Caffe Nero

I used to always use this Caffe Nero when i went into town but certainly first thing in the morning, it was difficult to find a seat, inside or out and another thing that put me off was the amount of people cluttering up the tables with laptops. Why couldnt they wait until they got to work. The coffee was always good though as i always have Americano which is so strong it blows my socks off. The other shop just off Briggate is smaller but has more seats outside where i can sit and smoke my pipe and watch the world go by.

Having just missed the opportunity to sample the delights at the new Pickles & Potter in the centre, I decided to nip in to this rather pleasant Caffe Nero for a two second coffee fix this afternoon. I’ve been a few times before, and always taken advantage of the outside seating, and it’s certainly done the job.
Today I just opted for a latte and a Sicilian Lemon Cheesecake, totaling a fiver, which as I’m sure you’ll know is the sort of price you end up paying in these chains. To make matters worse, I know that I could have enjoyed soup and a sandwich from P&P for about that had I only been thirty minutes earlier!
In any case, the café is large and so affords plenty of space if you’re in a group and the cheesecake was rather nice. Not spectacular, not gourmet, but a tasty treat nonetheless. I had to wait a wee while as there appeared to be only one member of staff on, and she finished up wiping the tables before attending to my order, but service came with a smile which is just fine by me. I wasn’t in a major rush so it was all good.
The coffee could certainly be better, being a touch on the bland side, but perhaps that was as a result of opting latte instead of cappuccino. (I’ve been told cappuccino is stronger.)
Overall there’s no huge draw to this place, bar a lack of others near by that stay open later and the outside spot for smokers like me, but with your sunny seating you do run the risk of the odd passer by stopping and asking for bus fare, as did some fellow al fresco folk who were at the table next to me. (I suppose that risk comes from being anywhere in town, really.)
It’s certainly pleasant, but that’s about it. I enjoyed gazing at the Town Hall as I sipped, though.