Week of Breakfasts #3: Bordesley Street Diner

Richard Trengrouse’s enthusiasm for big breakfasts shows no sign of abating.  Here’s his writings about Bordesley Street Diner, the third stop on our Week of Breakfasts:

Day 3 Wednesday 4th March: Bordesley Street Café/Diner
Half way through the week, can I face three more large English breakfasts?

Cycled in again this morning, the winds and lashing rains of last night had gone and it was a wonderful clear and cold journey. The freezing weather of a couple weeks ago has played havoc with the road surfaces and the cyclist is constantly having to avoid pot holes some of which are of unfathomable depth.

Today was the Bordesley Street Café/Diner,  just up from the junction of Alison Street. The premises that houses the café is a monumental six story cliff of a building with some of the steepest roofs and tallest chimneys in Digbeth, its well worth just standing back and taking a good look at it. Just up from the diner is the row of six cottages the last in Digbeth proper, in the early years of the last century they were occupied by Italian immigrants-who according to a local story knocked hatches between the houses so they could pass pasta dishes between them.

I have known the Bordesley Street Diner for over thirty years this is the first time I have eaten there. There was a time when I was in my twenties when it was a dark rather intimidating place where ghostly figures loomed in thick fug of cigarette smoke.

Not now!  Recently refitted its light, airy and so clean I would have been happy to eat my food off the floor. There is a good range of newspapers available for customers and as we arrived trade was becoming brisk always a good sign.

Four of us had arrived by 7.45am Nicky and her lodger, Paul and me,  Michelle’s alarm clock didn’t go off. Tea was served in individual tea pots-very nice touch- and there was enough for two good mugs from each pot. The breakfasts were again very good. My veggie one consisted of a well fried egg hash browns, beans, mushrooms and tomatoes. The carnivores had the usual full range of meaty treats with a stack of toast, Nicky’s photo gives some idea of the gargantuan task that faced us – do people eat this much every morning? And the full breakfast usually contains two eggs!! We only ever order one.

Pat and Carol made us very welcome, but were very camera shy. Their display cabinet showed an array of home baked cakes and sandwiches, which we will have to try another time. How about the Digbeth Sandwich trail?

Pat and Carol were also very keen to point out they do catering for parties and the like too, so you can get a collection of yummy cakes delivered to your door:

As for me, the early mornings and bad diet are starting to take their toll.  But there’s no rest for the wicked.  Join in the fun at 7.30am tomorrow in Barn Street Diner.