On Sunday I met my friend Nyla at one of the oldest restaurants on Queen Street West. It’s called The Queen Mother Cafe and opened in 1978. (The building it is in is much older though, having been built in the mid 1800s.) All those years in operation and it’s still one of the best. If you go on any work day at lunch time and you might not get a table.
As it would with many long time resident of this neighbourhood, The Queen Mother, holds lots of memories, almost as though there are ghosts in there. In fact, Nick and I and all of his immediate family (except for one sister who couldn’t fly because she was very pregnant at the time) had brunch there the morning following our wedding. It was the only time since I’ve known them that we all got the chance to sit at a table together. (They’ve all been together since then of course, however without us, as they live far away.)
Nyla and I lucked out table-wise on Sunday, getting a coveted spot in the bay window. It was nice to sit in the sunlight and watch all the goings on, on busy Queen Street.
I usually get the same thing every time I go there … it’s a vegetarian burger made with grains and beans. It is so good! If I were to go back tomorrow, I would probably get it again. Nyla also chose it but without the pita bread, as she was saving room for a piece of pie.
Are there any places that you feel you’ve been going to forever?
Thanks for dropping over. I am going thrifting with my sister today. So excited to see what treasures lay in waiting!
xo loulou
It looks like a really nice place, I hope you find some good stuff while you’re out thrifting. X
Thanks … I did find some great things while thrifting! I’ll do a post on them next week so you can see.
Those are really nice pictures of you and your friend. There’s a cute little café I go to near me, but it’s still new to me. I think it will take a while before they feel like they are places I’ve been going forever. Unfortunately in England, businesses come and go very frequently and the town planners are intent on ‘rebuild and renew’.
There are a lot of places that change every few years around here too. But you caused me to stop and think about the ones that have stayed the same for as long as I’ve been in this specific part of town (which is on and off, since I was a teen at university … Now is the third time I’ve lived in my neighbourhood), and I can think of 9 restaurants that never seem to change. All of them are more casual than fancy, with tried and true menus.
There are some places that my grandparents took me to every weekend as a kid but I no longer go to them. P.s. you have pretty hair and the pie looks delicious.
What a cozy and interesting spot. And the food looks so good. It is so rare to find a restaurant that’s been around for that long around here. Well, I can think of a few, but they are not really in my budget!
That’s interesting … In our part of town the expensive places change pretty regularly and it’s the affordable ones that have stuck around long-term.
ooh I love that lettered door!
It’s neat right? I was trying to figure out if there was rhyme or reason to the red years and what is written beside them, but I couldn’t. I didn’t try that hard and I’m sure there must be though.
Two of my favourites that I have been going to for a few years are The Art Of Tea (which I’ve mentioned a few times on OM&HC) and Oaklahoma in The Northern Quarter in Manchester. Both have a similar feel in that non of the furniture match and they both have a very laid back vibe. Both are great places for a cake, a brew and a chat.
(Thanks for the button over there on the side :) )
Hi Davey. You’re welcome for the sidebar button!
This place looks really awesome!
<3 Melissa
wildflwrchild.blogspot.com
Ooh, I love the Queen Mum, such a great place! Their rooftop patio in the summer is such an oasis, and I love all the food there. And nice to see you with Nyla, you are both looking lovely!