Chill Out Cafe, Starbeck Road

I've long known that Sandyford is home to several cafes that I've not yet visited. So, when a partner in crime suggested we meet for coffee I thought we could begin to put that right.  We had a plan, I'd even texted her details, but I hadn't banked on the Monday Effect.  Monday Effect?  It seems that all the Italian cafes in the world (well, Sandyford) are closed on a Monday.  Bah! What to do?  Simples! (as I would say if I was a meerkat) we found an Indian instead.

The Chill Out Cafe (www.thechilloutcafe.com) offers authentic Gujarati cuisine but we settled for hot chocolates and settled down to enjoy our surroundings.  The first thing that struck me was how light it was inside.  Two of the walls are virtually all plate glass, giving the cafe a lovely airy feel.  As to decor, there was wooden flooring, beautiful bold wallpaper on the back wall, quietly comfortable chairs and tables, a rather nice sofa with an ornate coffee table - all generously spaced so you don't feel you're on top of each other.  As we chatted at a table, someone was reading the paper sitting on the sofa, and two lads were using laptops at the other side of the room. 

It felt, well, I think bohemian is the word.  There was a good feel to the place, the hot chocolates were great, and you know what I'd go back any day of the week

Vinci's opposite Newcastle Anglican cathedral

I actually did this one on Monday, when it was raining but Newburn had not yet been swept away, nor all transport links out of the north east severed by the storms.  I'd spotted it when driving through the city and made a mental note to visit. 

Vinci's is compact, very much geared to the lunchtime trade and with a bias to savoury rather than sweet.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed drinking my tea (proper cup and teapot!) and munching my kitkat  sitting at the window watching as Newcastle squelched its soggy way past me.  Daytime TV in the cafe was something I hadn't come across before and as a non-TV person I could have done without it, but it wasn't intrusive.

One to visit again?  It's central, it's eat-in, it's reasonably priced...what the heck - add it to the list!

The cafe, Newcastle Central Library

You may think I have been slacking in the cafe crawl as I haven't published anything new for a few days.  I say no!  I have been revisiting and have posted comments on the original entries, and I am planning and scheming to visit new places soon.  It seems there truly is no end to the cafes in Newcastle.

Today, for example, found me in the Central Library with several possible choices for revisits or new places all within a short distance.  What to do?  I decided to stay put and visit the library cafe which though I have walked past many times I have never visited (see what I mean about no end of cafes?)

At lunchtime the place was pleasantly full.  The ambience is clean, uncluttered, businesslike, and it is light and airy.  I ordered tea and cake, and the staff were quick to point out the special offer which would save me a few pence.  Cake and tea were up to standard I'm pleased to report, and  I sat and munched looking out on Princess Square.  Princess Square:  how could we brighten it up?  Guerilla knitting, maybe?  The ramps up to Bewick Court have a distinctly unfinished look to them, as if the bare concrete should be covered over by colourful mosaics or other artwork but the money ran out, or the council didn't get re-elected - oh I don't know! 

Now I must confess why I was looking out instead of people watching down the cafe.  I was in a corner, dear reader, sneakily chomping my own lunch of crackers and cheese.  There, I've said it.  I only managed one cracker before I was overcome by guilt - but at least my library books aren't late.

Cafe 9 Altars, Durham

It was a pleasure to be in Durham on one of my rare Saturdays off.  After participating in a dance celebration of the life of St Cuthbert at the cathedral (that's another story, and possibly another blog!), I made my way down Sadler Street and Silver Street to the little cut that leads to a favourite haunt - Cafe 9 Altars. I haven't visited it for ages and it was pleasing to sit again in the decked area outside and watch the trees and the river while sipping my tea and munching my big ginger biscuit (£1.95 the lot).  Couples sat and talked, people wandered down from the cathedral and along the riverside, even new students were arriving I think.  Durham was bathed in golden sunshine as the season turned to autumn.

There are some things money can't buy, the atmosphere of Durham is one of them.  But if you want an inexpensive way to sit and savour it, Cafe 9 Altars is the way to go for my money.

Newcastle Mela 2012

A great occasion as always! The highlight for me this year was Kashmiri tea!  It was advertised as pink tea and it is bright pink and very sweet - like hot milkshake.  I am hooked!  Fortunately there are numerous recipes online.

The Green Room, The Customs House, South Shields

Lest you think that my diet is composed solely of sausage sandwiches and cake, I can assure you that my culinary horizons stretch to Sunday lunch as well, and this Sunday a friend and I ate at the Green Room.  It's a place I'd had in mind for coffee for ages but lunch it was to be.

There are two sitting and we'd booked on the later, and though we were early we were shown to our table straight away.  The decor is calm and neutral, the furnishings quietly comfortable.  It was classy but not so much as to make a humble sausage sandwich eater like me feel uncomfortable.  Indeed I felt very comfortable.  The tables aren't on top of each other so you don't feel like you're eavesdropping on conversations, and the views across the river were great.  I know canned music is not to everyone's taste, but the 'swing' that was playing was actually quite relaxing, someone even sang along for a while.

I ordered lamb, my friend the nut roast, and the meals were served quickly and with a wide variety of well cooked veg.  I'm pleased to report that the dessert menu was excellent and that the raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding lived up to expectations!   It was all beautifully presented.   The staff were friendly and efficient.  It was a lovely relaxing meal.  No queueing at the carvery, everything brought to you.  I wonder if they do sausage sandwiches during the week...

M&S Kitchen, Northumberland Street

It's always a pleasure to meet friends after work, and do you know that the only cafe venue we could find open was M&S Kitchen (there was S**r*ucks but that doesn't count)!  Seems you can be in town after 5 but not if you want a cup of tea.  The Kitchen setting is nice, well spaced tables and chairs, light and bright decor, and it goes without saying that the selection of cakes is second to none.

We blithely ignored the 'wait here to be seated' notice and installed ourselves at a table near the counter.  It seemed natural to go to the counter to choose and order, but we were told it was table service and so sat back and waited.  It was a slightly long wait, in fact the whole thing was a bit clunky, involving the poor waitress going back and forward several times to take each order individually, take payment, bring the food.  Surely the place doesn't operate like this at busy times?

But such niggles are banished by good company and huge slices of Victoria Sandwich.  Hurrah for both and hurrah for M&S!