Tucked away in the pretty little village of Beadnell, a mere 10 minute stroll from the beach, the Salt Water Cafe has been making its mark the Northumberland coastline for some time now.
Part cutesy local cafe and part evening bistro, Salt Water Cafe has managed to sell itself perfectly to locals and visitors aplenty.
Arriving at the tail end of a power cut, we settled down for a brew before lunch. Not one to back down, they ran that hot water urn to within an inch of its life to keep the customers topped up with hot drinks on a chilly day, tiding us over until the power was brought back up.
Browsing the menu and the changing specials certainly gave us an appetite. Arriving at that awkward time between brunch and lunch where you can never decide which to pick, we opted for 1 brunch special dish and a main menu sandwich.
The Salt Water Cafe Club (£8) came decked out with succulent chicken and smoky pancetta, given an Italian nod with pesto and finished with salad. Served along side was a dressed side salad. Husband had worried how filling an £8 sandwich could really be but after the 60 mile drive just to get there, it certainly hit the spot and kept him full well in to the evening.
Choosing from the specials board, I went with the Salt Water Cafe Smashed Avocado, tomato, poached egg and hollandaise sauce (£8.50). Admittedly as soon as I ordered it, I was a bit unsure whether I’d be keen on avocado smothered in hollandaise sauce but fear not, the dish was a game changer! Component parts were served up individually for quite honestly one of the best brunches I have had. Simple, yes, but everything was just so. The avocado smash sat atop toast and spinach while the crisp fresh tomatoes were drizzled with a balsamic reduction. The runny poached eggs sat proudly on top, with hollandaise to the side. It was delicious and didn’t hit the sides on the way down – what a good saying that is!
Our visit was quick but perfect. The food was fresh and delicious and provided the fuel we needed for the long blustery walk along the beach. We are hoping to make it back in the summer on an evening to road test their bistro offerings.