Continentals, 46-48 Keirby Walk Burnley Lancashire BB11 2DE


46-48 Keirby Walk Burnley Lancashire BB11 2DE

01282 426400

God help us, Burnley on a wet Saturday afternoon when the crowds are coming out of the football ground after having lost the match is a grim place to be looking for a suitable place for a cuppa (good sentence eh?) But tucked away is a little gem of a cafe if you fancy a really good North African coffeee and some Egyptian sweetmeats. I just had tea and it was boiling hot, mahogany brown and generally very good. The others went for Egyptian cakes which were lovingly explained to us by the (possibly Egyptian) proprietor. They arrived beatifully presented on a large plate accompanied by a small plate for each person topped with a soupcon of cream. And they were delicious - sort of almondy and syrupy with a heavy-set look and a possible half-life of 50 years. Why do British cake shops do only crappy pink-icinged buns and dead gingerbread men when the rest of Europe (particularly the French) and North Africa can create beautiful and yummy delicacies? I only ask. They also had different kinds of olives and cold meats and all that and were advertising their panini - a warmed sanwich with a choice of fillings. There was a range of barbecued meats and some nice looking cheeses. They had falafel, kofte and mashwe (thin steaks marinated in onions and seasoning). The ambience was attractive - it's a small place with a stainless steel feel and only half a dozen tables. We sat at the bar along the window and watched the dejected football fans and trailing policemen drag themselves into the pubs. Nice cafe - shame about the locale. Perry Stalsis 2003

Continentals

Four years later and Continentals is still going strong.
We went after reading the review and just wish to echo the original applause, yet another hidden gem.