Restaurants, Cafes, Coffee Bars

Well now you have sorted the British Cafe out for me there's another one that I wonder if anyone else remembers, The Good Companions, I think it was called, a lovely little Irish lady called Bernie ran it, it was next door to Pargetters in Bishop Street.

MaggieD, would that be the one just over halfway up on the left hand side just before the policeman on his board, if so yes frequently as I worked for a small time at Cartwrights the woodyard in the canal basin, early fifties at a guess.

Part 1: These are the Cafes & Restaurants I can recall visiting in Coventry, between the mid-60s when I have my earliest memories, and late 2015, when I was no longer living in the city (moved away to nearby Northamptonshire in 2001), but, I was working in Coventry. I've tried to make it chronological as far as I can remember, and have put a bit of context in there for ease of digestion In the beginning then, we're in the mid-1960s - and I can remember being taken to the caf

Part 2: Work 'leaving do's' usually ended with a curry a few years further on - the Bombay Palace in Earlsdon was a favourite, and we also frequented a Turkish restaurant at the end of Queen's Road (I think) a few times. Still going to the Pagoda and various steak bars too. Round about this time we were also going to an Indian restaurant near Claret's Wine Bar in Warwick Row - the Boujiba? I can't remember the name! Can anybody help? But, the food was delicious. By now we're in the mid-1980s - I can remember TGI Friday's in Binley Woods - the cocktails and pink champagne flowed, and the food wasn't bad either. I also remember coffee and patisserie at Drucker's in Hertford Street - delicious! We also had the occasional meal at Etna's Restaurant - same location. It's still there - we had volcano steak from memory - very hot! Also, delicious sandwiches and speciality tea at a cafe in Cathedral Lanes (upstairs), it could have been called Chaplins, pretty sure it was next to or near to an art gallery. Moving forward a few years now, and we used to walk from our house in Canley Road to Di Vinci's in Earlsdon's High Street, the City Arms, and, also sometimes to the Rupali (Indian) in Tile Hill Lane. Can anybody remember the short-lived pub called 'The Lighthouse' on the 'cock up corner development' (A45/Tile Hill Lane junction) - it's now a fast food outlet? This would be in the 1990s I think. I can remember going to the Gallery & Millsy's in Earlsdon in about 2001, and then returning to Di Vinci's in 2008 when I reconnected with an ex-colleague and friend after 20 years of not being in touch. Round about this time I can remember having coffee in a cafe near Shelton Square called Flames? Last memories for now - lunch at the Open Arms in Cheylesmore - very tasty! And an interesting Chinese meal at the Noodle Bar, very near to what I remember as the Three Tuns pub - both in 2015! That's my gastronomic time-travel though Coventry in a nutshell! PS - In addition to the above, we've also had take-aways from the following Coventry outlets over the years: Bekash - Backstreets of Earlsdon/Chapelfields - delicious Indian food, this would be the 1990s. Sandpits Lane Fish & Chips - 1960s - I can remember delicious food from here as a small child! Asia House - Tile Hill Lane - Good Chinese Take-away - 1980 onwards. Torrington Avenue Fish & Chips - 1990 onwards. An Indian take-away in Earlsdon High Street - can't remember the name - but the food was good - same guy was always taking the orders, he aged as the years went by! 1980 onwards.

I do remember now that the Indian Restaurant in the Burges was called the Rajah, maybe we shortened its name to the 'the Raj'? I do recall the Chinese restaurant by the station too.

Hi Sue the Chinese restaurant near the motor museum was the New Orient we rarely missed a Friday night in there after playing snooker at the Victoria billiards club.

I sort of remember it Mick - never went there myself but the husband obviously did as he can remember it clearly! Happy Days!

Hi all A change of circumstances this morning meant that I had breakfast at Flames in Bull Yard, Coventry for the first time. The small breakfast that I enjoyed along with the excellent latte was just that. Excellent. I have left them a Google review as it was a delight. PS. The ceiling is of note too

Not been there for a while Philip, but I've never been disappointed with their fayre.

Hi Mayjan, His all Along with a friend, I have just demolished the "next size up" breakfast this morning at Flames, £4.49, which included black pudding. I have to tell you it was very good. On balance I do consider the Sizzler pub breakfast to be better value, like for like, but Flames' latte coffee is definitely superior. Folk just don't understand the stresses & strains of retirement, hey! All of these try-out breakfasts & so on, leave alone the fish & chip lunches at Wale's in Nuneaton. I just don't know how we cope.

Hi Philip, I don't believe it, nearly went in Flames this morning, but decided I wasn't hungry enough so passed it by. I did stop and look at the menu and the prices are quite reasonable. Glad you enjoyed your brekkie.

Mrs Southgate was my Aunt (Auntie Beattie). She died in April 2015 aged 95. She and her husband George (he worked at the Humber works) used to live in Stephen Street but moved to Fenside when the street was demolished to build the fire station. I have very early memories of being taken to the Woolies Cafe

Hello, Malvern and welcome to the forum. Look forward to reading some more of your memories of the city.

I remember the smell in Woolies on a Friday when everyone was eating fish and chips and also the rattling of knives and forks on plates!