Angela’s Sandwich Bar and Bistro

I’m having a few internet issues at the moment so I am having to tour the coffee shops of Belfast and scab Wifi. This tour wifi sapping tour brought me to Angela’s yesterday. I had driven past Angela’s countless times and for some reason I got it in to my head that I had seen a sandwich board outside that said ‘free wifi’ but yesterday when I visited there was no sandwich board to be seen. Anyway when I went in I ordered a coffee, and I glanced around the café to see if I could spot a poster or a sign that gave away the Wifi network and password but once again this was nowhere to be found. At this point I had already ordered my coffee so it was way too late to bail if they didn’t have what I needed. On delivery of my coffee I tentatively asked if they had wifi and the super friendly member of staff (maybe the owner) chucked me a wee scrap of paper with a code on it and allowed me to connect top what was clearly a home hub rather than a business one. I thought this was excellent service and really generous of her. The Wifi I ended up connected to was really fast, maybe even better than my home internet.
To be honest I don’t think this is the sort of café that remote workers would regularly come to work, in fact I’m not sure if a laptop has ever been opened in Angela’s before? It’s more of a place where tradesmen, older ladies and local workers come to get their morning grub and read the Daily Star. Having said that I felt really comfortable working away in Angela’s and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful.
One thing I really liked was that when they serve you an Americanno they give you a shot of espresso, a jug of boiling water and a jug of milk so you can decide on the strength of your coffee. Also it is a proper builders mug, no fancy china here.
I will definitely be back to Angela’s, I might even try a breakfast next time I go in!

A lovely, clean, welcoming place with friendly service. I ordered the all day breakfast which was tasty, though not large. The poster on the window leads you to believe you will be facing a huge plate of food, but this is not the case.
I would suggest they offer a ‘pick your own’, whereby you can see how much a sausage costs, how much a piece of bacon costs, how much an egg… etc. then order to your own personal requirements.
Other than that? Deffo worth a visit.

Angela’s Sandwich Bar and Bistro, situated on the busy Antrim Road, is essentially a little café that has a basic menu and some pretty basic ingredients. I have gone in here a few times and I have to say I have never really been overwhelmed, but it was ok nonetheless. Upon occasion I have tried their fry, which is a slight improvement from their sandwich making ability. I think maybe I have been spoilt for choice as there are some really great sandwich bars in the city, and unfortunately Angela’s doesn’t even come close to the top. Still if you are in the area and looking for a quick bite, then it isn’t too bad.

Angela’s is a typical north Belfast greasy spoon. It offers sausage sodas and fry’s, as well as all the usual café faire. The few times I’ve been however, they have managed to make the term ‘greasy spoon’ a little bit to much of a reality in my opinion. When the same hands which are frying the eggs, makes the sandwiches, this statement couldn’t be more true. In terms of the other local cafes along the same stretch of the Antrim Road, its another one of the failures. None of them are particularly good and Angela’s is on that list as well sadly. There has been a lot of café’s come and go on the same site as Angela’s, and whilst it’s been there for quite a while. If it keeps serving the food of such a low standard, I can’t see it being around for much longer.

Based on the Antrim Road in the North of the city, just opposite the park known locally as ‘The Waterworks’, Angela’s is a small but cosy bistro. The atmosphere is just right, with blue chequered tablecloths and a radio usually playing in the background softly. It’s your typical ‘greasyspoon’ café, serving bacon baps and Ulster Fries. It’s a nice place to go to for a lazy breakfast during the week and that’s what I would particularly recommend it for. FYI: For a really decent sandwich, ask for Angela herself to make it if she’s about. While the staff are absolutely lovely, sometimes their sandwiches can be a little greasy.