The News Café Salisbury review : our favorite coffee spot of the week

The News Café Salisbury review : our favorite coffee spot of the week

Nestled along New Canal in the heart of Salisbury, The News Café has quickly established itself as a culinary hotspot since opening its doors in September 2023. As passionate supporters of local dining establishments, we couldn’t resist exploring this relatively new addition to Salisbury’s café scene for our weekly coffee spot review. After hearing positive buzz about their all-day breakfast options and quality coffee, we decided to start our weekend with a morning visit to see if The News Café lives up to its growing reputation.

A fresh addition to Salisbury’s café landscape

Following the success of their Plymouth location, The News Café brought its unique concept to Salisbury with an appealing menu that spans from breakfast favorites to hearty lunch options. The café’s bright interior creates a welcoming atmosphere for both quick coffee stops and leisurely brunches.

Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by attentive staff who promptly showed us to our table. The service remained consistently efficient throughout our visit, with our waitress quickly taking orders and ensuring our needs were met without feeling rushed. This level of attention contributed significantly to our positive experience.

The café offers an extensive breakfast and brunch menu served until 4pm daily, making it an ideal spot for late risers or those seeking breakfast foods beyond the typical morning hours. Beyond breakfast, their main menu features a variety of options including:

  • Classic burgers with creative twists
  • Flavorful chicken wings
  • Generously loaded fries
  • Traditional fish and chips
  • Moules frites for seafood lovers

While we were tempted by many lunch options, our mission focused on evaluating their morning offerings. The breakfast selection showcases both traditional favorites and unique specialties, providing options for various tastes and appetites.

Delicious coffee that exceeds expectations

Any noteworthy café must excel in its coffee offerings, and The News Café certainly delivers in this department. We ordered a latte and cappuccino (both priced at £3.95) to accompany our breakfast selections. Both drinks arrived promptly and at the perfect temperature—hot enough to maintain flavor but cool enough to enjoy immediately.

The coffee itself deserves special mention. Using quality beans with a rich, balanced flavor profile, the baristas demonstrated considerable skill in their craft. The latte featured velvety steamed milk with the ideal ratio of espresso, while the cappuccino offered the perfect balance of foam, milk, and coffee. Neither drink required additional sweetening, a testament to the quality of their coffee program.

For those seeking alternatives, the café also offers a range of specialty teas, fresh juices, and other beverages to complement their food menu. However, we highly recommend trying their expertly crafted coffee drinks as they represent some of the best in Salisbury.

Beverage Price Our Rating
Latte £3.95 9/10
Cappuccino £3.95 8.5/10

Breakfast offerings worth waking up for

Our first breakfast selection was the breakfast brioche priced at £8.95. This substantial offering comes packed with sausage, bacon, fried egg, hash brown, and Monterey Jack cheese all nestled within a soft brioche roll. The ingredients were fresh and of noticeably higher quality than similar options at fast-food establishments. While the standard version includes a fried egg, the kitchen happily accommodated a request to omit this component.

The brioche bun itself was perfectly toasted, providing a slight crunch that gave way to a soft interior. The sausage was particularly impressive—clearly house-made with a proper meat-to-fat ratio and subtle seasoning. A slight criticism would be that without the egg, the sandwich lacked some moisture, though this was easily remedied with a touch of condiment.

Our second selection, the fishcakes benedict (£10.95), offered a creative twist on the breakfast classic. This dish featured a generously sized fishcake as the base instead of the traditional English muffin. The fishcake itself contained substantial chunks of smoked haddock and king prawn, with a crispy exterior that provided textural contrast.

Topped with a perfectly poached egg (with a mostly runny yolk) and a dollop of creamy hollandaise sauce, the dish was finished with a sprinkle of fresh dill. A side of peppery rocket added both color and a welcome bitter note to balance the richness. While slightly pricier than some menu options, the quality and portion size justified the cost.

Value assessment and final thoughts

Our total bill came to just over £30 including a 10% service charge. While this might seem slightly steep for breakfast, the quality of ingredients and execution elevates The News Café above many chain establishments in the area. For budget-conscious visitors, the menu includes more affordable options such as eggs on toast (£7.95) or toast with preserves (£4.95).

For special occasions or those with a sweet tooth, the apple crumble pancakes certainly caught our attention for future visits. Similarly, their burger offerings look promising for lunch or dinner service.

Based on our experience, The News Café deserves recognition as a standout breakfast destination in Salisbury. The combination of quality coffee, flavorful food prepared with care, and attentive service places it among our favorite morning spots in the city. Whether you’re a local resident or just passing through Salisbury, this New Canal establishment is well worth adding to your café rotation.

The café’s early success suggests they’ve identified a winning formula, balancing quality with reasonable value in an appealing setting. As they continue to establish themselves in Salisbury’s dining scene, we anticipate The News Café will become an enduring favorite for breakfast and coffee enthusiasts throughout the region.

Romuald Hart
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