Gourmand writes: In Cricklewood, it isn't hard to find examples of businesses getting it all wrong. There's Lihiniya, the restaurant that's scared of customers, and Cafe Nur, where we weren't even allowed to sit down.
But for me, the Broadway's leading purveyor of inadequacy is the hotel without a name (pictured, just for fun). It's impossible to find it on the internet and if you've got a room there (thanks to some psychic miracle or badly-timed auto breakdown), you can't tell anybody where you're staying. Perhaps it was the first hotel in the world ever, and the name "Hotel" was completely original at the time. Or perhaps it's just rubbish.
Broadway Cafe Restaurant, or to give it its full name displayed on its sign, Broadway Cafe Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Dinner All Day Breakfast (sometimes just called BCRBLDADB by syllable-shy Cricklewodians), is of similar ilk. It's utterly featureless.
I could thumb through a thesaurus all day trying to find words to describe it, but I'd fail because thesauri only contain words with meanings. How could anything be so dull? Was it designed by blind communists? The funeral directors next door looks more exciting. I'm going to give up now because it's simply beneath description.
Inside, a few old codgers were drinking milky tea and listening to the football on the radio. "I've had it up to here with you," they must have screamed at their sagging, nagging wives before truddling out of their Cricklewood griefholes. "I'm going to BCRBLDADB so I can listen to Alan Green on Radio 5 Live in peace!"
As Gormless keenly observed, there are three things almost worth noting: a couple of plastic duck heads kicking around, the worryingly young age of the staff, and a picture of broccoli on the menu when there's no broccoli available to order. Nice try, Gormless, but in my book (although evidently not yours) child labour doesn't win a restaurant bonus points.
Oh yeah, the food. Gormless ate a totally average jacket potato with cheese and I had a distinctly average tuna sandwich. God, this Gullets Over Broadway lark's starting to get depressing.
4/10
Gormless writes: Gullets is a nocturnal pursuit. For this cafe we had to break with protocol. It is only open during daylight hours, perhaps because the staff appear to be schoolchildren. The Broadway is a different proposition when lit by the sun. The passers-by, the dirty streets and ugly signage are all too illuminated; no longer can it be imagined as a backdrop to some Suede-style urban romance. It is Cricklewood, it is a bit of a mess.
The cafe has had its interior designed by a surrealist: plastic duck heads pop up from pot plants, incongruous objects are nailed to the wall, and the menu is illustrated with a picture of broccoli you cannot order. If one can orientate oneself after these shocks then a pleasant time can be had. The Sunday afternoon radio was plying football and local aged lads turned up to listen, despite the game being shown on screens nearby. Perhaps they suffered humiliation at Cafe Nur beforehand.
I ordered a jacket potato with cheese. It was similar to the one I enjoyed at Four Seasons, with a more substantial salad. I ate it without incident and it was fine, although, in retrospect, it would have been more interesting if a sprite jumped out and danced across my face. Maybe next time.
Overall score: 10/20
BCRBLDADB is average.
Thank you thank you thank you I've always wondered about this mystery Bates Hotel. Now you've done it for me and I don't have to go.
ReplyDeleteAlso weren't you supposed to come to my Elvis meal and if so, why didnt you turn up?
You need to go to Pedro's, a bit further down. Superb fast efficient service and if you get the pork shashwa, chips and salad that should go down well. The Roast Chicken Dinner is pretty good too
ReplyDeleteIts also worth going down as far as the Heritage Inn (past the bingo hall, near matalan) for some carrebean food. The Crowne should also be sampled
ReplyDeleteAnd also the new Wine Bar with the wooden front, Inbetween Zeytoon and the crown
ReplyDeletehahahaa, hilarious! the first ever hotel was in cricklewood!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. Very excited about the Heritage Inn.
ReplyDelete...and I am excited by this Roast Chicken Dinner!
ReplyDeleteLove this blog. Keep going lads! I left Cricklewood 3 months ago, I now live vicariously through you!
ReplyDeleteI've lived in Manstone Road for about one year and each day I passed in front of the "hotel". The sign "no vacancies" was never absent. They must have either a thriving business, either only one room rented by the year to... heavens knows who.
ReplyDeleteWell am just about to make your day. New to Cricklewood is
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityultima.com/London/Cricklewood_Takeaway
A comprehensive list of takeaways with online Menus. No more looking for that Menu that came through the post, or wandering out in the cold and rain. Just go online and choose from Thai, Indian, Chinese , Pizza or Moroccan
Hi
ReplyDeletelike your blog
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