 

[Drogba11CFC]

A good tip is to try and go to somewhere frequented by truckers and builders. Those guys will expect a decent feed.

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

 

[yorksrob]

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

I should imagine they'd need the sustinance after firing a steam locomotive.

 

[IanD]

I actually prefer a greasy caff but not everyday, over a posh pub. I'm Mr food Fussy (eggs have to be avoided) and I like the cafes that I can build my own breakfast.

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.

 

[D6130]

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

Although surrounded by modern, trendy and expensive eateries, there are two traditional - but very clean and good value - cafes in Hebden Bridge. The first is the excellent cafe in the former parcels office on the down platform (2), which does excellent breakfast rolls with various ingredients and also the vegetarian equivalents. They also grind their own coffee in an old-fashioned red machine and the service is super-friendly. Northern train crews sometimes phone their orders ahead from Manchester and pick them up on arrival. The second is about ten minutes walk from the station - on the main A646 diagonally opposite the Picture House - and is called 'Cafe ont' Front'. the two friendly, hard-working ladies there produce bountiful breakfasts - again including vegetarian options - at very reasonable prices.

 

[Mike99]

I've written before somewhere about the 66 Cafe in Eversholt Street, Euston, its parallel to platform 1 and about 200 meters along from the steps as you leave the station, on the right hand side towards Camden Town. Breakfasts all day and lunch meals at reasonable prices they used to open till mid-evening as well, but possibly don't (mid-evening) at the present time. From Cosham Station walking away from the High Street is another first class Cafe, clean not greasy and value for money. Has the Cafe on Worksop Station platform re-opened? Another first class breakfast. As a born and bred Londoner, I thinking about Fried Bread, Black Pudding and Square Sausages, only one of those items can really sit on a plate in a caff.

 

[Haywain]

the 66 Cafe in Eversholt Street, Euston,

Or even the 666, or Treble Six Cafe.

 

[Mike99]

Lets stay friends Haywain​

​

but:​

​

DOUBLE SIX, London - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone ...​

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk › ... › London Restaurants



66 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1DA England. 0.3 miles from St. Pancras International Station. +44 20 7387 0262 · Improve this listing.


"Good food and prices and the staff were super friendly!"


"Great breakfast and coffee, well worth a few mins walk from Euston"


"Foods hot and tasty and service fairly quick"

 

[yorksrob]

Oh god, the builder cafe is exactly the type I was thinking of in my opening post!

Truly, these are the best in my experience

The one thing I really dislike in cafes is where they re-use an old Heinz squeezy ketchup bottle to the point where the label looks all dirty and horrible.

I really don't mind cafes using non-standard condiment brands, just use a clean bottle (preferably plastic and shaped like a tomato ).

 

[Haywain]

Lets stay friends Haywain​

​

but:​

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

 

[A Challenge]

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.

 

[yorksrob]

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.

 

[Mike99]

I stayed at a B&B in Inverness while about to do Kyle and Thurso on the same day, the owner brought my breakfast in and said he was sorry I was a rasher of bacon short, but put an extra sausage and fried bread on to make up for it, nothing fairer than that

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

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.

Decent places do that as well.

 

[Ediswan]

Considering builder's cafes. This was some years ago. The person in front of me asked for four pints of tea. They were given four milk bottles full of tea, with rolled-up carboard in the bottle necks.

 

[Haywain]

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.

Actually, as someone who has to deal with allergies, I find they tend to be a bit mixed on this.

 

[johntea]

There is a great one in my town, the only problem is I struggle to visit it emotionally without bringing back childhood memories of my grandma taking me every week as it literally hasn't changed a single bit since then! (the tables remind me of being sat in a bingo hall!) They do breakfast and dinner for about the same price then have knocked off for the day by around 3pm!

We also used to go to a rather nice bistro again that was stuck in time and you certainly earnt your meal as it was up some very steep stairs above a shop! (disabled access was problematic due to this sadly)

Maybe just 90s childhood nostalgia but things were so simple back then, there certainly weren't 100,000 arty farty coffee shops within a mile radius anyway! Although one thing that certainly has improved is the fact you can't smoke inside these buildings any more as I'm sure they used to have a smoking area which of course just wafted across to the non smoking area!

 

[Jimini]

Maybe just 90s childhood nostalgia but things were so simple back then, there certainly weren't 100,000 arty farty coffee shops within a mile radius anyway! Although one thing that certainly has improved is the fact you can't smoke inside these buildings any more as I'm sure they used to have a smoking area which of course just wafted across to the non smoking area!

All about the Wimpy restaurants with those disposable tin ashtrays on the table for me, back in the '90s in west London! What a childhood we had eh

 

[yorksrob]

All about the Wimpy restaurants with those disposable tin ashtrays on the table for me, back in the '90s in west London! What a childhood we had eh

Aah, In love Wimpy !

 

[Jimini]

Aah, In love Wimpy !

Still got one relatively locally, up in Loughton One of my guilty pleasures from time to time when out and about!

 

[Ashley Hill]

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

 

[GusB]

Oh god, the builder cafe is exactly the type I was thinking of in my opening post!

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?

 

[yorksrob]

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

I've had some good breakfasts in Sullivans

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

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.

 

[dk1]

Truly, these are the best in my experience

The one thing I really dislike in cafes is where they re-use an old Heinz squeezy ketchup bottle to the point where the label looks all dirty and horrible.

I really don't mind cafes using non-standard condiment brands, just use a clean bottle (preferably plastic and shaped like a tomato ).

I always have sachets of Heinz ketchup & HP in my rucksack along with a tube of Colmans English mustard.

 

[yorksrob]

I always have sachets of Heinz ketchup & HP in my rucksack along with a tube of Colmans English mustard.

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

 

[dk1]

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

Only other brown sauce I don’t mind is M&S sachets. They have a little bit of a kick.