- Now Closed -
118 Hall Road
118 Hall Road
Norwich
NR1 3HP
Limited parking spaces outside
Limited parking spaces outside
Birchy's Diner was looking a lot better since I had last visited.
A vast selection and now they are open till 11.pm
I was tempted to sit outside but needed more photos so decided to sit inside instead.
An excellent breakfast selection at great prices
Your order is prepared here.
Plenty of sauces to squirt over your breakfast are found on each table.
The place was full when I arrived.
By the time I had finished everyone else had left, was it something I said??
Free tea or coffee with all breakfasts.
I usually can't decide between toast or bread & butter, no such dilemma at Birchy's though and just look at the presentation!
The bumper breakfast, as soon as it arrived I knew I was about to eat something special.
Yep, take a closer look and make it your next place to visit, you won't be disappointed.
Long before I started "The Fry Up Inspector" I had visited Birchy's Diner, probably around 2007. It had always stuck in my mind as the fry up I had back then was awful, the worse I had ever eaten actually. A couple of friends recently had mentioned that Birchy's had undergone a refit and things were different now. Having spent the past week in Italy eating lots of delicious pizza, pasta and seafood I decided it was time for another fry up and Birchy's popped into my head again. To be honest despite recommendations the 2007 visit was making me feel a tad cautious but I decided there was only one way to find out...
Upon entering - Inside there are about 6 tables with the counter located at the back of the cafe, there are also 4 tables outside. Everything inside is clean and tidy and each table has a menu and a good selection of condiments. Order at the counter, take your drink to a table and the food and cutlery will be bought over. 8/10
Service - When I first arrived at the counter I had not seen the menu's on the tables but the lady serving me showed me the list of breakfast options, I chose the bumper breakfast. The staff seemed friendly and efficient bringing everything over to my table when it was ready and saying "goodbye and thanks" to all their customers as they left. 8/10
Contents - 2 sausages, 2 bacon, 2 fried eggs, 2 hash browns, baked beans, fried bread, toast & butter, bread & butter and tea or coffee. 8/10
Presentation - Everything looked cooked perfectly and sat nicely together on the large oval plate, the side plate with toast and bread & butter was served by a perfectionist! As soon as I saw everything arrive I knew I was in for a real treat! 9/10
The food - Ok, lets start with the sausages, decent quality with a good texture, none of your economy crap here, these tasted damn nice! The bacon was cooked just right and tasted great too. 2 perfect fried eggs that sat nicely on top of crisp and golden perfect fried bread. The hash browns were fluffy in the centre and nice and crispy on the outside and the beans were the perfect stodgy consistency that I like the best. Great toast and fluffy white bread & butter finished off this magnificent dish that could do no wrong. 10/10
Value for money - £5.75 for a perfectly cooked breakfast served with tea or coffee and bread served 3 different ways is not to be missed! 9/10
Veggie option - 3 different veggie breakfasts available (see menu pic above)
Overall - I was hoping for something good this time round but nothing prepared me for the fantastic fried breakfast being served at Birchy's. Mushroom and tomato fans may not share my enthusiasm however these are available on different breakfast options as is black pudding, they may be available as extras too but I don't know for sure. What I do know though is this place is well worth a visit and is right up there with Harty's Diner as my one of my favourite places so far. Well done Birchy's!! 9/10
I just love this blog, I will do the same in my country, there aren't sites like this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks and yes, lets spread the word on where the best fried breakfasts can be found!
ReplyDeleteI have many fond memories of Birchy's as I used to live just around the corner on Harford Street.
ReplyDelete1. Do you remember the first time?
- Having lived on Harford street for several years but never ventured in I finally plucked up the courage one Sunday when I was hungover. To my bleary eyes there was a lot of choice on the breakfast menu and under pressure I went for the "Buster" the person serving me asked if I was sure which I took to be a challange. When it arrived it was probably more food than I would eat in 3 days (I'm not sure anyone needs chips for breakfast) but I cleared my plate.
2. The day after the night before.
- After I returned home from my stag-do it only seemed right and proper that all my friends piled into Birchy's for a proper fry-up. Many were new to the Birchy's experience. All left with a smile on their face and ketchup on their chins.
3. The Mexican.
-After Birchy's was referbished my friends and I were intrigued in the "late night" menu - and in particuar the mexican selection. 6 of us picked up some drinks from the Co-op next door and had a mexican meal there. To be honest we were a bit dubious of what it would be like however the food was actually pretty good - definately on a par with somewhere like Pedro's. We were the only people in their though so it probably is a bit odd to go there for an evening meal.
4. so long, farewell, auf weidershien
ReplyDelete,goodbye
- My last Birchy's was on the day I moved house. our kettle and cooking stuff was packed and so we nipped over the road and had a bacon buttie and brought back teas for the removal men (the put in about 10 packets of sugar for the one person who asked for sugar.) Amaxingly it was the first time my wife had been in...she had lived on Harford street for 10 years.
All in all the thing I miss most is some of offers they used to have on the blackboard outside in particular "big baps".
Went there for the first time a couple of years ago after an all night house party at my friends on Hall Road. All of us still standing at 9 AM made the trip.
ReplyDeleteNormally frequenting The Unthank Kitchen or Bond Street Cafe as they are both closer to where I live (not to mention more well known), I found Birchy's to be of a better quality, had a greater selection, was better for price but most importantly, in contrast to most other Diners, didn't just have standard "Full english, Bumper & Buster" breakfasts, but also the "Birchy's Belly Buster"
I must admit I have not tried Birchy's belly buster yet but am well up for trying it some day soon!
ReplyDeletesuperb place
ReplyDeleteFantastic food and friendly people. Highly recommended!
ReplyDeleteBirchy's Diner has changed hands!
ReplyDeleteIt is now called Hall Road Diner and there is a shiny new sign over the door and a freshly painted décor.
I'm very pleased to report that the staff are exactly the same though, and the food is as good if not better than ever. 100% satisfied customer.
Thanks for telling me about the change of hands, it sounds great! I will re-visit again soon and review it as a new cafe.
Delete