Central Cafe

First impressions should have put me off, but I was very hungry and needed to eat.
From the outside, it is pretty uninviting thanks to its’ dark-​wooden floors, dark-​coloured furniture and slightly nauseating beige colour scheme. Tellingly, the place was totally empty but I went in nevertheless.
It it staffed by two young fillies who neither smiled nor greeted me… despite me being the only prospect of a bit of custom! A staring competition ensued as I waited for a «Can I help you?». She won. I backed down and meekly ordered a baked potato.
As I waited for my food, three workers from the New Street Station rebuilding project came in. Their coffees and muffins were delivered to their table with all the cheer of an undertaker.
The food was brought to my table in silence. I ate, wept quietly and left.
(Monday Feb 4^th 2013)

If you’re killing a bit of time before catching your train at Birmingham New Street, then take the escalators up into the Pallasades Shopping Centre and enjoy an alternative to the repetitive brands located in the station proper.
Central Café packs loads of choice into a relatively small space. I walk past here nearly everyday and I can’t help drooling at the giant poster of the £4.99 All Day Breakfast! However it’s the lunches I like best. The lunch deal is really, really great — combining various choices from their alphabetical menu. It makes choosing something tasty as easy as A, B, C! You can have any baguette or pizza slice with crisps or a muffin, followed by a hot or cold drink. It only costs £2.75 — much better than the inflated prices below stairs. Well worth a trip on the escalators!

After running for a train I still managed to miss it and as my next one wasn’t for another hour, I decided to go for a wander in the upstairs pallasades bit.
After going in a few of the clothes shops, I decided to grab a bite to eat whilst I waited. I went for a cheese and tomato baguette with a hot chocolate. Not the most exciting of choices but the menu was pretty basic and what you would expect from any typical café.
The food was OK, I managed to get a table but it hadn’t been cleaned. I asked the shop assistant if she would mind giving it a quick wipe and she was happy to help.

Central Café is a great convenient eatery in the heart of the Pallasades.
The food here is quick, cheap, tasty and satisfying. There are a lot of seats to choose from, and the food is always fresh.
It’s handy that New Street station is just downstairs, so if you’ve ever missed the train, or find that you have a long wait, why not pop upstairs on the escalators and grab a quick coffee in here?
I would recommend the fresh baked muffins, just what you need after a long day’s graft. They also offer a Full English Breakfast, or if your late out of bed, you can also get an all day breakfast, at just £4.99. The food and drinks are value for money, and overall I always find this place quick and hassle free.