Showing posts with label southampton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label southampton. Show all posts
So I think I've found the most Instagrammable cafe/restaurant/bar in Hampshire... The Exchange in Romsey. Elliot and I went for a wander around Romsey and stumbled across this little gem in the square. We'd already had a big breakfast so didn't fancy a massive lunch, instead we had a cup of tea and some cake, and weren't disappointed!
THE MENU
For a café/cocktail bar, The Exchange in Romsey has quite an extensive menu. They have quite a few brunch options, lunch dishes as well as various different tapas in the evenings. They also serve afternoon tea, pastries, cakes, and all sorts of other sweet treats. Their cocktail menu was huge, with all of the classics, and a happy hour every Thursday.
THE DECOR
10/10. That's all I have to say, The Exchange is an Instagram dream and I will absolutely be returning. With pretty pink velvet chairs, a gorgeous bar, terrazzo tables and flooring, and pretty crockery, it's certainly ticking all of the decor boxes for me.
THE FOOD
Now, we did only have a piece of cake each but they were delicious. I had the Victoria Sponge and Elliot had the lemon cake. They were both rich, moist but lovely, and light. We didn't see anyone else eating whilst we were sat outside, but there were plenty of people having hot drinks.
EVERYTHING ELSE
As for service, it was a little slow but we didn't mind and enjoyed just sitting in the square in the sun. For a hot drink on a sunny winter's day, there aren't many other places in Romsey that I'd rather sit. Price-wise, it was all fairly reasonable and not particularly extortionate considering the decor and the captive market.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Exchange in Romsey. It's a truly aesthetic venue and the cake is pretty delicious. With the Causeway not too far away, it's a nice spot to visit after a wander...
So I think I've found the most Instagrammable cafe/restaurant/bar in Hampshire... The Exchange in Romsey. Elliot and I went for a wander around Romsey and stumbled across this little gem in the square. We'd already had a big breakfast so didn't fancy a massive lunch, instead we had a cup of tea and some cake, and weren't disappointed!
THE MENU
For a café/cocktail bar, The Exchange in Romsey has quite an extensive menu. They have quite a few brunch options, lunch dishes as well as various different tapas in the evenings. They also serve afternoon tea, pastries, cakes, and all sorts of other sweet treats. Their cocktail menu was huge, with all of the classics, and a happy hour every Thursday.
THE DECOR
10/10. That's all I have to say, The Exchange is an Instagram dream and I will absolutely be returning. With pretty pink velvet chairs, a gorgeous bar, terrazzo tables and flooring, and pretty crockery, it's certainly ticking all of the decor boxes for me.
THE FOOD
Now, we did only have a piece of cake each but they were delicious. I had the Victoria Sponge and Elliot had the lemon cake. They were both rich, moist but lovely, and light. We didn't see anyone else eating whilst we were sat outside, but there were plenty of people having hot drinks.
EVERYTHING ELSE
As for service, it was a little slow but we didn't mind and enjoyed just sitting in the square in the sun. For a hot drink on a sunny winter's day, there aren't many other places in Romsey that I'd rather sit. Price-wise, it was all fairly reasonable and not particularly extortionate considering the decor and the captive market.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Exchange in Romsey. It's a truly aesthetic venue and the cake is pretty delicious. With the Causeway not too far away, it's a nice spot to visit after a wander...
A new cocktail bar on the scene? Becca's there. I was recently invited down to Mbuntu in Southampton for a complimentary meal at their newly opened cocktail bar and bistro. Founded by Prince Ogbuji, who owns two other restaurants, Mbuntu is a very welcoming place. Mbuntu is an African word meaning “I am who I am because of who we are”. Their whole ethos is about bringing people together and having a real community feel...
Mbuntu Southampton Review
Let's get into the review, shall we?
THE MENU
Having only just opened, there was only a limited menu available when we visited, but their full menu is far more vast. On the full menu is a bit of everything. From burritos to pasta, and katsu curries to burgers, there really is something for everyone on the menu. When we spoke to the owner, Prince, he also mentioned plans for a salad bar in the future, full of healthy and nutritious options...
THE DECOR
When designing Mbuntu, it's very clear that they had aesthetics in mind. With cosy velvet chairs in pink and green, plants and neon signs, it's very much an instagrammable dream. Cocktails and velvet chairs? It's girls night galore.
THE FOOD
As for the food, I had the Chicken Katsu Curry and it was really tasty! The portion was large (the bigger the better in my opinion), delicious and absolutely full of flavour. Dare I say it, I think it was far better than the cult Wagamama offering! My Mum had the Chicken wrap which again was very tasty and very much full of flavour. It's clear that the food at Mbuntu has been well thought out and perfected!
EVERYTHING ELSE
The staff were really friendly and attentive, and the cocktail menu was full of different offerings. I had a mango martini and it was delicious. One thing that was really refreshing to see was that cocktails were less than £10 each. The mango martini is £6.50! We love cocktails that don't break the bank!!
Overall, I really enjoyed my evening at Mbuntu in Southampton and will definitely be eating there again next time I'm in the area. The food was great, the staff were so friendly and the decor is just fab...
Dinner & Cocktails at Mbuntu, Southampton*
5.6.21 • food review, restaurant review, southampton, southampton restaurant
A new cocktail bar on the scene? Becca's there. I was recently invited down to Mbuntu in Southampton for a complimentary meal at their newly opened cocktail bar and bistro. Founded by Prince Ogbuji, who owns two other restaurants, Mbuntu is a very welcoming place. Mbuntu is an African word meaning “I am who I am because of who we are”. Their whole ethos is about bringing people together and having a real community feel...
Mbuntu Southampton Review
Let's get into the review, shall we?
THE MENU
Having only just opened, there was only a limited menu available when we visited, but their full menu is far more vast. On the full menu is a bit of everything. From burritos to pasta, and katsu curries to burgers, there really is something for everyone on the menu. When we spoke to the owner, Prince, he also mentioned plans for a salad bar in the future, full of healthy and nutritious options...
THE DECOR
When designing Mbuntu, it's very clear that they had aesthetics in mind. With cosy velvet chairs in pink and green, plants and neon signs, it's very much an instagrammable dream. Cocktails and velvet chairs? It's girls night galore.
THE FOOD
As for the food, I had the Chicken Katsu Curry and it was really tasty! The portion was large (the bigger the better in my opinion), delicious and absolutely full of flavour. Dare I say it, I think it was far better than the cult Wagamama offering! My Mum had the Chicken wrap which again was very tasty and very much full of flavour. It's clear that the food at Mbuntu has been well thought out and perfected!
EVERYTHING ELSE
The staff were really friendly and attentive, and the cocktail menu was full of different offerings. I had a mango martini and it was delicious. One thing that was really refreshing to see was that cocktails were less than £10 each. The mango martini is £6.50! We love cocktails that don't break the bank!!
Overall, I really enjoyed my evening at Mbuntu in Southampton and will definitely be eating there again next time I'm in the area. The food was great, the staff were so friendly and the decor is just fab...
Well, well, well, look who's been out for another fab meal. This week I was fortunate enough to be invited down to Bill's in Southampton to try out their menu for Foodie Fortnight and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Now, the meal was complimentary, but, as always, all of my views are 100% honest and my own.
But, anyway, what is Foodie Fortnight? It's, as the name suggests, two weeks of food deals in Southampton across a vast number of participating restaurants. FYI, all of the deals are online and you just need to book them in on their website.
But, anyway, what is Foodie Fortnight? It's, as the name suggests, two weeks of food deals in Southampton across a vast number of participating restaurants. FYI, all of the deals are online and you just need to book them in on their website.
Also, I have a confession to make, I don't think I've ever been to a Bill's before?! Yes, I know I'm a bad person and no, I haven't been living under a rock but somehow I just haven't been. Before attending I didn't even look at the menu as I wanted the entire experience to be a surprise.
THE MENU
So, as part of Foodie Fortnight, there are two deals to be had: either, two courses for £15 or three courses for £18. Included on the menu is a real mix; from a veggie wellington to sea bass to a steak, as well as a few options for starters and desserts. Also, for anyone that's vegan, there's a couple of vegan starters, a main and a dessert on there too. For reference, the dinner special on the evening we were visiting was a salmon dish which apparently was really good.
THE DECOR
Okay, wow. I'd heard on social media that Bill's had had a gorgeous new refurbishment but I wasn't expecting it to be thaaaat good. It's by far the prettiest restaurant I've ever been to and has real 'The Ivy' vibes. There are lots of plants everywhere, quirky prints, pretty wallpapers, trinkets, vases the lot. We were sat right by the window overlooking Arundel Tower and it was so so pretty as the sun set. I can imagine that of a summer evening, sitting outside and sipping a cocktail here would be lovely!THE FOOD
To start, I had the chicken and sesame dumplings, which, isn't something I'd usually go for. They were really light and fresh-tasting, and the dip that came with them was delicious, it had a really nice kick to it but wasn't toooo spicy. I definitely recommend.
For my main, I had the burger of the week. This week, and for the whole of Foodie Fortnight (*I think, please don't quote me on that) the burger of the week is a garlic and turmeric chicken burger. I'm going to be honest, I wasn't a massive fan of the fries, but the burger itself was fab. I loved all of the flavours and the chicken was cooked to perfection.
EVERYTHING ELSE
To drink I had a peach, elderflower and rosemary cooler (mocktail) and it was delicious. Again, if you're driving and fancy an Instagrammable drink, this is your guy. It was delicious.
Price-wise, Bill's is definitely at the higher end of the restaurant chain spectrum but for good reason. The decor and ambiance is fab and definitely a good spot for a celebratory meal.
Have you ever been to Bill's?
Dinner at Bill's Southampton* - Review
21.9.19 • food, food review, lifestyle, restaurant review, southampton, southampton restaurant
Well, well, well, look who's been out for another fab meal. This week I was fortunate enough to be invited down to Bill's in Southampton to try out their menu for Foodie Fortnight and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Now, the meal was complimentary, but, as always, all of my views are 100% honest and my own.
But, anyway, what is Foodie Fortnight? It's, as the name suggests, two weeks of food deals in Southampton across a vast number of participating restaurants. FYI, all of the deals are online and you just need to book them in on their website.
But, anyway, what is Foodie Fortnight? It's, as the name suggests, two weeks of food deals in Southampton across a vast number of participating restaurants. FYI, all of the deals are online and you just need to book them in on their website.
Also, I have a confession to make, I don't think I've ever been to a Bill's before?! Yes, I know I'm a bad person and no, I haven't been living under a rock but somehow I just haven't been. Before attending I didn't even look at the menu as I wanted the entire experience to be a surprise.
THE MENU
So, as part of Foodie Fortnight, there are two deals to be had: either, two courses for £15 or three courses for £18. Included on the menu is a real mix; from a veggie wellington to sea bass to a steak, as well as a few options for starters and desserts. Also, for anyone that's vegan, there's a couple of vegan starters, a main and a dessert on there too. For reference, the dinner special on the evening we were visiting was a salmon dish which apparently was really good.
THE DECOR
Okay, wow. I'd heard on social media that Bill's had had a gorgeous new refurbishment but I wasn't expecting it to be thaaaat good. It's by far the prettiest restaurant I've ever been to and has real 'The Ivy' vibes. There are lots of plants everywhere, quirky prints, pretty wallpapers, trinkets, vases the lot. We were sat right by the window overlooking Arundel Tower and it was so so pretty as the sun set. I can imagine that of a summer evening, sitting outside and sipping a cocktail here would be lovely!THE FOOD
To start, I had the chicken and sesame dumplings, which, isn't something I'd usually go for. They were really light and fresh-tasting, and the dip that came with them was delicious, it had a really nice kick to it but wasn't toooo spicy. I definitely recommend.
For my main, I had the burger of the week. This week, and for the whole of Foodie Fortnight (*I think, please don't quote me on that) the burger of the week is a garlic and turmeric chicken burger. I'm going to be honest, I wasn't a massive fan of the fries, but the burger itself was fab. I loved all of the flavours and the chicken was cooked to perfection.
EVERYTHING ELSE
To drink I had a peach, elderflower and rosemary cooler (mocktail) and it was delicious. Again, if you're driving and fancy an Instagrammable drink, this is your guy. It was delicious.
Price-wise, Bill's is definitely at the higher end of the restaurant chain spectrum but for good reason. The decor and ambiance is fab and definitely a good spot for a celebratory meal.
Have you ever been to Bill's?
Can going out for dinner be considered a hobby? Because, if so, sign me up and let me add it to the interests section of my CV. I looove going out for food. So, when Revolucion de Cuba invited me and a group of my friends down for dinner obviously I said yes, please! Over the weekend they celebrated their first birthday and I am so pleased I was able to be a part of it, we really had a blast.
Our meals were all complimentary, but, as always, my opinions are all my own and 100% honest!
I'd never actually been to a Revolucion de Cuba before and for those who are also new to the chain, they're a cocktail bar and restaurant with, as the name suggests, a Cuban theme. There are currently 19 locations spread about the UK including restaurants in Southampton, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Aberdeen. Having had a little browse of the website I've also just spotted that they host cocktail masterclasses, how cool?
THE MENU
The first thing I'd like to mention is that there was an entire vegan menu - yay! I'm not vegan myself, but it's so fab to see more and more restaurants being accommodating and including more than just one we-ought-to-include-this tofu option on their menu!
They also have a lunch menu, a brunch menu, a main meal menu aaand a tapas menu, so yeah, there's plenty of food to choose from. The main meals range from £9.50 to £13.50, and the tapas range from £4.50 to £6.50, so the prices are fairly standard for a high street chain.
THE DECOR
I wasn't sure what I was expecting decor-wise, but I definitely wasn't disappointed. We were sat in the window on grey plush sofas - how very aesthetic, hey? There was also a very dreamy banana leaf wallpaper on the way up to the loos and lots of plants and trinkets scattered around the restaurant, you can just tell the decor had been very well thought out and planned!
THE FOOD
Boring bits aside, let's discuss the food. The boys both opted for the chicken burger and wolfed it down in seconds, singing its praises. Karen and I both had tapas - and a portion of fries - because there was no way I could choose only one thing to have, this girl likes to have options.I had the cheeseburger tacos and the chicken quesadillas, and they were both really tasty. Karen had the jerk fried chicken and the charred halloumi and said hers were really good too. The only downside is the portions aren't very big at all, so I'm very glad I ordered an extra side of fries!
For dessert, we ended up sharing a big plate of churros, and, let me tell you, the caramel rum sauce that comes with them is DELICIOUS. As in, on par with Biscoff kinda delicious.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Unfortunately, I was the designated driver but the cocktails all looked and sounded fab. I had a couple of virgin zombie slayer mocktails and they were genuinely really nice - if you're driving but fancy a 'nicer' drink I'd defo recommend that one, it was almost like a pornstar martini.
Now, I had no idea that there was an enitre dancefloor upstairs - who knew, eh? If I hadn't have been the one driving I most definitely would've been up there swigging a cocktail and having a boogie.
Overall, I had a really good evening at Revolucion de Cuba. The food was tasty, I loved the vibe of the restaurant, and my friends and I had a really good time. I'd defo recommend checking them out!
Dinner at Revolucion de Cuba, Southampton* - Review
18.9.19 • food, food review, lifestyle, restaurant review, southampton, southampton restaurant
Can going out for dinner be considered a hobby? Because, if so, sign me up and let me add it to the interests section of my CV. I looove going out for food. So, when Revolucion de Cuba invited me and a group of my friends down for dinner obviously I said yes, please! Over the weekend they celebrated their first birthday and I am so pleased I was able to be a part of it, we really had a blast.
Our meals were all complimentary, but, as always, my opinions are all my own and 100% honest!
I'd never actually been to a Revolucion de Cuba before and for those who are also new to the chain, they're a cocktail bar and restaurant with, as the name suggests, a Cuban theme. There are currently 19 locations spread about the UK including restaurants in Southampton, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Aberdeen. Having had a little browse of the website I've also just spotted that they host cocktail masterclasses, how cool?
THE MENU
The first thing I'd like to mention is that there was an entire vegan menu - yay! I'm not vegan myself, but it's so fab to see more and more restaurants being accommodating and including more than just one we-ought-to-include-this tofu option on their menu!
They also have a lunch menu, a brunch menu, a main meal menu aaand a tapas menu, so yeah, there's plenty of food to choose from. The main meals range from £9.50 to £13.50, and the tapas range from £4.50 to £6.50, so the prices are fairly standard for a high street chain.
THE DECOR
I wasn't sure what I was expecting decor-wise, but I definitely wasn't disappointed. We were sat in the window on grey plush sofas - how very aesthetic, hey? There was also a very dreamy banana leaf wallpaper on the way up to the loos and lots of plants and trinkets scattered around the restaurant, you can just tell the decor had been very well thought out and planned!THE FOOD
Boring bits aside, let's discuss the food. The boys both opted for the chicken burger and wolfed it down in seconds, singing its praises. Karen and I both had tapas - and a portion of fries - because there was no way I could choose only one thing to have, this girl likes to have options.I had the cheeseburger tacos and the chicken quesadillas, and they were both really tasty. Karen had the jerk fried chicken and the charred halloumi and said hers were really good too. The only downside is the portions aren't very big at all, so I'm very glad I ordered an extra side of fries!
For dessert, we ended up sharing a big plate of churros, and, let me tell you, the caramel rum sauce that comes with them is DELICIOUS. As in, on par with Biscoff kinda delicious.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Unfortunately, I was the designated driver but the cocktails all looked and sounded fab. I had a couple of virgin zombie slayer mocktails and they were genuinely really nice - if you're driving but fancy a 'nicer' drink I'd defo recommend that one, it was almost like a pornstar martini.
Now, I had no idea that there was an enitre dancefloor upstairs - who knew, eh? If I hadn't have been the one driving I most definitely would've been up there swigging a cocktail and having a boogie.
Overall, I had a really good evening at Revolucion de Cuba. The food was tasty, I loved the vibe of the restaurant, and my friends and I had a really good time. I'd defo recommend checking them out!
I'm still very proud that I came up with this series - is there anything more on-brand for me?? Other than maybe a roast dinner version... Now, that, could be an idea! Anyway, in our hungover state from the weekend, Toria and I headed to yet another tearoom for a cream tea and we were not disappointed. We had quite a hefty scroll of Google and eventually found Evelyn's Tea House in Southampton.
In case you're new to this series, I'll just give you a quick rundown. Essentially, I am on a mission to find the best cream tea on the south coast. I've had a fair few scones in my lifetime - which you can see from this series alone - and so I like to consider myself a bit of a connoisseur by this point. I've come up with five judging criteria (that I think are very important) and am using them all to rate each tearoom I visit. Each cream tea then gets a post of its own - just like this one, meaning that if you're ever down here in the south, you can choose the best place to go for any scone cravings.
The staff at Evelyn's Tea House in Southampton were all really friendly and so helpful. Our server explained how Evelyn's is a family run business with as many things as possible being home-made on site. They also stock over 100 different loose leaf teas, complete with their own menu, but I am embarrassed to say that I did just go for a breakfast tea... Oops. I also opted for a slice of lemon and blueberry cake, as well as my cream tea, and that was delicious!
Evelyn's Tea House, Southampton
Taste
Another tearoom with a good scone... It came out warm and dusted with icing sugar - it's the little things, huh? As like any good scone, it was crispy on the outside but really soft on the inside. Also, it was huuuuge, so that's a big thumbs up from me.
Clotted Cream Quantity
Now, for such a big scone. it's fair to say that neither Toria or I thought there was nearly enough clotted cream! So much so, that we actually ended up ordering more, boooo. We hate a stingy cream portion!
Price
Of all of the cream teas in this series, this one is on the slightly dearer end of the spectrum at £6.50 (which, I know isn't a lot, but it's all relative!) With the cream tea, you can, however, have a whole variety of different drinks. Not only one of the 100 different teas, but also a few different coffees as well as milkshakes.
Aesthetic
All of the food is served on pretty, floral vintage china which I think is a bit of a necessity for a cream tea! I loved all of the jars of teas on the wall and the flower garlands draped around the room.
Location
Whilst this tea room is in Southampton, it's not in the city centre, so not somewhere you could walk over to after spending a small fortune in West Quay! In case you were wondering, it's a 12-minute drive from West Quay (my point of reference for anything in Southampton) but there isn't an awful lot to do in the immediate local area. But, if you're Southampton based like I am, it's very convenient to get to of an afternoon!
Where should I visit next?
Evelyn's Tea House, Southampton - Review
31.5.19 • cream tea, finding the best cream tea on the south coast, food, lifestyle, southampton
I'm still very proud that I came up with this series - is there anything more on-brand for me?? Other than maybe a roast dinner version... Now, that, could be an idea! Anyway, in our hungover state from the weekend, Toria and I headed to yet another tearoom for a cream tea and we were not disappointed. We had quite a hefty scroll of Google and eventually found Evelyn's Tea House in Southampton.
In case you're new to this series, I'll just give you a quick rundown. Essentially, I am on a mission to find the best cream tea on the south coast. I've had a fair few scones in my lifetime - which you can see from this series alone - and so I like to consider myself a bit of a connoisseur by this point. I've come up with five judging criteria (that I think are very important) and am using them all to rate each tearoom I visit. Each cream tea then gets a post of its own - just like this one, meaning that if you're ever down here in the south, you can choose the best place to go for any scone cravings.
The staff at Evelyn's Tea House in Southampton were all really friendly and so helpful. Our server explained how Evelyn's is a family run business with as many things as possible being home-made on site. They also stock over 100 different loose leaf teas, complete with their own menu, but I am embarrassed to say that I did just go for a breakfast tea... Oops. I also opted for a slice of lemon and blueberry cake, as well as my cream tea, and that was delicious!
Evelyn's Tea House, Southampton
Taste
Another tearoom with a good scone... It came out warm and dusted with icing sugar - it's the little things, huh? As like any good scone, it was crispy on the outside but really soft on the inside. Also, it was huuuuge, so that's a big thumbs up from me.
Clotted Cream Quantity
Now, for such a big scone. it's fair to say that neither Toria or I thought there was nearly enough clotted cream! So much so, that we actually ended up ordering more, boooo. We hate a stingy cream portion!
Price
Of all of the cream teas in this series, this one is on the slightly dearer end of the spectrum at £6.50 (which, I know isn't a lot, but it's all relative!) With the cream tea, you can, however, have a whole variety of different drinks. Not only one of the 100 different teas, but also a few different coffees as well as milkshakes.
Aesthetic
All of the food is served on pretty, floral vintage china which I think is a bit of a necessity for a cream tea! I loved all of the jars of teas on the wall and the flower garlands draped around the room.
Location
Whilst this tea room is in Southampton, it's not in the city centre, so not somewhere you could walk over to after spending a small fortune in West Quay! In case you were wondering, it's a 12-minute drive from West Quay (my point of reference for anything in Southampton) but there isn't an awful lot to do in the immediate local area. But, if you're Southampton based like I am, it's very convenient to get to of an afternoon!
Where should I visit next?
Hellooooo, long time no chat. As I'm sure most of you are aware, I'm currently in my last few weeks of university and it's fair to say things are just a little bit busy. Of late, pretty much all of my days have been spent diss writing and preparing for exams, fun fun fun. But anyway, I'm alive and well, I just don't have too much time to be creating content over here on my blog. I have, however, been posting daily on Instagram, so if you don't follow me over there - that's where you're most likely to hear about what I'm up to!
Yesterday I headed down to So:Cake in Southampton, which recently opened in town, to try one of their cream teas in exchange for one of these posts. Whilst I was gifted the experience, my thoughts very much are my own - this gal knows a good scone from a bad one.
So, a little about So:Cake. It recently opened in Southampton city center, and, by recent, I mean a few weeks kind of recent. The decor is all really colourful and bright, with pink walls galore - perfect for that Instagram aesthetic.
As some of you might already know, I'm currently trying to cut out dairy (clotted cream is one of the things I'm giving a free pass, FYI) but I was very pleased to spot that So:Cake in Southampton had Oatly Barista on offer - my current milk substitute of choice, so that's a big thumbs up from me. Anyway, enough rambling... What did I think of the cream tea?
So:Cake, Southampton
Taste
The scone was lovely - it was warm when it came out, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Now, not to steal the scone's thunder but the raspberry jam that came with it was amazing - we all commented on just how good it was!
Clotted Cream Quantity
As always, this is the most important criteria for me and I wasn't disappointed. There was more than enough cream for the two halves of the scone so there are absolutely no complaints here.
Price
At £4.95, for a scone, a pot of tea, cream and jam - I think the price is very reasonable. So:Cake also offer an Afternoon Tea option which is £12.95 and includes the above as well as sandwiches and a slice of cake... Toria had one of these and it looked amazing, if only I liked sandwiches, huh?
Aesthetic
So, aesthetic is definitely something that has been properly considered in this tea room. All of the scones come out on cute cake stands, the teacups are all floral bone china numbers, there's a pink and white stripey wall, a huge painting of Mary Berry and lots of other quirky details... Perfect for the gram, hey?
Location
Now, in a lot of these previous posts I have been harping on about how Southampton needs a nice tearoom in the middle of the city... Well, here we are. Located just a bit further on from ASDA this really is a convenient place to get to. Hooray for delish cream teas within walking distance of West Quay!
So, overall, I'm very impressed by So:Cake in Southampton... I love the aesthetic, the food all looks amazing and the scones were fab. Oh, and the staff were really friendly, too! It's fair to say this place gets a big thumbs up from me!
So:Cake, Southampton - Review
1.5.19 • cream tea, finding the best cream tea on the south coast, food, lifestyle, southampton
Hellooooo, long time no chat. As I'm sure most of you are aware, I'm currently in my last few weeks of university and it's fair to say things are just a little bit busy. Of late, pretty much all of my days have been spent diss writing and preparing for exams, fun fun fun. But anyway, I'm alive and well, I just don't have too much time to be creating content over here on my blog. I have, however, been posting daily on Instagram, so if you don't follow me over there - that's where you're most likely to hear about what I'm up to!
Yesterday I headed down to So:Cake in Southampton, which recently opened in town, to try one of their cream teas in exchange for one of these posts. Whilst I was gifted the experience, my thoughts very much are my own - this gal knows a good scone from a bad one.
So, a little about So:Cake. It recently opened in Southampton city center, and, by recent, I mean a few weeks kind of recent. The decor is all really colourful and bright, with pink walls galore - perfect for that Instagram aesthetic.
As some of you might already know, I'm currently trying to cut out dairy (clotted cream is one of the things I'm giving a free pass, FYI) but I was very pleased to spot that So:Cake in Southampton had Oatly Barista on offer - my current milk substitute of choice, so that's a big thumbs up from me. Anyway, enough rambling... What did I think of the cream tea?
So:Cake, Southampton
Taste
The scone was lovely - it was warm when it came out, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Now, not to steal the scone's thunder but the raspberry jam that came with it was amazing - we all commented on just how good it was!
Clotted Cream Quantity
As always, this is the most important criteria for me and I wasn't disappointed. There was more than enough cream for the two halves of the scone so there are absolutely no complaints here.
Price
At £4.95, for a scone, a pot of tea, cream and jam - I think the price is very reasonable. So:Cake also offer an Afternoon Tea option which is £12.95 and includes the above as well as sandwiches and a slice of cake... Toria had one of these and it looked amazing, if only I liked sandwiches, huh?
Aesthetic
So, aesthetic is definitely something that has been properly considered in this tea room. All of the scones come out on cute cake stands, the teacups are all floral bone china numbers, there's a pink and white stripey wall, a huge painting of Mary Berry and lots of other quirky details... Perfect for the gram, hey?
Location
Now, in a lot of these previous posts I have been harping on about how Southampton needs a nice tearoom in the middle of the city... Well, here we are. Located just a bit further on from ASDA this really is a convenient place to get to. Hooray for delish cream teas within walking distance of West Quay!
So, overall, I'm very impressed by So:Cake in Southampton... I love the aesthetic, the food all looks amazing and the scones were fab. Oh, and the staff were really friendly, too! It's fair to say this place gets a big thumbs up from me!
Aaaah, today's cream tea post is a bit of a special one because Kettle & Cake is where I spent the afternoon of my 21st birthday. After a hefty scroll of google I came across Kettle and Cake and as soon as I saw the photos of the cakes I knew I had to visit.
Kettle & Cake, Southampton
Taste
The scone (yep, there was one) was delicious. It was really crispy on the outside but really soft on the inside. I opted for the fruited scone, as always, and it really didn't disappoint. I also had a slice of the rhubarb crumble cake and, oh my, it was INCREDIBLE. Potentially even better than the scone which really is saying something.Clotted Cream Quantity
Plenty of cream for the scone, no qualms here! Yessssss, Kettle & Cake.Price
The cream tea at Kettle & Cake in Southampton is £4.99, and, unsurprisingly, came with a pot of tea, a scone, jam and cream. The afternoon tea (which the girls had) comes with sandwiches, a slice of cake as well as all the usual cream tea components and is £12.50. I personally cannot stand sandwiches but apparently, they were delicious.Aesthetic
The decor was really really nice at this tearoom! It was fairly simple but had so many lovely touches. Each table had a vase with a few fresh flower stems and all of the food came out on pretty floral china.Location
This tearoom is located in Hedge End, in Southampton, which, is about a 20/25 minute drive from West Quay, so is not quite in the usual tourist part of the city. Of all of my criteria, location is the only one that lets this tearoom down - location aside, it's scoring very high marks indeed.
Where should I visit next?
Have you been to Kettle & Cake in Southampton?
Kettle & Cake, Southampton - Review
22.3.19 • cream tea, finding the best cream tea on the south coast, food, lifestyle, southampton
Aaaah, today's cream tea post is a bit of a special one because Kettle & Cake is where I spent the afternoon of my 21st birthday. After a hefty scroll of google I came across Kettle and Cake and as soon as I saw the photos of the cakes I knew I had to visit.
Kettle & Cake, Southampton
Taste
The scone (yep, there was one) was delicious. It was really crispy on the outside but really soft on the inside. I opted for the fruited scone, as always, and it really didn't disappoint. I also had a slice of the rhubarb crumble cake and, oh my, it was INCREDIBLE. Potentially even better than the scone which really is saying something.Clotted Cream Quantity
Plenty of cream for the scone, no qualms here! Yessssss, Kettle & Cake.Price
The cream tea at Kettle & Cake in Southampton is £4.99, and, unsurprisingly, came with a pot of tea, a scone, jam and cream. The afternoon tea (which the girls had) comes with sandwiches, a slice of cake as well as all the usual cream tea components and is £12.50. I personally cannot stand sandwiches but apparently, they were delicious.Aesthetic
The decor was really really nice at this tearoom! It was fairly simple but had so many lovely touches. Each table had a vase with a few fresh flower stems and all of the food came out on pretty floral china.Location
This tearoom is located in Hedge End, in Southampton, which, is about a 20/25 minute drive from West Quay, so is not quite in the usual tourist part of the city. Of all of my criteria, location is the only one that lets this tearoom down - location aside, it's scoring very high marks indeed.
Where should I visit next?
Have you been to Kettle & Cake in Southampton?
Oooh, what have we got here? A new blog series, huh? If you've ever read any of my Sick Tings posts you'll know that I'm very partial to a cream tea and have had a fair few in my time. I like to think that I'm quite the expert at judging what a good cream tea is and isn't so thought I'd impart this wisdom on the internet. My goal is to find the best cream tea on the south coast documenting it along the way. The current judging criteria are; taste, clotted cream quantity, price, aesthetic and location. Essentially, I'm going to try a whole load of different cream teas in the name of research and report back on each one in a blog post, giving it a full review.
So, where better to start than right here in Southampton? I'd heard a lot about Halladay's Tearooms but had never actually been myself. That all changed this week when Toria and I decided to check it out for lunch. It's located in Bedford Place, and has the prettiest decor, but more on that later. The tearoom itself is very small, it holds less than 30 people, but thankfully we arrived just as another group were leaving so didn't need to wait long for a table. I had the Halladay's cream tea and Toria opted for the breakfast - both were delicious. 
Hallday's Tearooms, Southampton
Taste
The most important feature: taste. The scones came out warm and were genuinely delicious. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and had a caramel kinda flavour. They were actually incredible. They were also fairly light (aka not stodgy at all) so I'm very glad I opted for two rather than just one!Clotted Cream Quantity
A deal-breaker, no? There's nothing more disappointing than a scone with a shoddy amount of clotted cream on it, so, this criterion is certainly one of the make-or-breakers for me. I can confirm that a very generous portion was provided that was more than enough for my two scones.Price
I had the Halladay's cream tea which includes a pot of tea, two scones and costs £7.25. It also comes with lots of fresh berries and two pots of jam, so overall I would say it was a fairly good price.Aesthetic
An absolute top scorer on the aesthetic front. Everything in the tearooms is pastel coloured, the cream tea comes out on a two-tiered stand and the walls are decorated with pretty plaques. There are fresh tulips on every table and it's just a bit of an Instagrammer's dream, yanno? 10/10 for aesthetics.Location
As aforementioned, Halladay's is located in Bedford Place in Southampton and it's fair to say there isn't an awful lot to do around there, which could be a bit of an issue if there is a huge queue for tables. (They don't take bookings!) It's also about a 15 minute walk from West Quay, so not somewhere convenient to just pop into for a tea after a trip to Primark.
Overall, with all things considered, I rate the cream tea at Halladay's pretty highly. The food was delicious, the decor really pretty and it wasn't too badly priced considering!
Where shall I try next?
Have you ever been to Halladay's Tearooms in Southampton?
Halladay's Tearooms, Southampton - Review
22.2.19 • cream tea, finding the best cream tea on the south coast, food, lifestyle, southampton
Oooh, what have we got here? A new blog series, huh? If you've ever read any of my Sick Tings posts you'll know that I'm very partial to a cream tea and have had a fair few in my time. I like to think that I'm quite the expert at judging what a good cream tea is and isn't so thought I'd impart this wisdom on the internet. My goal is to find the best cream tea on the south coast documenting it along the way. The current judging criteria are; taste, clotted cream quantity, price, aesthetic and location. Essentially, I'm going to try a whole load of different cream teas in the name of research and report back on each one in a blog post, giving it a full review.
So, where better to start than right here in Southampton? I'd heard a lot about Halladay's Tearooms but had never actually been myself. That all changed this week when Toria and I decided to check it out for lunch. It's located in Bedford Place, and has the prettiest decor, but more on that later. The tearoom itself is very small, it holds less than 30 people, but thankfully we arrived just as another group were leaving so didn't need to wait long for a table. I had the Halladay's cream tea and Toria opted for the breakfast - both were delicious.
Hallday's Tearooms, Southampton
Taste
The most important feature: taste. The scones came out warm and were genuinely delicious. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and had a caramel kinda flavour. They were actually incredible. They were also fairly light (aka not stodgy at all) so I'm very glad I opted for two rather than just one!Clotted Cream Quantity
A deal-breaker, no? There's nothing more disappointing than a scone with a shoddy amount of clotted cream on it, so, this criterion is certainly one of the make-or-breakers for me. I can confirm that a very generous portion was provided that was more than enough for my two scones.Price
I had the Halladay's cream tea which includes a pot of tea, two scones and costs £7.25. It also comes with lots of fresh berries and two pots of jam, so overall I would say it was a fairly good price.Aesthetic
An absolute top scorer on the aesthetic front. Everything in the tearooms is pastel coloured, the cream tea comes out on a two-tiered stand and the walls are decorated with pretty plaques. There are fresh tulips on every table and it's just a bit of an Instagrammer's dream, yanno? 10/10 for aesthetics.Location
As aforementioned, Halladay's is located in Bedford Place in Southampton and it's fair to say there isn't an awful lot to do around there, which could be a bit of an issue if there is a huge queue for tables. (They don't take bookings!) It's also about a 15 minute walk from West Quay, so not somewhere convenient to just pop into for a tea after a trip to Primark.
Overall, with all things considered, I rate the cream tea at Halladay's pretty highly. The food was delicious, the decor really pretty and it wasn't too badly priced considering!
Where shall I try next?
Have you ever been to Halladay's Tearooms in Southampton?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons