So I'm not a fan of how long it takes to commute to and from work, but I'm enjoying living in Beckenham. It just seems to have something for everyone. Every time I have been around the High Street, I've seen Kelsey House and kept thinking that I should check it out... and we did! We had time to kill before seeing a movie, so we walked down to Kelsey House. It's easy to find because it is on the corner. I would suggest walking, if you can because the parking on the street is usually occupied, but the nearest car park is about a 5 minute walk up the High Street.
They do have outdoor seating and while it is facing a busy High Street, it is better now because the pavement has been extended, putting a bit more space between the tables and traffic. We chose to sit inside because it was quite a warm day. Inside is very hipster... from the decor to the staff, but it is proving very popular! Based on the number of families inside, I would say that this is a child-friendly place.
The menu seems to be focused on 'street food'... and brunch. There are a few salads on the menu, but think small plates, burgers, and sandwiches. If you are a fan of gin, they have a nice list of gins, along with a number of craft beers. Because I didn't want to end up asleep during the film, I went with one of their non-alcoholic cocktails... the Virgin French Martini. It was delicious and I didn't miss the alcohol at all! I just wish it came in a bigger glass ;)
I struggled because I wanted to try out some of the small plates, but really had my eye on one of the sandwiches. I ended up ordering the Volcano Sandwich while Mr. Snarky went with the Full House Burger. The sandwiches/burgers looked really good, but they were definitely messy. The buns were lovely and managed to stay together despite all the meat juices they were soaking in. I was worried my sandwich would be a bit too spicy, but I found the spice just right... and the meat was so tender! I was surprised that the slaw was actually on the side rather than in the sandwich... which is where I thought it would be.
Mr. Snarky said he also enjoyed his burger... except for the burger. To be fair, I am never really sure why Pulled Pork and/or Brisket has to be ruined by using it as a condiment to put on top of a beef burger. And I think that was the issue, the burger didn't really need to be there and it kind of took away from the rest of the sandwich. We really enjoyed the fries... they said skinny fries and I was worried they would be like shoestrings, but they were a decent size and it was like they twice/triple cooked them because they were quite crispy on the outside. We agreed that they were really good!
By the end of it, we didn't have room for dessert. Service is friendly, but a bit on the slow side. The prices... I find a bit mixed. On some items I think they are reasonable, but on other items I think they are a bit pricey... like a hot dog for £10.50. I love a good hot dog, but £10.50... and that's the basic hot dog. It is a lovely place and I'm sure we'll be back again. read more