Cafe Kozzy is just across the road from the previously reviewed Becks - though Becks has changed, it looks like this now...

Anyway, back to the Kozzy. Fancy menus. Good. 

I ordered in slightly the wrong order. I love these little ordering slips and the codes contained therein. I'll always think of Baked Beans as being in Bflat from now on. 

Always nice to get to choose your strength with the teabag. And to have somewhere to put it. Classic.

And the ebcb is magnificent. Huge. It's hard to convey just how big these plates are. They're big like the seas on Mars are big. You know, big.

Maybe this view will help convery it. For a sense of perspective, that mug at the back, that mug is twice the height of a London bus. The chips are that lovely pale, crunchy variety, starchy arrows aimed at your heart, the bacon is rich and pink like the petals on a meat rose, the beans orange like Martian blood, the egg as white and pure as virginal linen. All over nice.

Simple, efficient interior, flawless, speedy service. A fantastic ebcb lunch pop-in. Well done Cafe Kozzy.

Again, it's been a while. Sorry. I've forgotten how to do this. The First Step is a must though, I've been coming every week or so for a few months and it's a brilliant place.

I think the best thing is the enormity of the plates. Hugely, vastly generous. So the beans have got all that room to spread out and relax. You get a layer of beans that's only one bean thick, like a sort of delicious graphene.

And look at these brilliant chips. Crisp and fluffy. Existing as two states of matter at the same time. Genius.

The tapestry menus are a nice touch too.

They get very busy at lunchtimes and are masters of table maximisation. They use these reserved signs to keep tables free and ready for deployment when needed. If you're a regular you might get granted permission to sit at one of these tables. That's a special moment.

This is a great place. I'm very lucky to be a regular here. It's a friendly, tasty place. What more could you want?

Simon sent me a splendid email:

"I felt compelled to send you a photograph of my all time favourite café and just to tell you a bit about it:
 
The New Born Restaurant was a typical greasy spoon café and was situated in Westbourne Grove London W2 just across from Hereford Road. The  photograph in the above attachment is from over 30 years ago and at that time there was an eccentric but very lovely landlady who owned a number of houses in Hereford Road and she was proud of the fact that she charged the lowest rents for bedsits in Central London (£9.00 per week). Many bedsitters from Hereford Road would come here on a Saturday or Sunday morning to meet fellow bedsitters and to nurse a hangover from the previous nights revelling.
 
Sadly the New Born closed down in 1984 and was replaced by a Chinese Restaurant. I’m really not sure when it started up. I guess around 1970 but could have been earlier. I remember the proprietor and chef (one in the same person) who was called Cyril."

Wanted: an Angel to take over the National Milk Bar in Llanidloes, Mid Wales

In March 2010 the small and shrinking north Wales chain of National Milk Bars announced the intention to sell this beautiful old cafe. Russell featured the one in Machynlleth which has also been closed down. I’d say that the interior is late 1960’s (or certainly looks that) with fold down seats in booths and a large map of the milk bar empire on the wall. It is always full, with a very strong and loyal following, so God knows why National Milk Bar is closing it...maybe poor management...but the local customers plus summer tourists would be enough to build a great cafe.
 
I should add that it is in absolutely the best central location in Llanidloes, the most beautiful small town in mid Wales and probably the nicest and friendliest in Britain.  So there is a chance to get in there and put in an offer and get the thing intact before the company strips it of everything that makes it fun and unique.

And he sent these pictures:

It does look rather lovely. Want to know more? Contact George: george@coinet.org.uk