Odds & Ends

After what could easily be described as the busiest month I can ever remember (running from mid-October to mid-November), I had miraculously squared-off a week in my diary for a rest. After sleeping for two consecutive days, I returned to the land of the living with a trip to new Polwarth cafe Odds & Ends.

The interior couldn’t be more exactly like you expect cafes of this sort to look, now: mismatched furniture and crockery, exposed brick, filament light bulbs, bits of wood-panelling. What it does retain, though, are the pillars and cornicing of the building’s original fittings.

I sometimes struggle with places like this, but Odds & Ends somehow manages to pull it off. In many ways it captures the feel of dear departed Freeman’s which is probably part of the reason I liked it so much.

The Freeman’s analogy continues beyond the look of the place, too, as they have the same type of simple menu of food, with bagels, cakes and pastries from Manna House, and soup and granola from Union of Genius. It was the latter item that I sampled on my breakfast time visit.

At the heart of their offering is a bespoke roast coffee from Stockbridge roastery Mr Eion. Eion has done excellent work with a number of cafes across the city, notably at Cairngorm Coffee and Gamma Transport Division. This is another winning custom blend.

The granola was served in a very neat little bowl, which I guess would more routinely hold a stylish soup. It worked very nicely. It was an enjoyable eat, packing a good array of flavours and textures. It was an invigorating way to start the day.

So overall, I’d be pleased to recommend Odds & Ends. It’s very stylish, keeps things simple and focusses on quality, and feels remarkably assured considering it has only been open a matter of weeks. I look forward to many future visits.

Scores
Blythe scores Odds & Ends
4/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 16/20

I ate: granola

I drank: espresso, water

I wore: grey jacket

Total bill: £4