Cafe Royal, Nelson Street

This is Birthday take 2.  Having done the savoury, I felt sweet was called for and also a touch of class so off I trolled to the classiest sounding of them all - Cafe Royal.  The entrance is impressive to say the least - massive carved pillars - what was it before it was a cafe I wondered.  Inside, my eyes took in a frankly quite ordinary-looking scene - tiled floor, beech coloured chairs and tables, newspapers.  The food looked interesting rather than extensive but once I had spotted the caramel slice there was no going back.  Then cames the dilemma.  Do we order here or is it waitress service?  No clue, and the staff at the counter weren't giving anything away.  Slinking off into a corner, I perched on a high stool and surveyed the scene.  Spiral stairs led upstairs to a mezzanine floor and possibly sofas.  There was a downstairs too (dungeons?) and waitresses flitted to and fro.  Eventually another customer came in and ordered at the counter, so that's how it's done!

Ten minutes later, I was seated at a proper table on the ground floor eating my caramel slice which fully lived up to expectations, drinking tea and reading the Journal while relaxing classical music played discreetly in the background.

OK, I was impressed, but - how can I put this - oh you know what I mean.  Maybe at heart I know where I belong.

Paper and Chalk, Nelson Street

I'd invited my little animal friends Hamster and Wombat to accompany me again and they suggested this venue having perused its website and decided this suited their dietary requirements.  Then I realised I had a problem - which was Hamster and which was Wombat?  We're at the stage in our friendship where you feel you can't ask again.

Anyway, we found Paper and Chalk cunning concealed under scaffolding, nestling opposite the Grainger market.  Inside was fashionably dark and compact. I thought there were more tables further in, but that turned out to be the beauty salon that is also part of the business.  As most of the tables were taken inside, we decided it was warm enough to sit out.  Hamster (or was it Wombat) looked cool in a fashionable maxi dress, while Wombat (or was it Hamster) wore collar and tie (tie removed when warm weather was announced - just like school).

It was nice to sit out and catch up and people watch.  The coffee was just warm but soya milk was on offer for those needing it.  I enjoyed my cheese scone and the cake that H&W shared looked nice too.  We completed the morning by skilfully arranging the sugars into an attractive pattern.  See below.