A greasy fry
up. But who put that fruit on my plate!
 |
|
There's a good
selection of cafes and breakfast bars in Nottingham.
The intrepid Nottm Trent Uni Platform team took up the arduous
task of sampling vast amounts of bacon and eggs to find the perfect
platter.
Venues sampled:
| Breakers
Breakfast |
There’s
a good selection of breakfast items at this little café.
There’s all the usual. You’ve got a choice of six
but unfortunately the tea or coffee has to be paid for separately.
Obviously
this place gets rammed at peak times but what do you expect
as it’s situated opposite the Boots library. It’s
packed between 10.00 - 11.00am and is constantly busy thereafter.
It’s a decent size for what you pay but the breakfast does
come on a tacky paper plate and is accompanied by equally tacky
plastic cutlery. It’s quite annoying when the knife keeps
breaking but I guess that’s to keep the overheads down.
The quality of the items is debatable. The eggs and bacon weren't
cooked to our taste. One of the saving graces is the sausage;
they’re actually really nice. As far as value goes the
breakfast costs a little over £2 if you include your coffee.
It’s an okay option as far as a quick breakfast with your
mates goes but there really is no space for a group bigger than
four. Having said that at least you can have a fag when you’re
done. |
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
HH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH |
| The
Union Breakfast (City site) |
The café at the Student Union down the stairs (not to
be confused with the Glo Bar) is ideal for breakfasts.
You never have to queue long or sometimes not at all. After
a lecture a good group of us will go down.
As there are plenty of large tables it never poses a problem.
There are a good variety of items available, the usual suspects.
There’s even the option for veggie sausages so no one feels
left out. You can seven items you can have here including your
coffee all for the measly sum of £1.75.
You’re restricted to only two meat items but that’s
standard practice really. However, it’s great value and
the dinner ladies (if that’s what they’re called)
are always friendly.
The general size of the breakfast is excellent as is the quality
of the food although the sausages aren’t as nice as Breakers
(Keith Chegwins) but everything else makes up for that.
This is really the only place for any self-respecting student
to dine, as it’s cheap and a decent sized meal. |
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
HHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHHH |
| Sylvia’s
refectory |
£1.75
will get you a seven item breakfast at Sylvia’s the same as
the dinner at city site, fantastic value and the perfect start
to the day.
I know a large number of people plan their day around breakfast
at Sylvia’s, it makes 9.00am starts far more bearable.
Last year saw the introduction of the two meat item rule, a
shame and a focal talking point for regular dinners for some
time. In fact a small sized rally took place soon after the
new rule started, where staff and dinners were pelted with large
plates of undercooked bacon and balls of gristle.
For the price you can’t complain.
Unfortunately, Sylvia’s loses out in the sausage stakes, known
among Cliftoners as the ‘Keith Chegwin’, I will leave it to
your imagination, they are small, pink and a little tasteless
anyhow.
The seven items includes a drink which is real bonus. The eggs
can vary from perfect to very average, but usually they hold
their own. Hash browns are always a favourite and two counts
as one item which excites the hungry.
Sylvia’s is probably the blue stripy breakfast, no frills but
exceptional value. |
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
H
HHHHH
HHH
HHH
HHHHH |
| The
Southbank Bar |
Not
the most obvious destination for hungry, hung-over students
on a quest for a fry-up, the Southbank Bar is a little sleeker
than your average greasy spoon.
Situated on the bank of the River Trent, next to the Forest
football ground, it is a little out of the way for most people
(although it is on the main bus route).
The Southbank is mainly a sports bar where you can kick back
and watch your favourite team on the big screen. A perfect reason
to head down there for a big breakfast and stock up on energy
in preparation for the big game.
Depending on just how much you had to drink last night and what
state your body’s in you can choose between comfy sofas, chairs
and barstools. If your stomach can take it, go for the Big Breakfast,
a bargain at £3.
For this small sum you will get bacon, sausages, fried eggs,
beans, tomato, mushrooms, black pudding (yuck!) and toast. All
the essential ingredients for a successful fry-up I think you’ll
agree.
If you are in need of some serious grease, there is always the
Gut Buster. The name, I feel is self-explanatory, and at £5.50
this is not for the faint-hearted (and small stomached).
Of course, if you are feeling a little delicate, there is plenty
of choice on the breakfast menu. You may choose anything from
scrambled egg to a continental breakfast. There is also a veggie
option at £2.95.
All superb value, fantastic portions, but disappointingly lacking
in grease. The only complaint I would make is that everything
looked a little anaemic, so if you prefer your breakfast more
crispy than limp, this is not the place for you. |
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
HH
HHHH
HHHHH
HH
HH |
| The
Wax Bar (Broadway St.) |
The
Wax Bar was given the ultimate test - it was sampled with a
big fat hangover, which was eased immensely thanks to a great
breakfast, in cool comfy surroundings. It is open from 12 -
12 and the cafe/bar mix works well.
This is much, much nicer than your typical greasy spoon, which
is reflected in the food and the menu.
It was a a higher class of breakfast than average, possibly
due to the ingredients used, organic when possible, but even
down to small details such as using herby Lincolnshire sausages.
Everything too was cooked just right, but it wasn’t in
the slightest bit greasy. It is very accommodating with a wide
selection of vegetarian dishes and also offering to make orders
on request if you don’t fancy what is on the menu.
The breakfast menu isn’t extensive but they do loads of
other snacks, baguettes, omelettes etc... It was reasonably
priced, only £3.90 for full breakfast (same for veggie)
with bacon, sausages, fried egg, tomato, sautéed potato,
mushrooms and beans.
The decor is simplistic but innovative, what you would really
expect in Hockley. As it is quite small and thanks to the staff
there is a friendly atmosphere.
They also provide takeaway, which has 25%
off the menu price and you can have a complimentary coffee while
you wait for it to be cooked.
The drinks selection is also excellent, if you’re not quite
ready for a ‘proper’ drink there is a wide selection
of coffees and soft drinks, why not try the Orange, Lemon and
Carrot Pago (much nicer than it sounds).
Why not go in, have breakfast, and after a Pago or two, and
a few coffees, start on another session. |
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
HHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHHH |
| Diner
Mo. |
|
A little
way from the town centre, (near the Ropewalk) is this American
style diner.
The boothed seating and general decor all add to the effect,
the menu is largely a breakfast one, slightly different to
the norm however, with quite a lot of pancakes, French toasts
being served with the meal.
The portions are big and also quite rich so be prepared. They
do various smoothies, which feel like a good detox if you’ve
had a big night out, (okay we admit it - we were hungover
when we tested out Diner Mo too!)
The smoothies such as apple and mango are made freshly as
you order.
It does seem to lack an atmosphere, although it was quite
quiet when we were in there. It is a little more expensive
too than normal but as we said the the portions are big and
the menu is very different, so is Diner Mo.
|
Greasiness
Size
Variety
Quality
Value |
HH
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH |
After you've sampled all those delights we suggest
you go on a grease-free diet until the next drinking binge. |
