A village cafe
Another fry-up.
But the cook has been here longer than the parking restrictions.
Thirty-three High Street, Borough Green. Breakfast from half past seven. The cook has been here longer than the parking restrictions, and the regulars get a fresh pot of tea before they sit down. Walk in. Sit anywhere. If the sausage tastes like it should, three doors up is why.
Chapter one
The high-street institution does not advertise. It opens at half past seven.
Borough Green Cafe is somewhere to sit. The front pavement table where a delivery driver folds the newspaper between two sausages. The booth at the back where the village builders break a contract over two teas. The corner near the window where the same four meet for a fry-up on a Tuesday morning, and have done since before the council put a meter outside.
The columns name the drinks. Cappuccino on one, Latte on the next, Coffee on the third, and the Welcome To running down the column nearest the door. The signage was painted by hand, and never updated, and it does not need to be. The plates come out of a small open kitchen at the back, and the room is loud enough to settle a child and quiet enough to read a paper.
The food is honest because honest is the point. A full breakfast, generous, hot, on a plain white plate. Paninis from the press. Burgers from the grill. A jacket potato with whatever you want on top of it. The Mega Mix Grill at thirteen pounds, for when the morning needs to go further. Nothing has a parsley garnish. Everything has a price you can read from the door.
A few of the regulars have brought their children, who now bring their own children. The chair is the same. The painted column has not been retouched. The family is still running it.
The board
What is on this morning
Breakfast
- Full EnglishSausage, two rashers of back bacon, two eggs your way, beans, mushrooms, grilled tomato, two slices of toast. Brown sauce on the table.
- Mega Mix Grill £13Eggs, sausages, bacon, ham, gammon steak, mushrooms, beans, tomato, chips. The reason the apprentice came back.
- Eggs on ToastTwo eggs, poached or scrambled, on thick white bloomer. Butter underneath. Side of bacon if you ask.
- Bacon SandwichThree rashers of back bacon on a soft bloomer. Butter. Ketchup. Nothing else.
Paninis & Burgers
- Cheese & Bacon PaniniPressed flat, melted, deli-press lines on the bread, served with a small handful of chips.
- Smoked Salmon & Avocado PaniniPressed flat, served warm, the green stays green.
- Hamburger from £2.60Quarter pound, soft white bun, lettuce, tomato, red onion. Cheese and bacon by the slice.
- Chicken BurgerBreaded chicken in a soft bun, mayo on the side, chips for an extra pound.
Mains
- Sausage OmeletteThree-egg, sliced sausage folded in, chips on the side, salad if you ask.
- Jacket PotatoBeans, cheese, tuna mayo or coleslaw. Side salad and chips by the spoon if you want.
- Chicken CurryMild, served with rice. Naan available. Comes with a glass of tap water and no apology.
Hot Drinks
- CappuccinoThe painted column behind the counter spells it out. The drink matches the sign.
- LatteOn the next column over. Made in the same machine. Two pumps of syrup on request.
- TeaBrewed in the pot. Refill on the house with a breakfast.
Full menu and current prices in the window and on the till. Kids menu at £3.50.
In their own words on Google
“A gem of a cafe. Great customer service, tasty and well cooked food, clean and spacious, an asset to Borough Green. The whole team are brilliant.”
“My boy and I come here every month or two for a breakfast. Very friendly service and a great breakfast.”
“On a welding job, found this cafe. My apprentice had the mega mix grill at thirteen pounds, loved it, could not finish it. Everything was fresh, hot, and a fair price.”
4.6 stars on Google over 97 reviews. The cafe does not write its own.
Find us
33 High Street.
Look for the painted sign.
Borough Green
Kent, TN15 8BT
Free parking in the public car park behind the parade, two minutes on foot. Closest station is Borough Green & Wrotham, six minutes’ walk. The front door opens onto the high street; the back tables face the church.
Plainly asked, plainly answered
Questions the cook hears most mornings
33 High Street, Borough Green, TN15 8BT. Black fascia with the Borough Green Café sign and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner under it. Pavement tables out the front when the sun is out. Pharmacy on one side, the licensed shop on the other.
Monday to Saturday 07:00 to 16:00. Sunday 08:00 to 15:00. Breakfast is on the board all morning. Lunch and dinner from late morning. The mega mix grill is on every day.
Full breakfasts, paninis, on toast, burgers from £2.60, jacket potatoes, pies, chicken, pasta, kids menu at £3.50. Hot drinks. The mega mix grill at £13 if the regulars are not eyeing the last one.
Yes. Sandwiches, baguettes and rolls to take away is on the window for a reason. Phone 01732 884172 to order ahead, or WhatsApp the order through.
Yes. Chrome chairs and small tables on the pavement out the front when the weather behaves. Dogs welcome on the outside seats with water bowls provided.
Card, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Cash too if that suits you.
Step-free entrance from the high street. Bright open room with space between tables. Single-floor toilet.
Weekday mornings, walk in. Saturdays the place fills around eleven. Phone 01732 884172 or WhatsApp the morning before if you want a table held for a larger party.