It is official – a city cafe serves one of the best fry-ups in the country.
The Little Corner Kitchen, off Dereham Road, has been chosen out of 1,000 'white van man' eateries to feature in insurance company More Than's Good Food Guide.
The guide, filled with recommendations from van drivers, has picked the 20 best cafes in the land with the Little Corner Kitchen the only one making the cut in Norfolk and Suffolk. And a Norwich Evening News taste test can confirm the full English breakfast is among the best in the city.
It represents a fast turnaround for a building which in a previous life was once raided by police in drugs busts. Owners Catherine Mercer and Harley Golec opened took over the cafe on Distillery Way in October 2012 and have quickly built up a good reputation.
But the previous tenants of the building – an internet cafe – were raided by police over drugs. In September 2011, eight people were arrested and in March 2010 a further three were arrested.
Miss Mercer, 29, said people in living in the area had been very supportive since they opened.
She said: 'We are just trying to do something which is good quality at a good price and not pretentious. Everyone has been incredibly supportive.'
She said the clientele varied from builders to mothers with children to students. The couple have specialised in brunch and breakfast but also offer lunches and are looking to stay open later to serve as a bistro.
The mother-of-two, who lives near Mousehold Heath, added: 'When people come in they just enjoy it so much. One lady said, 'it is like you planted a flower' and people's comments just keep you going.'
Her partner Harley has worked as a head chef at restaurants in London and Cambridge and said his menu was driven by trying to source everything locally.
Their meat comes from the butcher's next door while the fruit and vegetables from a shop on St Benedicts Street. And he put the early success down to not overcharging for food.
Mr Golec, 29, said: 'There is no reason Eggs Benedict should cost £7.
'We always knew we wanted a breakfast and brunch type cafe but it was dependent on what we could source locally. The range of stuff grown and sourced locally has exceeded my expectations so we can pretty much do anything.'
The cafe's menu now ranges from the traditional breakfast to lamb kofta and beef brisket.
Mr Golec added: 'We wanted to keep to what we know and what people are comfortable with. People always appreciate a breakfast and there has been that leeway to fancy it up. The support has taken us aback.'
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