New cafes open in town

The new Be Beached cafe on the Harbour Arm has opened this weekend. Really great menu, that balances local quality produce and price. There is a tasty brunch menu which includes most dishes for under a fiver. Poached duck eggs and granary fingers, kedgeree, smoothies. There are many veggie options with a few dishes for meat eating friends. I had a fine pot of coffee and a fairy cake yesterday and a nice ginger beer today while I soaked up the sun and the view. I wish Be Beached every success! You can also find them on the web!

There is also the London Pie and Mash shop in the old town. I'm no afficionado for traditional pie and mash so I'm afraid I went for gravy like a true northerner! I'm told I have to go back for the liquor and chilli vinegar. It was great to hear people reminiscing in the place about their east end London pie experiences. I can see this place being a real winner.

Favourite places / The Indian Princess restaurant

Had another wonderful meal here on Saturday. It is quite simply my favourite restaurant in Margate, if not the area as a whole. The care that is lavished on the dishes shines through. Gourmet indian cuisine in a converted 18th century coach house, with home ground spices, an interesting and changing menu and simply lovely staff. This would be a restaurant I'd be proud to go to in London, so the fact it's on my doorstep where I live is a real treat.

The Indian Princess
44 King Street
Margate
Kent CT9 1QE
Tel: 01843 231504

Google Map link

Did I say I love Newington Fish Bar?

I know it's not Margate, but it's great. They really deserve the award winning status. Really excellent fish and chips. They make their own batter, heat it to the right temperature, and the chips are brilliant.

Newington Fish Bar
55 Newington Rd
Ramsgate, CT12 6EW
01843 591549

Best eaten fresh out the bag so it's not steamed up.

Favourite Places - The Harbour Cafe

I think The Harbour Cafe is really the best place in Margate for decor. It's situated on the ground floor of a lovely grand old building, The Royal York Mansions, on the Parade, situated next to the Harbour on The Parade. The owners renovated it from a regular pizza takeaway place about five years ago. It's stripped back bare brick walls and raw floor boards. It's got a slightly vintage feel that isn't trying too hard.

The fave things on the menu are the homemade burger and fat hand cut fries. The Sunday lunch is good. The deserts are lovely, fresh fruit tarts and if they have it in the wonderful chocolate tart.

If they ever closed I'd be lost for somewhere to have an afternoon coffee and cake. They're also dog friendly.

Royal York Mansions
10 The Parade
Margate
CT9 1EZ
01843 290110

Favourite Places - Windshack Cafe

The Windshack cafe is right on the seafront at Minnis Bay. You can see it from a distance by the windsock that flies above. It's popular with dog walkers because the owner Dougle is really friendly and welcoming of dogs. Each dog gets a biscuit! But there's more to it than just dogs. It's in a lovely setting. I've only been the once, so will pop back for a try of their homemade apple pie. I'm told the smoothies are great too.


We need more places like this. What I'd like to see is a really good breakfast place. Can't go wrong with a good breakfast and a sea view.

Favourite places - Batchelors Patisserie

I've been meaning to start posting about some of my favourite places in the area. Then I saw that ECR is calling for input for foodie reviews and it jogged my memory. So, here's the first:

Batchelors Patisserie in Northdown Road. Is a family run business. They freshly bake their own bread and cakes which I think are the best in the wider area, not just Margate. I was particularly impressed with their white loaf, which after a nice chat with the master baker himself, was confirmed as being fat free like it is in much of continental bread. None of their bread contains transfats. Their croissants are really lovely too. They do a nice range of cakes and tarts and some more unusual bread types, such as spelt loaves.

The shop also doubles as a cafe. It has a vintage look with original formica tables from Northdown Road's hey day. One word of advice, don't sit and wait for service, you need to order at the counter! If there were more high quality independent food shops like this in the area, I'd be exstatically happy. Batchelors is a shop that I'm proud to frequent. Couldn't do without it.
They're coming up for their annual holiday on the 27th and will be closed for a fortnight till mid Oct. What shall we do in the meantime? Time to stock up the freezer methinks.

Batchelors Patisserie
246 Northdown Road
Margate
CT9 2PX
01843 221227