eggbaconchipsandbeans

The Cosy Teapot, 101 Carrington Street, Nottingham

The Cosy Teapot is an East Midlands favourite. It was voted Britain's Greatest Greasy Spoon in 2003. And they're not resting on their laurels. A splendid place.

I'm not sure my photography does this ebcb proper justice. This doesn't look as delicious as it tasted. I especially liked the random looking effect. It looks so casual, like it was thrown together, but this doesn't just happen, this kind of nonchalance takes years to achieve. The chips were sharp shards of crisp specialness, spearing their way into the soft flanks of the beans which were driven into a careering retreat for the side of the plate. The eggs peered imperiously over the battleground like generals directing their troops from afar. The bacon lurked around the corner, ready to strike when the taste buds had grown weary of the fight. What am I on about? I don't know. Suffice to say this was a top quality fry-up. Really excellent. Highly recommended.

Big old cup of tea and all. Big, strong and heartening.

I always like a menu above the counter. Leads to that odd eye contact moment. You want to look at the person behind the counter and smile but you also want to check the menu, so you flick between the two. Unless you always have the same thing. Ah-ha - another advantage of the ebcb.

I like having an order number. Makes it feel like you're in a system. You won't get overlooked.

Oops. Forgot the condiments in all the excitement. Here they are. Lovely set. I like the light-bulby salt and pepper.

Always nice to see painting on the window. Even better to see it from the inside.

I think one of the two men on phones has spotted me. Ooer. I wonder if they're talking to each other on their phones. Anyway, that's not important. Above them on the shelf you can see The Cosy Teapot's collection of, you've guessed it, teapots. Splendid. That's dedication to the cafe-keeping arts. Top marks Cosy Teapot. We shall return.

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Windy Ridge, Ashbourne Road, Winkhill, nr Leek

Here's an interesting example of what's actually happening to British cafes. A big chain - Little Chef - is kind of in trouble and is selling off loads of its sites. And they're being converted into brilliant, independent cafes, often by the people who used to work there before. It doesn't quite fit with the conventional wisdom of trad cafes being driven off by global business, but it's something you can see all over the country. This place, Windy Ridge, is a great example.

The ebcb is second to none. Look at all the textures on that egg. So many colours, shapes and dimensions. And lovely, nice fat chips - exactly halfway between crunchy and soft. Lots of bacon, which also covers the bases from light to dark. But, hang on a minute, where are the beans?  Oh there they are, lurking under the egg, like a marvelous surprise.

There's no disguising the Little Chef origins (and why would you want to?) but there's not been time for a really unique character to emerge in the decor yet.

But then you have a look at the menu and you start to get hints that before long, along with the scrummy grub, this is going to be a really interesting, really individual place.

Look at the magnificent stag to start with, they're injecting a gentlemen's club vibe into the shell of a Little Chef. Genius.

And this is a good sign too. Creating enormous set meals is a great sign of character in a cafe.

And these are just cute. Hurrah fo the Windy Ridge. I'm really looking forward to watching the quirks and charms emerge.

The Warsaw Diner, Nottingham

ebcb has gone OpenSource! Here's a contribution from Jonathan Brown. Anyone else want to do one? (Not sure I should have let him get away with the hash browns though.)

Just off the Derby Road in Nottingham, this is the unforgettable Warsaw Diner. Offering bizarre Polish food, incredible fry ups and fiery vodka this place is a little bit special.

The Warsaw Diner likes to be a bit different. Magnificent hash browns are served instead of chips.

Always good to see wallpaper scrapers being used where they belong… in the kitchen.

Text book condiments. Aunt Jemima looks absolutely radiant.

The 'American' menu

The 'Polish' menu.

Tower Restaurant, 107 Lumley Road, Skegness

The Tower is one of those huge places you only get at the seaside - designed to extract maximum custom from rainy days and a short summer. It's on the main drag in Skeggy - honoured seaside town of childhood. (If you're from Derby you have to go to Skegness for your holidays.) And it's just across from the Aroma Coffee Bar - also worth a visit.

The ebcb is superb - complimented by the quality crockery you get at the Tower. The very generous bean allocation masks some gorgeous seaside chips and nice pink bacon. And look at that funny egg - it looks a little like an alien seed pod has popped out just a few seconds earlier.

They've gone for that rustic / slightly ski-lodge feeling. Lots of wood and candle-like lights. But they've gone a bit further than most would - with antlers and stuffed birds scattered around the place. And it's huge - seating for 160. Imagine 160 people chomping down on knickerbocker glories and banana splits. That's the glory of the seaside.

Pay your bill or be cursed by The Eagle of The Tower.

Gents is the perfect cafe word. 'Gentlemen' is too formal - too posh. 'Men' is too unfriendly and matter of fact. But 'Gents' is just right. The right mix of friendliness and respect.

Mr Egg, 22 Hurst Road, Birmingham

Mr Egg is a magnificent place in the middle of Birmingham. The ebcb is splendid. Look at that decorative plate for a start. The chips are crisp and delicate, the beans juicey and energetic and the bacon's got that delicious hint of carbonisation. And bless that modest little egg, hiding away at the back there.

The interior is great practical cafe stuff. Easy to clean. Suitable for all kinds of patrons; the drunk and the sober. But it's also got some great little hints of exuberant individuality.

They're obviously equipped to deal with tons of customers - all at once. There's a real industrial feel to some of this stuff.

Perfect place to sit and watch Brum go by.

Sugar is one of those difficult decisions cafes have to make. Will it be sachets, bowls or dispensers? Or will it be - as per Mr Egg - one of these fantastic sugar stations? With, in this instance, a place for the dumping of tea bags. Mr Egg's gone for the plastic spoons but I'm always a fan of the places that have just a few metal spoons - stored in a mug of lukewarm water for extra hygiene.

See the bottom of this sign. Mr Egg managment. Simultaneously sinister and cute. Like the Mafia in Toy Town, running a speakeasy around the back of Noddy's place.

A helpful photographic menu accompanied by charming illustrations of Mr Egg himself.

And the coup de cafe - a large cloth egg stapled to the ceiling.

I don't seem to have a good exterior shot. (Though Pete Ashton's got one here). Except for this great sign outside. You can also eat like a king if you'd prefer.

must visit

apparently the cosy teapot in Nottingham has just won some kind of best fry-up in the country award. has to be worth a visit soon.

here's an article from ananova. I want this bloke's job.

Cafe awarded 'Britain's best greasy spoon' title

A traditional family cafe has won the title of best greasy spoon in Britain.

The Cosy Teapot in Nottingham was picked from hundreds of entrants in a search to find the perfect fry-up.

Self-nominated taste tester, chemistry graduate Rich Pelley, 29, was given the task of testing the top 50.

During August Mr Pelley, from south-west London, travelled 2,257 miles to 10 UK cities - eating 102 rashers of bacon, 84 sausages, 78 fried eggs, 39 servings of baked beans, and 50 rounds of toast on the way.

His checklist of criteria included thickness of the toast - as "thin sliced white is for wimps, real men prefer doorsteps the size of a soap box"; the consistency of the fried egg - "not too watery, not too rubbery"; and whether or not the greasy spoon attracted an essential mix of students and workmen.

The Cosy Teapot Cafe scored 23 out of a possible 25 for its combination of food, value for money, ambience and clientele, plus any other added ingredients which set it out from the crowd.

"From its charming waitress calling you 'Duck' to the amazing surroundings, The Cosy Teapot thoroughly deserved to win its crown," said Mr Pelley.

Subscribers to the website of men's magazine FHM were asked to nominate their favourite greasy spoon in a competition run in conjunction with milkshake brand Frijj.

Barbara Thompson, owner of The Cosy Teapot Cafe, on Carrington Street in Nottingham city centre, said: "I suppose one of our secrets is that we have always tried to create a family, friendly atmosphere."

Paul Davis, from Frijj, said: "For many people the greasy spoon is a British icon and a superb hangover cure, so we felt it was about time they got the recognition they deserve."