Belly Buster

Location: Sandgate Road Market
Date: 4th August 2011

Feeling peckish and needing some hot food to cheer me up on a miserable day, I grabbed a sausage, bacon and egg stick from the Belly Buster, which appears along with the market in Folkestone. This cost me just three pounds. There didn't appear to be an option for more variety in the roll. The food was cooked fresh and was just what was I was after. Sausages weren't particularly inspiring, but were pleasant nonetheless. Bacon was possibly the saltiest I've ever eaten, which had there been more than one rasher would have been overwealming.

Overall: Cheap and cheerful. Not bad for food on the go, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. 6/10

Cafe Luca

Location: here
Date: 2nd March 2011

Feeling hungry at lunchtime, I ventured to this cafe in search of something filling. I wasn't disappointed by the breakfast special. At £5.95 this comes with beans, sausages, egg, bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomato, bubble and squeak and toast with either tea or coffee. Black pudding was an extra 50p. Tea even included a ginger biscuit. Service was good considering the lunchtime rush and the cafe is pleasant enough to enjoy the massive tea while relaxing on the sofa waiting for food.

Food was excellently cooked, with tasty herby sausages, a good fried egg and nice mushrooms. The single slice of toast was from fresh, soft bread but wasn't quite enough for full mopping up duties. With outdoor seating, this is a good choice for those wishing to relax with smokers or dogs in their group. My companion had the chicken and mushroom pie which was outstanding. It had lovely succulent chunks of chichen and was full of leeks and served with a good scoop of mashed potato, it was delicious.

Overall: A great choice of upmarket fry up. With a varied menu there's plenty of choice. Bubble and Squeak noses it ahead to be my favourite so far. 9.5 / 10

Googies Art Cafe

Location: here (Google maps is somewhat out of date)
Date: 19th February 2011

Right next door to the previously reviewed Django's Jazz Cafe, this reasonably new cafe offers a range of food, drinks and in the evenings, live music. Two members of our party selected the Big Breakfast. Note that this is only served until midday. Which led to a brief quibble with the waitress when she took over ten minutes to take our order, meaning that we were just past twelve o-clock when we ordered. At £6.95 the Big Breakfast had a lot to deliver, and with two sausages, bacon, black pudding, beans, egg, tomatoes, mushrooms and a mountain of toast plus a choice of tea or coffee and an orange juice we were looking forward to a feast. Boy did we get a lot of anticipating done! While I appreciate that busy kitchens take a while to prepare orders, I was ready to eat my own arm by the time food appeared.

Food was good, with nice, herby sausages. Mushrooms were particularly nice being large, flat mushrooms sliced. Grilled tomatoes were also a treat. Toast was plentiful and from particularly nice soft, crusty bread. Coffee was a little bitter, but quite drinkable with breakfast; tea brewed from loose leaves was outstanding. We had to chase the staff for the orange juice, but when it came it was welcome and refreshing. Our companion reported that her Eggs Benedict was served with rather vinegary Hollandaise sauce and drowned by toast, which distracted somewhat from the perfectly poached eggs.

Overall: Nice fry up, with high quality ingredients. Let down somewhat by details. High price would probably see me going next door 7.5 / 10.

Elinor Resteraunt

Location: here
Date: 30 December 2010

With a somewhat uninspiring exterior, the Elinor turns out to be a hidden gem. With a varied menu and a second menu  dedicated to breakfasts there's something to suit pretty much every hunger and wallet. I chose a breakfast to include their bubble and squeak, which has enough pepper to chase all but the most severe hangover IIRC it was the Set 4 breakfast. Seen above it included toast and a tea or coffee. Service is attentive without being intrusive.

The food was well cooked, the aforementioned bubble and squeak is outstanding. Sausages are of the plain meat variety. Mushrooms were particularly good too and overall the breakfast was satisfying and avoided being greasy. Regulars there refer to the toast as "the starter" due to the fact it tends to precede the rest of the meal somewhat.

Overall: A great fry up. With a huge choice of fry ups, there's something to suit every hunger at a good price. 8.5 / 10

Sarah's Kitchen

Location: Here
Date: 19th December 2010

Situated in the car park of the B&Q DIY store, this trailer based outlet is a hidden gem. Handy for those on a run to get some supplies, only a couple of minutes from the M20 motorway. It has a surprising range of hot foods of a higher quality than a typical burger van. I had the Breakfast in Bread, which for £4.80 includes sausages, bacon, egg, fried tomatoes, mushrooms and black pudding served in a third of a French loaf. No drink is included, tea is an extra 60p. Also ordered were a baked potato with cheese and beans and Today's Special which, despite the name, always includes sausage egg and bacon served either in a sandwich, French bread or a bap.

The first thing to strike me is how filling the food is. The claim of "generous portions" on the van is certainly true. I've been happy to share one of these between two before. Service is reasonably quick, though with only one cooking space, time is highly dependent on how busy they are. However they're more than happy to take an order and cook it while you shop in B&Q. Telephone orders to take away are also welcome. Sausages were particularly tasty, being Korkers and black pudding is a welcome addition. The bread was fresh and light and overall an excellent fry up. The baked potato was well cooked and filling with plenty of topping, and the special was also very good.

Overall: Great fry up for takeaway, ideal for the office Friday treat or those on the go. Price approaching a sit-down cafe, though  8.5 / 10

Django's Jazz Cafe

Location: here
Date: 16th December 2010


Returning to one of my favourite cafes in Folkestone, I ordered the Django's breakfast which for just under £6 included two eggs, bacon, mushrooms, fried tomatoes, beans, three chipolatas, toast (choice of white or brown), tea or coffee and the slightly unusual inclusion of a potato waffle. Also ordered was spicy beef quesadillas.


One of my favourite places to sit outside and either watch the world go by or nurse a hangover in the summer, we chose to lurk downstairs, which was a good choice, being quiet and atmospheric. Django's describes itself as a "Jazz cafe" and has cashed in on this to decorate in a pleasing mix of art and musical memorabilia. The food was pretty swift, though there can be a wait during busy periods, due to the small kitchen. All the food was well cooked with a minimum of grease. Sausages were skinny chipolatas, full of herbs and tasty. The toast was particularly nice being soft and home made tasting. My companion's quesadillas were huge and delicious. A special mention should also go to the iced coffee served here, cold coffee topped with whipped cream, chocolate chip ice cream and a Malteser, although not included in the price of the breakfast, is a frequent treat in the summer.

Overall: Very nice fry up for when you want something special and / or a little bit different. 9 / 10

Folkestone Cafeteria

Location: Here
Date: 6th December 2010

Going here pretty much on a whim to try somewhere new, I was pleasantly surprised. A clean if somewhat shabby cafe with friendly service. I chose the "Big Breakfast" which for under a fiver included 3 rashers of bacon, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes a slice each of toast and bread and butter and a mug of tea or coffee. Also ordered was a jacket potato with cheese and beans.

Food was reasonably swift and, with the exception of the mushrooms which appeared to have been deep fried, pleasantly non-greasy. Sausages were somewhat bland but not unpleasant. Overall I was very happy. My companion's baked potato was huge and filling. Despite it being slightly undercooked in the center she was very happy.

Overall: Good value no nonsense fry up would visit again 7.5 / 10