The Refresh Cafe in Arnold is a classic old school cafe serving up homecooked comfort food to the local people of the town. Places like this are becoming increasingly hard to find as the younger generation seem happier picking up their safe meals from the ubiquitous chains that have taken over the high street.
This place though is a different breed sitting proudly to one side of the Market place it faces competition from the slicker looking Market Place Tea Rooms on the other side, the hipster Cleo's deli and the Wine Shop on the corner, or maybe it doesn't. I kind of feel that the people dining on one side of the square are not crossing over to eat here or vice versa
The huge chalk menu board attached to the outside wall lists everything that you might expect from an establishment like this, breakfast served all day, stuff on toast, stuff in sandwiches, salads, jacket spuds, toastie and paninis.
Inside the menu on the wall expands and a few fancier items such as a risotto and a paella are being offered alongside roast dinners, and a winter warmer menu featuring favorites like cottage pie, faggots, and stew.
I was here with a intention to hunt down breakfast, an all too familiar mind set that you find me contemplating on the blog as I meander my way around the less familiar eateries of Nottingham.
Obviously I was in luck as they serve breakfast all day and I just had to decide as per usual how much fodder I wanted or was able to fill my belly with.
THE MEGA BREAKFAST
In the end I chose the Mega Breakfast which was listed on the chalkboard inside as being made up of "2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, hash brown, beans, tomato, and toast" for just £5.40.
Now at prices like that I really was not expecting too much and I also did not really care. I was hopeful for some decent scran but willing to accept that the provenance of the plates contents may not be that high
First impressions were that it was huge, my plate took up half the table and was hanging of one edge a bit too.
Visually it was a bit of a mess breaking most of the plating rules that some follow, two well cooked eggs were being attacked from all angles by bean and tomato juice seepage. Some may faint as such a flagrant breach crying out for a ramekin but I say no problem this is nothing that can't be easily mopped up with that generous portion of toast on the side
The sausages are of dubious provenance but they were cooked crispy enough and were solid and fairly meaty. The bacon was a mixed affair one slice really crispy, one not so much but it tasted good and that was the main thing
I wasn't a fan of the Hash Brown and the solitary mushroom made a mockery of the work Mega even if it was a biggish one. They were however present as part of the deal so were happily wolfed down as fully paid up members of this breakfast club
Overall It wasn't the prettiest of platefuls but it filled me up and it was cracking value as well. So I reckon I was winning the breakfast game today. Will I come back? Hell yes for that price I would not hesitate
I really liked the Refresh Cafe, it was a very friendly place, old school and seemed very popular and was most welcoming. I would hesitate to call it a greasy spoon although it kind of is, just because they were offering up other meals that you would not expect from a basic cafe.
I liked that everyone chatted away and we were treated like old friends, even though it was our first visit. One fellow customer, a nice old chap gave us details of his caravan for renting down Yarmouth Way. I love places like this full of character and characters!
The Refresh Cafe is located at 4 Market Place, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6ND. There is free parking for 2 hours just a short walk away on Gedling Road at the Arnold Market Car Park,
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