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

The Bailey Rooms

Most people will probably be unaware of this place tucked away under Park House on Castle Park. They don't advertise as they're council run, primarily for council employees but open to the public. But it's a proper nostalgia trip for us this one, as this is where "Friday breakfast" all began. Several years of a fry-up on Friday mornings in the same place. Good times! It was never amazing, but it was always great value. But having now tried many of the places available in the rest of the city in the search for fry-up nirvana, how will this stack up in comparison?

Hidden away in Castle Park

Seefud

The answer is, it's basically the same as it ever was, but I appreciate the value even more now. There is little atmosphere to speak of, but the staff are friendly if you go in there regularly. Service is counter style with table delivery, and totally fine with frustrating exceptions like the toast arriving several minutes after the food sometimes.

The food is okay, but nothing is spectacular as you might expect at this end of the market. The horribly economy sausages are the biggest drawback, but at this bargain price you can't really expect more. The staff are usually willing to swap them for extra bacon but then you can end up with 4 rashers and it all gets a bit bacon heavy. The bacon is fine though (in moderation) and the eggs are generally nicely done. Tomatoes are usually very good, as are the mushrooms if there's any available (a regular stocking issue on a Friday it seems). Another slight problem though is that this really is the home of bean-juice contamination. They microwave a big plastic jug of the stuff, and they dump a load all over the plate with a genuine generosity that unfortunately backfires. On one occasion I couldn't actually see either of the nicely fried eggs underneath it all, and that really spoiled my day I can tell you! Still, £4.60 for a large breakfast and £1.20 for a decent coffee can't be wrong, even with economy sausages!

Large bean portion just to the left of the picture

• Food     4
• Value    5
• Service  3.5
• Ambience 2
• Coffee   3

Troby

Yes, breakfast memories. And fond ones at that, many a groggy Friday used to start here. The value is superb, I used to go for a small breakfast, which was egg, bacon, sausage, mushroom, beans and toast for £3.20. I'd swap off the sausage for an extra bacon though. Today we opted for the large, which IS big: 2 egg 2 sausage, 2 bacon etc etc. I went for beans on the side, which means loads of beans as well. Even though the sausage is economy, they'd cooked it as well as they could have. Coffee is bean to cup machine and not too shabby. Apart from the cheapness, the other good thing about this place is being welcomed by the friendly staff. I do miss this place, but am glad that we now are searching the ~whole~ of Cambridge in our ongoing Breakfast Review!

Above average coffee - but only just.

Yes, breakfast memories.

• Food       3.5
• Value      5
• Service    4
• Ambience   2
• Coffee     3