Archgate Cafe

simon1

real review! 31st January 2009

0 found this helpful

having read a few good reviews on this place we went along for my birthday..the decoration was what we expected so no problems there
we had the top meze which was served with only 1 pitta bread each..we asked for more and were charged for it on the bill!
there was no fish course..prawns squid etc just meat which although was well cooked left us feeling hungry for more
for anyone to write a good review raving about the food here then im sorry but they have never had a good turkish/greek meal or are friends of the owner!
meza at £17 a head where you are then charged for extra pitta is a joke
all other mezas i have had ive been offered more of the starters..non stop pittas and a fish course between the starters and meat
steer clear of this place if you really want a good turkish meal!
as for tummy fillers.. one piece of haloumi not much bigger than a 2 pence piece, no pork with the main and just a few bite sized pieces of meat!, no tarmosolata or dolmados with the starters..this place really just givers you cheap "fillers" but still charge the normal prices!..2 teaspoons of normal coleslaw! every thing was 2 teaspoons worth..really not happy having eaten there this evening..cant comment on teh cafe breafast side of things although i feel that it cant be any worse than there "turkish" food..real ripp off!

stantoncarlisle

there is life in archway 11th January 2009

1 found this helpful

Just opposite Archway Tube and open 7 days a week until 11 P.M., 10:30 on Sundays. The Archway angel must have planted his booted foot here. It just misses the shadow of the suicide tower opposite and compared to the local mottled pavement outside its sprinkly clean. They've taken a bit of bother with the decor and the seating. Flotillas of framed wall tiles, an alcoved fish tank, Mediterranean views and some chintzy postcards. They're going for the amateur taverna look which works. The solid counter forms a bulwark against the windy door. The counter area is festooned with hanging knickknacks galore giving it a lively fun buzz. One of my female mates recommended this place to me, told me I wouldn't be disappointed - she was right. Bright and cheery with good food. I had the Imam Bayildi, a Turkish meze of fried eggplant stuffed with tomatoes, onion, parsley, and dill it had a dressed salad with pomegranate. All arranged nicely on the plate. I'm coming back for more. I don't care if they play Lionel Ritchie & Magic radio smooth hits slightly too loud - the fish swimming around the miniature Acropolis love it and I was smitten too. A good place for a nibble, portions are smallish - if your seeking a good sized blow-out - Fuh-gettit. Still quibbles aside ... all the fun of a package holiday without any of the queues.

curlyfries

Generous cheap eats for empty bellies 4th November 2008

2 found this helpful

I'm quite happy for thamshere below to leave off reviewing the "real food" for a bit: too many comments about how COMPLETELY AWESOME this place is will have it taking bookings. I adore the Archgate Cafe, it is so entirely unassuming from the outside: a hilarious chaos of ceiling lamps and terrible mediterranean cover versions of 80s classics on the inside, and the food is fabulous.

If you pick carefully, you can overfill your belly for well under a tenner. The menu is chock full of all the usual suspects - hummus, aubergine, lamb kofte and a divine tzaziki (or cacic) - but it's worth getting a bit maverick and picking something you've not heard of before because it's a surefire treat (although I admit to hearing a few negative things about the squid). The portions are definitely generous and the whole thing has a real personal touch (especially when you're unpeeling the foil from around your Turkish stew). It's a full-on local favourite for me.

Still, I don't really want anyone else to go, so keep it quiet, would you?

simon1 at 31/01/09

sorry but you either have never eaten a good meal or are friends of the owners!

curlyfries at 12/02/09

How very open-minded of you.

I've done lots of eating Turkish food in Turkey since I last went and am going next week so I'll update my review when I've been (taking into account that I haven't been for months now and also keeping foremost in my frontal lobe the proper slating you've given it).

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thamshere

Good breakfasts 13th July 2008

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Not the cheapest full-english around at 6.50, but it does come with smoked bacon and a good proper pork sausage. Will be going back to check out the real food soon.