Tiny Cafe, Newbury: The Food Review
Newbury man Imtiaz Zico has squeezed big flavours, big personality and a lot of charm into his tiny café.
Nestled in the heart of the town – right beside Newbury Clock Tower on The Broadway – the Tiny Café is a cosy corner for some good, homely food.
I dropped in on a rather chilly day but was welcomed with the warm smiles of the staff and a hot oat latte (£4.05) – possibly the creamiest latte I think I’ve ever tried.
I enjoy the sweetness of an oat milk and found the light, milky drink to my taste but those who prefer a stronger cup of coffee have plenty of options.
And for those, like me, who enjoy a bit of fun in their coffee can experiment with the different milks and syrups.
But I clearly didn’t enjoy it as much as the gentleman sat two tables away from me – whom I could hear audibly appreciating what looked like a cappuccino.
Above his ‘mmm delicious’ and ‘yummy’ exclamations, I proceeded to order what owner Imtiaz Zico called a customer favourite – tomato soup, topped with basil, a dash of cream and croutons (£5.95).
I am usually not a fan of tomato soup and find it a tad too tangy but this was a delicate yet rich dish and the crunch of the croutons were definitely a winner for me.
Mr Zico then brought out a bagel colourfully filled with cream cheese, avocado and smoked salmon (£5.95) which was lovely.
The cream cheese was both rich but light and the salmon didn’t overpower the avocado – a classic combination of flavours, executed well.
It was clear at this point, later confirmed by Mr Zico, that everything is fresh and home-made – something that my new friend two tables across would no doubt agree on.
I finished off my visit with a home-made apple pie with whipped cream (£3.85) and a sweet strawberry and chocolate walnut tart (£2.15).
The apple pie was a winner for me and it definitely felt homemade. There was plenty of texture from the apple filling to the soft pastry and, of course, the dollop of airy whipped cream.
I’d recommend the tart for those with a sweeter tooth as it perfected a combination of very rich flavours. It definitely will satisfy that sweet craving.
What I didn’t expect is that Mr Zico – on top of being the owner – bakes a lot of the café’s sweet treats himself.
He only learnt to bake a few weeks ago when the café baker went on holiday and he relied heavily on customer’s telling him where he might need to improve.
He says through listening and building relationships with these customers, he’s been able to perfect his craft and make the menu what it is today – a real labour of love.
“It’s all homemade food,” he said. “Our customer favourite is the English breakfast.
“We are always trying different things and I am trying to learn more and more.
“I actually made the counters and the shelves.
“I didn’t know how to before but I watched YouTube videos and then built it.
“It was challenging but I had my family and friends.”
And it shows; the space adopts a very homey, family feel complete with cosy patchwork furniture, potted plants on windowsills and colourful crockery.
For anyone who fancies a little break from the busy day and a light (or rich) bite without having to leave Newbury, the Tiny Café is well worth a visit.
I’ll definitely be back for that full English.
And yes, it really is tiny inside.