Ann's Pantry.

Half way along the Main Street with a bakery at front and the cafe (a bit dark) at the back. Nice pot of tea and good selection of scones (apple and cinnamon!). This struck me as an 'old dears' cafe, but it was well setup for kids as well. Clean toilets with baby changing and the first proximity driven paper towel dispenser I have ever seen!

The Siver Lounge

At the station end of the Main Street and so handy for a quick cuppa in the half hour between bus and train. A 'greasy spoon' (but neatly set out) with tables and chairs (4 to table). An all day breakfast, toasties etc. The famous Larne small fry plus tea ( or w.h.y) £2.40. Does a good pot of tea, but only instant coffee!

The StrEat

A chain café in a concrete shopping centre, but my sources informed me that the staff had managed to give it a bit of a local vibe. Clean, well staffed and busy. No mini-fry (which I've sort of grown accustomed to), so I had a cheese and ham croissant while E had a bowl of porridge. This plus two large coffees came to well under a tenner. One corner had a table with kids toys, there was an outside area for smokers / sun-worshippers, and a notice board with a 'Customer Of The Week' poster (this week - Nora Evans!). I asked how you became Customer Of The Week and was told it cost £50! Big disabled toilet with baby changing, and a bowl of pot-poirri.

The BIG Sandwich Company

Right at the bottom of Cross Street. A greasy spoon sort of place with a lively looking interior. Toilets through the back of the kitchen and the store. I made a tactical blunder and ordered the full Ulster fry plus tea at £4.50. It arrived on a 12" plate and it took me quite a lot of eating to find out what colour the plate was! I couldn't quite finish it all. Next time the mini fry option at £2.40 will be fine, but if you want to Ulster fry to the max this is the place.

My informant (who loves the BIG Sandwich Company) says that the StrEat is good - its a chain but the Larne one apparently has a good local spin on things. So that's next.

Caffé Spice (again)

After a month or so of 'Antrim Coaster' travel (i.e. no stop-over time) finally got the next opportunity. Lost the plot a bit here, and took the easy option of a revisit to the Caffé Spice (very good breakfast bagel with pot of tea). But next time will report on "The BIG Sandwich Company" (looks good from outside). Stand by........

Pepe's

On the corner of Cross Street and Main Street. Tables and chairs with a raised area with more tables and (slightly tatty) window sofas, one of which we occupied. Busy when we went in, and stayed busy. Asked for the half-sized fry again (is this a Larne speciality? - its just right anyway) a scone and two cups of coffee. Nice coffee, food good, and efficient service. All for £3.95! The coffee cups were decorated with pink rims and forget-me-knots, and one the way out I noticed that everyone else had a mug. Clearly if you ask for a cup you get a cup. Clean uni-sex toilet.

25/01/10 - Pepe's now seems to be closed

The Cross Cafe

Summer has gone! - the Inver river is a brown torrent. The Cross Cafe is in Lower Cross Street, just across the main road from Caffé Spice. One half is a bakery, the other half a cafe, recently decorated and with the 'Friends' style sofas in the window, which is where I sat. The remains of others breakfasts still on table (which I could have constructed a perfectly adequate meal out of, but never mind), plus Fridays Daily Record (or something - News Of The Chavs), which I read. No other customers, and I didn't try the toilets being on my own with awkward luggage. All morning breakfasts on the menu so I had the Mini Fry and a big cup of black coffee for the amazing price of £1.95!