A café with a French name where none of 'My Friends' have ever been? I passed this place a few times before and I knew the menu was nothing particularly French or continental until last week when I finally walked in. This is what I found.
The restaurant was clean and felt cosy, I liked the bistro tables and seating along the wall. You know what they say about a restaurant's toilets: at Mes Amis café the toilets are so clean you will need sunglasses. I know it's a bit odd to talk about toilets, I never do in reviews come to think of it, but this was amazingly bright, clean, in full functioning order, and the wallpaper even made the place look cosy; not that I was going to stay for long mind you. If there was a Yelp list for cleanest toilets, Mes Amis would be on that list.
You probably care more about the food and so did I. I ordered the vegetarian (all-day) breakfast because I was famished and needed a treat, with an americano. Staff was pleasant, discreet and efficient. A hatch at the back lets you peek into the kitchen, which is also usually a good sign. Breakfast did not disappoint nor did it surprise; it was your old traditional Irish breakfast with hash browns, beans, tomatoes, eggs, toast.... the full works. Not particularly sophisticated but done well. Coffee was good from one of those beautiful red and chrome barista coffee machines (was it Gaggia?).
There was another bonus: power sockets! It was great to be able to recharge my batteries along with that of my smartphone thanks to the power sockets available around the place.
Definitely on my go-to again list for doing a great job of all the basics and providing a cosy space in the middle of the city. read more