Area C Coffeehouse – SADLY NOW CLOSED

November 8, 2013 Closed, Coffee shop, Leith, soup 1 Comment

Recently opened where the Deli Polonia cafe used to be, on Leith Walk, Avenue C is a new, entertainingly eclectic cafe.

Exterior

Mismatched decor is almost becoming the norm with new places, but they have brought a fresh take to it. I sat in a marvellous, roughly hewn chair, after having placed my order at the counter.

The menu offers two daily-changing veggie soups, from which I chose split pea and coconut. Many of the rest of their dishes hang around the chick pea, with falafel platters, and hummus in a range of styles. I opted for chilli oil and pomegranate topped hummus, served with a salad and pitta.

Great chair

While I sat, my eye was drawn to a little sign behind a tent in the corner, which read: “No food in the tipi, pretty please”. I’m guessing this feature is aimed at younger diners, but I was rather taken with the notion of taking my soup and sitting in the little tent.

With tipi daydreams on hold, for now, my soup arrived looking decidedly bonnie in its wee pot, and the accompanying bread was fresh and profuse. I lifted the lid to be met by a lovely light aroma of coconut. The soup was well-seasoned and entirely delicious. This was a very good start.

Soup pot

The hummus soon arrived looking every bit as pretty. The side salad was plentiful and simple. The pitta was nicely warmed and soft. Altogether, it proved another winning combination. The pop of pomegranate sweetness worked very well with the nutty hummus. It would have been nicer to have the hummus, which is freshly made on the premises, each day, with just a little warmth to it, rather than chilled as it was, but that was a minor quibble with what was a satisfying eat.

I rounded things out with impressive Steampunk espresso.

So overall, Area C made an excellent first impression. Each element of their offering seems not only very good, but much more settled and assured than you’d expect from a place in its first few weeks of trading. Service was friendly, helpful and informed at all times, too. My advice would be to go and try it for yourself, at your earliest opportunity. If, on your visit, you happen to spot an outsized person stuck in a tipi, don’t be alarmed, but do pop your head in and say hi.