Biddy Samples Breakfast at Bill's

I was in town for a (very) early meeting recently and with no time for breakfast beforehand it seemed a great idea to treat myself post-meeting. 

Bill’s is a fairly new kid on the block (well, the Market Place anyway) and a great addition to the choice of eateries here in Newbury. 

First impression as you walk in is good – the staff charming and attentive. They’ve created a very comfortable atmosphere here, with leather seating, pretty lights and plenty of tables. And I was able to have a window seat – a great vantage point to watch the world go about its business.

I had not had a coffee as yet so I enjoyed my first one of the day while I studied the menu. And darn good coffee it was too. I also liked the fact that you automatically get offered water for the table – I wish more places would do this as a matter of course. 

The breakfast menu has lots of lovely choices: bacon or sausage brioche roll; buttermilk pancakes; granola (with yoghurt and berry compote – yum); porridge (with bananas, hazelnuts and honey – double yum); scrambled eggs on sour dough toast (add salmon or bacon it you fancy it), to name but a few. Or of course you can go the whole hog and have Bill’s Breakfast – just what you’d expect, bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast (and add baked beans, black pudding and crispy potatoes if you’re really hungry!) – and there’s an equally filling veggie option too. But what I really wanted, and so what I had, was the wonderfully comforting eggs benedict (eggs royale or florentine also available).The sour dough toast was delicious, the eggs cooked to perfection, served with ‘proper ham’ (none of your pre-packed rubbish here!), a fabulous hollandaise and all topped with a tasty sprinkle of pumpkin seeds. A generous portion and truly delicious.

Bill’s clearly appeals to a wide mix of people – enjoying breakfast or coffee and cake (scones and toasted teacakes on offer too) were other lone diners like me, couples, parents with small children and those engaged in business meetings. You get the feeling nothing is too much trouble here – the chap on the next table wanted to swap an item on the full breakfast: ‘no problem’.

Breakfast aside, the lunch and dinner menus look great too – but that’s for another day. But I ought to mention there’s all sorts of ‘Bill’ items you can buy to take away, too: Bill’s marmalade and jam, oaties in a tin, truffles, olive oil, gift boxes for the foodies in your life … definitely worth a look.

Do go and give Bill’s a go. The breakfast certainly gets a big Biddy thumbs up!

Biddy x