It’s all you need to enjoy your Life
THE Butterfly Cabinet on Heaton Road has been lauded as one of the best places for breakfast in Newcastle, so with three fellow reviewers I set off to see if the establishment lived up to the hype.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
The Butterfly Cabinet is a popular haunt so it was buzzing when we arrived.
Inside it’s a Bohemian sort of place with high ceilings, big windows, wooden tables and chairs. I’m sure when I was a kid it might have been a real ale place but that is going back to the 80s.
And don’t be put off by a queue of hungry students stretching around the corner as it took all of five minutes for my party to be seated and welcomed into the inviting and vibrant atmosphere inside. The cafe doesn’t just attract students, there are families and couples alike.
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
You’re handed a huge menu and it’s difficult to choose from the extensive list.
It’s worth noting the cafe also offers lunches, tasty soups, and door-stopper sandwiches to fuel the cultural chatter but we were concentrating on the breakfast menu which they offer all day.
The shop offers classic fry-ups, breakfast dishes including classic eggs Benedict, omelettes and pancakes. There’s also porridge, eggy bread and you can make your own bap.
WHAT DID WE THINK?
A breakfast will set you back £6. But the eldest teen was feeling extra-hungry so he had the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ for £9.
It was colossal and needed the Herculean efforts of my six foot son to finish it off.
On his plate there were two pieces of bacon, sausage, eggs, hash brown, mushrooms, black and white pudding, two potato scones, two hash browns, grilled tomato, mushrooms, fried bread and beans. The breakfast certainly hit the spot, the bacon and sausages were of good quality.
Across the table my two guests tried the eggs Benedict with salmon (£7) and the ranch eggs Benedict (£5.95).
The eggs Benedict consisted of a toasted muffin, three poached eggs, bacon and hollandaise sauce. The ranch version had ranch sauce and salsa. My fellow reviewer loved it.
The eggs themselves were lovely. Bright orange yolks and there was no uncooked gloopy white. The muffins were slightly salty and well toasted. The hollandaise was extremely buttery.
And I sampled the omelette. There were five options, French, salmon, blue cheese, farmhouse and American. I went for the American (£6.50) a three-egg cheese omelette filled with red onion, red and yellow peppers, chilli (just a little) and a sweet tangy purée.
It came with salad, house coleslaw and chips. It offered a homely hug on a freezing cold September morning.
There are loads of veggie options including a breakfasts with fakey bacon and quorn sausages.
WHAT SHOULD I DRINK?
The smoothies list is designed with brunch in mind. If you don’t fancy that, there are speciality coffees and teas. A latte will set you back £2.20 and an Americano £1.90.
ARE YOU BEING SERVED?
Service was excellent. Staff are on the ball and friendly.
OVERALL
For food of this quality, the prices at the Butterfly Cabinet are surprisingly reasonable.