Comments on Eating Leeds: Agog in Accrington

The guy from Yorkshire sounds like a right pompous...

2008-02-25T22:32:00.000Z

The guy from Yorkshire sounds like a right pompous twit - glad you live there!

Hi JohnYou'll notice that I visit a lot of places ...

2007-10-16T18:57:00.000Z

Hi John

You'll notice that I visit a lot of places outside Leeds. The website is called Eating Leeds because Leeds is the regional focus. I don't feel that this precludes me (or indeed should preclude me) from blogging about restaurants in other areas. People visit this site from all over the world and I think it adds interest to show a bit of diversity.

I don't feel that my original post insulted Over Coffee - criticised yes, but insulted, no. I've already made the point that my original post was written some 18 months ago: I have not eaten at Over Coffee since then and, for all I know, it could be excellent now.

I would encourage you to have a look at the remainder of my site. I am not in the business of writing glowing (or scathing) reviews on a whim. I am just honest about the experience I have had at a restaurant or bar - and I hope that, as a rule, I back up my impressions with concrete examples of good and bad experiences.

Cheers
Alex

Thanks for your feedback you make some good points...

2007-10-09T13:04:00.000Z

Thanks for your feedback you make some good points but can i please ask why you feel the need to insult and critise a small new business in ACCRINGTON trying to survive and make profit on a website about eating food in LEEDS.
Some people are just to negative, even if it wasnt great on that day surely you can acknowledge the brilliant environment and cleanliness in the cafe which is second to none in Accrington.

Hello JohnMany of your comments seem to refer to a...

2007-10-09T11:58:00.000Z

Hello John

Many of your comments seem to refer to a previous comment, so I cannot respond on this person's behalf, but I will do my best with the remainder.

Firstly, I am sure you noticed that my post was dated 3 April 2006 and my visit to Over Coffee was made on 2 April 2006. This means I visited 18 months ago.

In response to the points you made in your post:

1. the comment about new ownership implies that Over Coffee has changed hands/management in the last 18 months. It may well have been a food store prior to my visit, but I cannot comment on this.

2. I am a little unsure as to what Oxford has to do with anything. I think the last time I went to Oxford I was about 5, and Eating Leeds has not visited any Oxford restaurants. I am also unaware of any reason why the people of Accrington should provide worse service than those anywhere else in the country, or indeed, why they should take less pride in their work. In fact, were I from Accrington, I would take great exception to such a gross generalisation.

4. My complaint with the hot chocolate was that it was topped with overwhipped cream from an aerosol. While the chocolate itself may have come from a machine, the cream clearly did not, and as such, can be considered the responsibility of the staff.

5. I am not a mystery shopper. That was a previous commenter. I am also unaware of any qualification which one can undertake to become a professional food critic. Often, food critics have a degree in journalisam, but the overriding pre-requisite appears to be a genuine enthusiasm for food. It may interest you to know that I did recently complete (and yes, I passed) a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, which is partly run by Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. So I do have some formal food oriented education.

6. Regretfully, Leeds is quite a long way from Accrington, so I am unlikely to be able to try the Friday night tapas. However, you also make it quite clear that you think that I should 'stay away' and that 'we dont [sic] want any of your kind (moaning bitches with nothing better to do) in our cafes'.

I am quite prepared to accept that over time, and with changes of ownership (even changes of chef), places change - this is why I, personally, would not place too much credence in a review written a year and a half ago.

I hope this addresses some of your issues.

Cheers
Alex

Ha you losers, over coffe is one of the nicest pla...

2007-10-08T12:52:00.000Z

Ha you losers, over coffe is one of the nicest places in accrington to eat and drink.
Just a few points:
1. The owner couldnt drive away the old customers as it used to be a food store.
2. How good are the staff going to be its ACCRINGTON not Oxford you idiot.
3. Clearly you have no life and nothing better to moan at.
4. They probably only get the hot chocolate out of a machine maybe you should go in and ask what product it is and complain to them.
5. That really made me laugh you only fill out a form to become a mystery shopper you fool so dont make it sound like you are a proffesional food critic.
6. You should try the friday night Tapas it is very good and me and friends have been twice this month.

I think that is just about it so if you dont like it stay away from there the atmosphere is nice and friendly we dont want any of your kind (moaning bitches with nothing better to do) in our cafes.
Maybe you should try a hobby or maybe even go simply find something productive and useful to do.
I would appreciate your feedback.

John

Thank you for posting, Anonymous!It seems that som...

2007-07-18T12:12:00.000Z

Thank you for posting, Anonymous!

It seems that some people agree with me and some people violently disagree!

I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens once it changes hands!

I do regular visit for retail eyes and mystery sho...

2007-07-13T09:37:00.000Z

I do regular visit for retail eyes and mystery shopper. I have also been in this restaurant and again like Alex feel that the service has been well under average. I ordered a set dish off the menu and when it arrived I was quite shocked, the food didn’t look how I expected it should look but I gave Over coffee / the naked plate the benefit of the doubt. Again I’m not a Egon Ronay as someone else has stated above, but I feel that as I do quite a lot of assignments for the mystery shopper and most of these are eating assignments, I cant be that bad of an Egon Ronay if I get paid to go out and assess establishments.
On this occasion though like I said I would give over coffee the benefit of the doubt and try this food I ordered. I tried some vegetables they where a little soggy, (frozen veg). When I tried the meat on my plate I couldn’t work out if it was dry as it had been around for a few days and not kept correctly or if it was out of a packet. – to be quite frank the whole meal tasted like something that you had as a school dinner- slopped on the plate and shoved in front of you.
Again like Alex above I tried the hot chocolate and was again let down by this- the cream again whipped to near death and actually tasted like the cream shouldn’t have been used.
When I quizzed the staff about the food they served before placing my order again I got a vacant look from them – and a long ummmmm. They didn’t even try to answer my question of do you use fresh cream or cream from a squirty container. I also asked about the meat which I tried (again didn’t eat it all as I felt I could get better service and food in another fast food outlet near by e.g. Mcdonalds down the road) she wasn’t sure again I asked is it fresh- and the reply was “yes we try to use fresh meat”. I mean try!!!! Come on!!
I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone and cant wait for the mystery shopper to come up on this place!!! Again I would travel miles like I did the other day just to go and use this place, (come from around 30miles away the other day)
I also noticed that this place is up for sale!! Well I wish the new owners all the luck in bringing in all the old customers that the current owner has lost!!

Hello AnonymousThe day I went to Over Coffee there...

2007-02-15T12:48:00.000Z

Hello Anonymous

The day I went to Over Coffee there were 2 Australians, 1 Finn and 1 Englishman from Cumbria, so my observations were not based on any kind of transpennine truculence. I can't speak for the anonymous comment before yours.

I'm not sure what the 'big picture' is I should be seeing. I'm sorry that you consider the post 'misguided, misjudged, underqualified'.

However, as before, I stand by the fact that on Sunday 2 April 2006 I ate a stale scone and had bad service.

You're right - I'm not Egon Ronay, but I do eat out quite a lot and I also do a great deal of cooking, so I have quite a few benchmarks against which to make comparisons and form my opinions.

Cheers
Alex

Well it just goes to show that there is nowt queer...

2007-02-13T21:50:00.000Z

Well it just goes to show that there is nowt queerer than Yorkshire folk....The food and service is excellent at Over Coffee /naked plate.Unfortunately some people find it very difficult to see the big picture and have to fuss around with narrow minded self opinionated comments which concern there own personal preconceptions of what should or shouldnt be. Its one thing to not enjoy, but another to make a misguided, misjudged underqualified statement about food and service....unless your Egon Ronay.......a little knowledge is a dangerous thing....

I went to 'Over Coffee' today (29/10/06) to sample...

2006-10-29T18:17:00.000Z

I went to 'Over Coffee' today (29/10/06) to sample the Sunday Roast which is advertised on the awnings, only to find a sign on the door stating 'closed Sundays.'
However I looked at the menu in the window and noted that item 12 on the menu is a soda farl, as is item 24 on the menu. Soda farls must be popular in Accrington.
Unfortunately I didn't get to taste the food, as although they advertise a Sunday roast, they are closed on Sundays (You couldn't make it up, could you?)
But the menu looks like a mish-mash of dishes that has been thrown together by somebody of no real skill.
Over coffee? Over my dead body!

Hello again AnonymousMy blog post is dated Monday ...

2006-07-27T21:42:00.000Z

Hello again Anonymous

My blog post is dated Monday 3 April 2006 and I've dated my visit as Sunday 2 April 2006. You can find this information at the top of the entry.

Cheers
Alex

can i just ask how long ago it was u visited over ...

2006-07-27T21:32:00.000Z

can i just ask how long ago it was u visited over coffee accrington

Hello AnonymousUnfortunately, on the day I went to...

2006-07-26T15:47:00.000Z

Hello Anonymous

Unfortunately, on the day I went to Over Coffee, the scone I ate was stale. You'll note that I did not pass comment on all the food at Over Coffee - just the one scone. One of my friends also had a scone and this was also stale and his cream was also over-whipped and verging on rancid. That was the only food we ate.

I stand by my comments - the service was not good. If a customer asks if there are any plain scones the staff should know and not look confused. If a customer eats only a tiny fraction of an ordered dish, the staff should enquire why. As a rule, staff should ask whether or not customers have enjoyed the food, irrespective of clean plates or otherwise.

And a hot chocolate with whipped cream should have real whipped (not over-whipped) cream, not cream out of an aerosol.

I'm sorry you resent what is really some pretty even handed, and constructive, criticism.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review and post a comment though. If I come to Accrington again I'll make sure I come back for a cream tea, as maybe it was just a bad day.

Cheers
Alex

Excuse me i work at over coffee accrington and i r...

2006-07-26T13:24:00.000Z

Excuse me i work at over coffee accrington and i resent what has been said we have execellent standards of food and everything is home made in the morning for the day then binned!

Oh no! You did it! You told Lancastrians to see ...

2006-04-03T16:18:00.000Z

Oh no! You did it! You told Lancastrians to see how they do it in Yorkshire. To the trenches lads :)

I agree with you about not liking my cheese mucked about with. Wensleydale is one of the biggest culprits. Marmite in a cheese is a parasite as far as I'm concerned.