Restaurant review: Mrs Atha's
For the past four years, family run coffee shop Mrs Atha’s has been a popular place for a cuppa. Is their lunch menu as sought-after as their coffee?
Situated on the pedestrianised Central Road in Leeds, Mrs Atha’s is easy to get to. As you enter, you’re immediately greeted at the counter which is packed with an interesting variety of home baked cakes, including vegan options, at prices fitting for such generous slices. The all-day breakfast, lunch and drinks menu is written on a blackboard mounted behind the counter, making ordering and paying quicker and easier.
The main floor of the café was full but there was more seating downstairs, where the open kitchen is separated from the dining area only by a chest-high wall. We were lucky to grab the last table available. Nay, desk. Something about them made one think of old school desks. Perhaps it was the worn surfaces or the solid, sturdy wood. Looking around, it seemed that all the furniture was different. The same applied to the cutlery and crockery. The pretty mismatched old style crockery and random teaspoons made an interesting dining experience and reminded me of having tea with my grandmother. It was as if everything in the café was part of the owner’s collection over the years. No two things were the same yet somehow the furniture, the cutlery and the eclectic décor seemed to complement each other.
The orders came quickly despite being busy. The food itself was delightful. My smoked trout with rocket and horseradish sandwich came on thick soft bread and was very fresh. My companion had the soup of the day, which was golden beetroot and heirloom tomato served with thick chunks of bread generously piled with spread. The soup had a rich flavour and you could almost taste the vitamins from the organic ingredients.
This was washed down with green Oolong, one of the many different teas they serve from around the world. My companion, a coffee aficionado, remarked that the freshly brewed filter coffee was excellent. It was served in a hand painted cup and saucer rather than a mundane white coffee mug that most coffee shops have. A sweet little addition to this was the sugar being served in bone china teacups.
There’s a very homely feel to Mrs Atha’s. Although seemingly dim from the outside, the inside is the opposite. The warm lighting and woodécor create a homely feel, as if you’re sitting in someone’s well-used, well-loved dining room. The indie folk music playing softly added to this comforting atmosphere. The staff seemed to fit in with the place and the service we received was friendly, relaxed and genuine.
Free wifi is available, not that you’d need it. It’s the type of place where you go to have a good face to face conversation. You could even start a conversation with the stranger next to you, as many of the tables are shared.
All things considered, one of the best coffee shops in Leeds. It’s definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re a keen supporter of start-ups, or simply if you want a good wholefood meal.
