Every Wednesday lunchtime I like to pop into the Clock Cafe in Northfield as it's right next to my Weight Watchers meeting and is perfect for my after weigh-in treat. It's been here quite a few years now, but I've never really spent much time in here until recently.
I like the selection of people in here, it's a very popular cafe and is always really busy. Sometimes I'll have to wait a few minutes for a table, but it's worth the weight and I think this shows how good the cafe is that people are actually prepared to wait to be seated rather than heading to one of the other numerous eateries in Northfield.
I generally have a jacket potato with cheese because the spuds here are absolutely delicious, plus I can carry on feeling righteous about my diet! There are loads of different toppings for the jacket potatoes including tuna mayo, beans and coronation chicken - my favourite though has to be the cheese because they absolutely pile it on the spud which is how cheese should be really!
As well as jacket potatoes you can choose to have a good old English breakfast, I've had this on occasion and it really is a wonderful fry up. There are a choice of sizes of breakfast including a mini one for those with modest appetites and a huge gigantic meal that includes what looks like dozens of pieces of bacon and sausages, I've seen a few workmen eating this and always wonder where they put it all!
You can also choose a sandwich or hot meal with chips, if I bring my children to the Clock Cafe they will usually have sausage, chips and beans and they always say how nice the sausages are.
Prices are very reasonable in the Clock Cafe, when I visit with the kids three meals will cost around £10 including a drink each. There are some more expensive options on the menu such as curry or a 'proper' dinner but I haven't tried these so can't comment on the food.
I like their bacon and egg sandwiches as they are not too greasy, you do have to mention if you don't want butter though as they tend to butter all the sandwiches and I personally don't think hot sandwiches need it. The bread is always very fresh, as are the fillings, and I think the best cold sandwich is the tuna mayo which is rich and creamy.
You have a good choice of drinks in the Clock Cafe including coffee, tea and a very nice hot chocolate plus a selection of cold drinks in cans or bottles. I ALWAYS, repeat ALWAYS have the hot chocolate because it's creamy and delicious - and perfect for a cold day after shopping.
The staff in the Clock Cafe are great, they are chatty but not over friendly like some cafes I've been in. I find they are always polite when taking your order and delivering your food, but don't hang around talking as you're trying to eat which I always find very annoying.
The only issue with the Clock Cafe is the parking. My mum is disabled so can use her blue badge to park just down the road, but this part of Northfield is covered in double yellow lines and is notorious for traffic warden patrols so do beware if you do a bit of naughty parking to grab a bacon butty! read more