Neighbourhood Cafe

Finally went to Neighbourhood Cafe on Woolton Road. I've been saying I need to try here for years and eventually went today for lunch with Holly. It's bigger than I thought it was and always looks busy when I go past it.

It looked full at the back and we manged to get the table right by the window.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese, topped with capers, red onion and tomato bagel - £10.95

Matcha latte - £4.50

I'm sure when I read this on the menu it said it had avocado. It actually looks crap and tasted just how it does - crap. Was really disappointed. Hardly any smoked salmon, a few salad leaves and the bagel wasn't even toasted. I've had a lot of smoked salmon bagels and they've been so much better than this. I could have made it better for less than half the price! 

Holly got Avocado toast, topped with feta, tomato, 2 poached eggs and added bacon - £9.95 + £1.75

Matcha latte with almond milk - £4.50 + 50p

Holly said her's was nice. I was really disappointed considering I've been wanting to try here for years. It's always busy so thought it was going to be good but don't think I'll be going back again. The menu online is different and I forgot to take a photo because I am convinced my bagel should have had avocado but I didn't say anything.

Haven't eaten out in a while but have been disappointed today and last weekend when I went to Il Ristorante by Crust and the roast I had at The Old School House. Hopefully whatever next on the list is a lot better!

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The Old School House, Sunday Roast

Went to The Old School House tonight for a Sunday roast with Sarah. We did go to Hafla Hafla but they said they had a large party coming in so didn't have a free table at the minute for 2. The Old School House was where we were going to go anyway. They had the Liverpool v Man Utd match on so it was busy and a bit loud when we got there. It was 4-0 then finished 7-0 so everyone was a might rowdy. The table they gave us was right next to a TV. 

I've been here before for brunch last summer but not for lunch or dinner. As it was Sunday we went for the Sunday roast. It says they serve it until they run out so our back up was going to be a pizza as they do pizza and other bits too.

Sarah got the Veggie Nut Roast with all the trimmings - £17.50

I got the Pork Belly Roast with all the trimmings - £16.50

Roast pork belly, roast potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, roasted carrots and parsnip, sweet potato mash and 1 tender stem broccoli

I asked for my gravy separate as I only put gravy on the meat, Yorkshire pudding and potatoes. I don't put it on the veg. I don't want everything to taste the same!

It was massive and I'm so full after it - didn't even eat it all because there was that much.

The Yorkshire pudding wasn't great - it was dead dry and was burnt, over done. Pork belly wasn't crispy and was hard to cut with just a normal knife. They were stingy with just the one piece of broccoli. I think the roast we had in Leaf on Smithdown was better.

Might try the pizza and hope that's better than the one I had yesterday from Il Ristorante by Crust. As long as it's not dead salty and too thin so it goes all sloppy! Also our server was very strange. Other than the food it was nice to catch up as we don't really see each other. We see each other in the gym but don't train together like we used to. So we definitely need to catch up more often!

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Il Ristorante by Crust

 

Crust in Woolton Village last summer changed to Il Ristorante by Crust. It's a combination of Il Forno and Crust. Il Forno - is an Italian restaurant in town which I haven't actually tried and then Crust which is still open on Bold Street. Not been to Crust for years after the last time as the pizza wasn't great. It was sloppy and wet so that put me off from going again then it changed to this so hopefully this would be an improvement.

The menu has a lot more mains and pasta where as previously when it was Crust it was predominantly pizza and did have quite a few pasta dishes with like 2 salads. But now it has salads, fish, meat. A bigger variety menu.

I went with Danielle today for lunch. It was dead when we got there, there was only a dad with his daughter in there but not sure if he was staff or knew the people. It was 1:45pm on a Saturday afternoon. 2 families did come while we were finishing and seen people coming in to make a booking.

Ravioli Bufala E Melazane - Fresh homeade ravioli with buffalo mozzarella D.O.P. and aubergine - £15.50

Calabrese - Tomato San Marzano D.O.P. mozzarella, Italian sausage, n'duja topped with burrata and virgin olive oil - £13

(You got a choice of base, Original Crust, Five Grain, Black Dough, Organic and Gluten Free. We went for Five Grain)

Wasn't sure if the ravioli was going to be a white or a tomato sauce but the pasta was very al dente. Definitely could have done with a couple more minutes. The filling was nice though but Very small portion. There was only 5 pieces! They were big but still very small and wouldn't have filled me if I got that for myself. We also got a pizza and thought this sounded a bit different. It was sloppy and wet bec because the base was too thin which was what put me off from going there since. So the pizza hasn't improved or changed then. It was also really salty and I was really thirsty when I got back.

I'm not sure why they changed it and did a complete refurb as it only opened in June 2018 as me and Holly went on the opening day. I think it was fine being Crust but needed to improve on the pizza but clearly the refurb was just the interior and not with the food and chefs. They need new pizza chefs as the pizza was nice just too wet and sloppy! Probably wouldn't go back for pizza unless they do improve and change

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