Drake's, Catherine Street

visited on the 22nd February, for a very late breakfast

Drake's is a very cute little eatery, hidden away behind the high-street. I'd been aware of it's existence for years, and had it down as a hang-out for the silver market; elderly patrons sipping tea and munching on scones. On this day, it was simply a warm hideaway from the biting cold of outside.

I find the other cafes on Catherine Street quite uninspiring and clinical; referring to the more trendy bistro-style places that serve panninis and crepes. One one occasion we had been turned away from somewhere after trying to order food at the ungodly hour of 3pm. This time we decided to explore the mysterious alleyway where Drake's is hidden.

The warmth of the place was immediately noticeable, not only because it was -3 degrees outside, but because of the lovely staff who welcomed and seated us when we entered. There's not a lot of space, but they haven't overly-capitalised on what they do have, like The Plant Cafe. It is cosy and intimate, but not intrusive.

Unfortunately the menu isn't particularly vegetarian friendly, only offering an all-day veggie breakfast or vegetable lasagne amongst an array of traditional British meat and fish dishes. If you're vegan, you'll be at a bit of a loss since the sausages are from Quorn which still contains egg white. Unlike some other cafes, they will not substitute eggs for an extra scoop of beans; the menu clearly states that items can be removed but not replaced. This is a great shame, but as the sausages are non-vegan anyway, you'd only be left with hash-browns, beans, and tomatoes. These three alone do not a breakfast make!

On this occasion, I acted as a vegetarian and ordered the breakfast which was well-cooked and not too greasy. I am starting to find the smell and texture of eggs quite repulsive, and this blog has been indispensable in helping me tackle properly becoming vegan. On this occasion I failed, but we are getting closer.

For vegans, expect the fried tomatoes to be a disappointment; quite clearly from a can and very unappetizing. It was immediately clear why no extra beans could be granted- there was already a mammoth portion!

The staff were very friendly and helpful and the room was quietly buzzing with families and old ladies. The kitchen is semi-open and we could see our food being cooked from a distance, yet there was a distinct lack of greasy flesh-smell. The vegetarian sausages will be cooked on the same plate as the meat, but it was visibly cleaned in between every frying.

My co-diner sent his compliments for his well-cooked death and received a smiley wave in return. All together we parted with £15 for two breakfasts and two pots of tea; not extortionate for the meal and experience. I would probably pop back for an afternoon tea, but veggie breakfasts are definitely done better elsewhere. The quaint location, atmosphere, and attentive service make it well worth a visit, and the perfect escape from a fast-moving and chaotic high street.