Quay Ingredient - Brilliant Breakfast under the Bridge

With the classic greasy spoon trade gradually being extinguished in the city centre (RIP Gourmet Grub) and many more fancy pants breakfast bistros taking their place, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get a proper big English breakfast, let alone one of high quality; and typically you would have to travel to The Butterfly Cabinet in Heaton to get such a fix. But there’s a cheeky little café on the Quayside that goes by the name of Quay Ingredient that has everything you’d ever want for breakfast, and more.

Despite being a tiny venue, Maggie, hostess at Quay Ingredient will try her best to fit you in somewhere. And even if you do have to wait a little, the outstanding plates offered here are definitely worth the wait. The charm of this place resonates both through their friendly service and encompassing breakfast menu. They offer numerous eggs benedict/Florentine type dishes that are perfectly acceptable choices and delicious of course. But for those people that know what that want in life, the fearless destroyers of food - a fully loaded Quay Ingredient full English is the only thing that will satisfy your lust for pork. And it’s a very well crafted breakfast, a great size and involves some high quality components (particularly good sausages). It doesn’t stop there either, Quay Ingredient has been a purveyor of some brilliant tea well before those Quilliam kids showed up, offering perfectly complimentary brews for your breakfast. They even serve protein shakes for the amino acid junks, proving their constant effort to keep everyone happy.

As well as nailing breakfast, Quay Ingredient also serves up some brilliant sandwiches, cakes, pastries, toasties and coffee…all the kind of things that make greeders happy, and best of all, none of which are served with a that side of snobbery that many high-end cafes make compulsory. So, if you’re looking for that perfect breakfast or lunch fix, delivered by the friendliest café in the city, there is simply only one solution. Forsake that vulgar, soggy, greasy breakfast sandwich with questionable sausage that fat Pam’s greasy spoons is trying to sell you…and get yourself to Quay Ingredient for the real deal. 84%

The Scrumpy Willow And Singing Kettle - Veggie Haven

The Fat Spoon loves originality. And this alternative little café on Percy Street definitely has it by the bucket load, the main aim of their game being able to cater for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-dodgers in addition to the omnivore masses. The setting is quaint and rustic, but does have a warming feel to it...looking a little like mystics meg's dining room versus your Grandma's house. Despite it's dainty size, you can usually find a table amongst the hippie types floating about, usually discussing tea leaves in far too much details. But this theme of relaxed randomness continues with their menu, which covers breakfast options, Eastern and Indian dishes, as well as contemporary sandwiches, some interesting fish entries and some pretty perfect home baking.

It's all about homemade bait here, and they do what they can to make as much of it as possible on this tiny site. And largely it turns out pretty nice, the baked goods in particular are outstanding. They are the masters of bread and cake. Bow down and kiss the free-range, anti-government, team-nature, organic-lovers ring. And once you've tried their brilliantly rich cakes, scones and treats...you may well follow suit. They've got breakfast covered pretty well too, although portions aren't very big, you can really appreciate the wholesome nature of their takes on classic breakfasts. As said, there is plenty of choice for vegetarians, including some chunky dhal, ever glorious - grilled halloumi and of course falafel. Although on one occasion, the falafel let the side down. What should have been a patty of fried chickpea and coriander goodness tasted more like a ball of desiccating and bland gram flour shame. Don't skimp on the basics Scrumpy!

The service is largely very friendly, although failing to ask how the food was, is always something that will let the experience down. A restaurant should always be proud of their food and should always have the customer's review at the very forefront of their mind. This makes The Scrumpy a rather mixed bag nuts ... probably not dissimilar to many of the clientele. All-in-all it's worth donning your dreadlocks, bohemian clothing and book about 'igniting your free spirit', because The Scrumpy Willow and Singing Kettle has got some organic delights to behold. Particularly if you fear meat like gingers fear the sun, have a serious affliction with all things gluten or just love a bit of good old-fashioned afternoon tea and cake. 71%