Bailey Rooms revisited

This was a regular haunt in the old days. And was always great value, even though sometimes the breakfast took ages to come. I nipped in for a quick bite.

Things have changed a little bit. The breakfast was layed out buffet style, so no waiting around for things to be cooked. Bacon, Sausage, Eggs, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Hash Browns on the counter under hot lights. Baked beans were also available. For £3.20 you can choose 6 items. You get toast as well. The toast is the only thing made fresh. I went for 2 bacon, egg, mushrooms, tomato and hash brown (a portion meant two).

The service was polite and friendly.

A wide range of sauces on offer

I ordered a coffee, the machine is the automatic bean to cup style. The coffee looked pretty good to start with, but the crema soon disappeared - probably more of a last minute frothing. Still, it tasted fresh, if a little weak. I sat down with my breakfast

Cold cuts

The main thing I noticed was that things were cold. A mushroom, then to the hashbrown, and from one item to the next, everything was on the tepid side. The toast was good. I considered asking for the plate to be microwaved for a couple of minutes, but it suddendly got a bit busy (three people arrived). So I munched on.
It was all fine, but just cold.

• Food     2
• Value    3
• Service  4
• Ambience 1
• Coffee   2.5

The place was eerily empty, and felt a bit sad, even tho the staff were cheery enough, the whole building is decked in scaffolding, and there must be plans for it. But not including the Bailey Rooms.

Oh well, one last fairwell. Long Live the Bailey Rooms! - thanks for all the good breakfasts (not this one)

Cafe Rouge

We tried the newly refurbished Cafe Rouge in Cambridge.

Cafe Rouge breakfast menu

Troby:
We settled in and ordered coffees. Service was friendly and efficient. The place looks the same after refurbishment so far as I could see. I was last here about 15 years ago. Not that the decor is bad, it's the red curtain on the door, and french pictures one the wall style.
I'm currently on a hunt for good scrambled eggs - So I went for "L'Anglais" with scrambled. Brown toast wasn't an option. The coffee was fine.

The coffee was acceptable

Breakfast came in reasonable time. And was quite good. The sausage was tasty, bacon fine and I like my beans on 'on the side'. However the toast could have been more toasted, and the mushroom portion was just a nod towards a portion of mushrooms.

Mushrooms in hiding

The egg didn't look great

Not winning any beauty awards, but tasty

But actually tasted pretty good, and was well seasoned.

Overall not a bad breakfast. One of our party had various discount cards and schemes, and it turned out to be very good value for us that day, but at full price I think Cote just down the road is a bit better.

• Food     3.5
• Value    3
• Service  4
• Ambience 3.5
• Coffee   3.5

Seefud:
I just fancied bacon and eggs. There was nothing majorly wrong with this breakfast but nothing really stands out as being that great either. The toast was a bit under done, but that's not a big deal. If I had to pick a highlight it would be the bacon, which, whilst fairly standard thin sliced smoked back bacon, was cooked to absolute perfection in my eyes. Crispy fat and juicy non-leathery meat.

Bacon and eggs

The ambience, service and coffee were fine, but again, nothing special. I didn't really expect much more from a chain like this though. The value was ok, but only with some discount deals. At full price I'd have been disappointed. If  you're in this area, it's got to be Cote I think.

• Food     2.5
• Value    3
• Service  4
• Ambience 3
• Coffee   3

Cambridge Patisierie

Nestled near the round church, just down a bit is the Cambridge Patiserie. I think it's changed owners a few times, and always has a sign outside with breakfasts / bacon rolls deals, so we gave it a try.

The large underused pavement dining area doesn't get a lot of sunshine in the morning

Troby:
On this particular morning, I felt much in need of some scrambled eggs on brown toast, after some over-participation in the 'works drinks' the previous evening. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and polite, although not keen to go to far off-piste on the menu selection. It was decided I should be charged for the "Punters breakfast" which also included bacon and mushrooms for a fiver, so possibly a win / win. I ordered a black americano as well. I thanked them for accomodating my slightly fussy order (no butter on toast, and eggs scrambled). There were smiles all round, and some self depricating talk of their English not being very good. We sat outside in the crisp bright Cambridge ambience.

Pretty views of the gothic St John's Cathedral (probably)

 with an element of dark forboding

Coffee came soon, and was acceptable. The food arrived in ok time.
Scrambled eggs are easy to do, but there's a whole spectrum of gloopiness/wetness/creaminess/fluffiness/dryness/rubberyness. Plus they continue to cook after out of the pan, so keen timing is required. Maybe they're not that easy to do. Below is what I'd hoped for versus what I got.

What I'd hoped for

What I got

Disapointment set in straight away. Not only was this some method of cooking eggs that I'd never seen before (egg frisbee disc?), but the toast was buttered against my instructions. I turned out that the language barrier may have been an issue after all. I considered complaining, but didnt' have the gumption this morning, so made my best effort at eating it.
Egg: Rubbery as can be
Bacon: Tasty enough, but limp and boiled
Mushrooms: Ok, cooked with lettuce?!
Tomato: Uncooked, but well presented
Toast: Undercooked, buttered against my wishes
Heat: Not piping.

So overall, a big disappointment, kind of fitting for one of those mornings where you feel rough, but also happy to be alive.

• Food     1.5
• Value    2
• Service  3
• Ambience 4
• Coffee   3

Seefud:

Despite cycling past most days for 18 months, we'd never tried this place. For reasons unclear to me, I had low expectations. It would be a nice place to sit outside if it got any sunshine in the morning. Maybe afternoon teas are better. It seems to be staffed by non natives. Around Cambridge that bodes well for service, but they really ought not be let loose in the kitchen on their own to prepare a full English. I went for the Rowers breakfast I think, which supposedly came with unlimited refills on filter coffee or tea. About £8.

It arrived in reasonable time, as did the coffee which was nice enough for filter. The service was cheerful enough and the cutlery was delivered simultaneously. Result! It was all downhill from there though. The toast was almost bread, but there was plenty of it. The sausage was low quality. The bacon was a total fail, kind of chopped up, and the cooking method might have been boiling. The shrooms were okay, as was the egg and the beans were beans. The tomato, however nicely carved, was raw. It's a key ingredient in a "cooked breakfast", NOT A FECKING SALAD GARNISH!! I made my displeasure clear in a very English fashion.

Oh, and unlimited refills of coffee? I wasn't ever offered a second cup. Oh, and if you're going to serve breakfast outside in the shade on chilly Autumn morning, you could at least warm the plates. I will not be going back.

• Food     1.5
• Value    2
• Service  2
• Ambience 2.5
• Coffee   2.5