BETTY BERKINS
The Glasdir View
Pentre Halkyn
CH8 8BD
01352 372068
I really wanted to call Betty Birkins a hidden gem but given how popular it was on our visit, it's clearly not so hidden.
It is however, a bit of a gem.
Getting up late on a very grey and rainy Saturday, we decided to give this coffee shop in the Flintshire countryside a visit.
Arriving at 11.45am, we were offered both the lunch and breakfast menus.
I’d already heard about the cakes, so they were going to be a must but we needed something else first.
Between the menus there’s a decent choice, featuring some café classics – soups, baked potatoes, quiche, Welsh rarebit and sandwiches, plus plenty more, but it was a cooked breakfast that we both homed in on. There were also vegetarian and vegan options.
Ordering two large Welsh breakfasts (£11.45 each) and a pot of tea for two (£4.45), we started to take in our surroundings.
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The café is bright and airy, with lots of small details to enjoy (our table was topped with a map of the area, highlighting the café itself). It’s also dog-friendly, with items especially for the four-legged guests on the menu.
Betty’s is well staffed, and all of the team were very friendly and welcoming.
As we chatted, the café really started to fill up, and even a group of eight was accommodated.
Our breakfasts soon came and we dived in.
Made up of two rashers of bacon, two, sausages, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash brown and thick cut toast in your choice of white or brown bread, there was plenty.
We barely spoke as we devoured every last bit. I even had my tomatoes (not usually a fan) much to my partner’s disappointment.
One of the best bits for me was the hash brown, which was nice and chunky, and certainly seemed homemade. Extras can be ordered too. Delicious!
We both agreed that while feeling pretty satisfied, we would manage room for cake. These sweet treats are baked in house by Betty Berkins’ own pastry chef, and there was so much to choose from.
There were scones, cupcakes, brownies and a whole host of by-the-slice cakes but in the end I went for a long time favourite, carrot cake (£4.95), and my other half the lemon meringue cheesecake (£4.95).
Mine was moist and had a lovely subtle spice to it, complimented by the not too sweet creamy icing.
For the interest of research, I did of course sample the cheesecake, which was beautiful - soft and creamy, right amount of lemon and a perfectly cooked meringue topping.
It took my partner right back to his childhood when his granma would make lemon meringue, and he heaped praise on our host for the excellent dessert.
Betty Berkins is a coffee shop (a great choice of coffees and hot chocolates – with all the trimmings of course – are available) but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s basic.
The food is well thought out. Looking at the dishes being served around us, this is so much more than just a coffee shop.
And with a delightful gift shop next door, you’d really struggle to find a reason not to go.
- Betty Berkins have just started serving Sunday dinners and December will see them host Breakfast With Santa, pre-booking is essential for both, visit their website or Facebook page for details. Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 9am-4pm
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