Crumpets: A Turquoise Breakfast Nook (Café Review)

Vegetarian: Yes

Vegan: Yes

Gluten-Free: Yes

Cross Contact Safe: No

CRUMPETS - 441 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY

Follow the ghostwriter on a coffee date to Crumpets. This tiny little venue is run by a husband and wife here in the city and on a fairly busy street. I’m glad the shop’s exterior is so bright or I might have blown right past it. 

Excited to be meeting a friend for breakfast, I’d planned a spring outfit with flared jeans and black and white checkered pumps. To my dismay the city got nailed by a team of snowy clouds overnight, bringing the temperature down to twenty-two and glazing the sidewalks with shifty flakes and ice. 

Scratch the checkered pumps...

I don’t want to eat a faceful of concrete before I’ve even had my crumpet. 

Better to wear a pair of black heeled boots, thermal leggings, and a baggy boyfriend sweater. 

As previously stated, Crumpets is a bright splash of color amongst the darker, rough buildings that line the neighborhood. A single floor, it almost looked like a keepsake box sandwiched between worn, leather-bound books on a shelf. I arrived half an hour after they opened, greeted by a neon sign calling out with a frosty blue glow. Stowed in my purse was a collection of Japanese poems, but they didn’t need to occupy my time for too long before my friend joined me.

It was a cozy Thursday to be sure. I was glad I wore my big sweater.

One of the initial charms of the interior as you step in the door is how urban and classic it feels. Very New York. The diamond tiles stretching across the floor gave a subtle nod to Jay Gatsby, kept tidy as they beamed up at an art deco ceiling. The owners of crumpets have lovingly adorned the brick wall and surfaces with vintage pieces like an arts and crafts wall clock, a card catalog, and retro cake stands. Plants of all varieties pepper each nook, disguising the ductwork and filling in blank spaces. 

Like many small businesses, Crumpets has embraced the beauty of thrifting dishware alongside décor, making it all the more inviting as you sit down with settings of dainty, collected dishes. Look at how adorable my teapot was! And this cup and saucer. I’m a sucker for gold edges on porcelain. Given that the coffee shop has so many little garden friends, it’s no surprise their cups and plates have ivy, flowers, and leaves for patterns. 

Though they have a solid selection of coffee, I couldn’t resist a pot of earl gray tea for our corner table; with lavender, it’s one of my favorite beverages while watching snowfall just outside the windows. Accompanying our table was a carton of oat milk, great news for customers who don’t consume dairy. I stirred in a dash, while my friend had it for her french press, along with raw sugar. Crumpets doesn’t have their own line of coffee or tea at the time I’m writing this, but the brands they offer are comforting choices, old reliables like Twinings, or local, Rochester suppliers like Javas and Joe Bean. The front counter is lined with natural, cold-pressed juices if you’re not craving caffeine.

Crumpets also offers gluten-free griddle bread. All their bread can be purchased in bags for you to take home. A wise decision if you’re concerned about cross-contact. One downside of Crumpets tiny space is they don’t have room for a separate cooking space, so toasters and pans are shared.

What did I go with for my breakfast? 

Well, the owners of this coffee shop cater to the fastidious. A big boy chalkboard sits behind the counter, with a slew of toppings and combinations for you to peruse. 

Or agonize over. Don’t worry, they’re patient.

The list of toppings makes me want to go back so I can try other combos.

My love of citrus and cheese guided my taste buds. I purchased a buttered crumpet with orange marmalade, ricotta, and a fried egg, topped with ground black pepper. 

The best part of my meal by far was the orange marmalade. It was refreshing like a glass of fresh-squeezed juice, tinged with that hint of spice and sugar any good marmalade boasts. The bitterness was a nice flavor wedged between an egg and cheese. I’d highly recommend it as winter is coming to a close Nutty, caramel-like, rich flavors are always popular when there’s snow on the ground; yet there are people who enjoy that spark of tang, a taste that reminds you of those warmer spring days around the corner.

The ricotta didn’t do any more work than it needed to as a soft, creamy topping. I was still grateful I included it. As previously stated it paired very well with the marmalade.

I am someone who loves a gooey yoke. I wasn’t disappointed. My fried egg was perfect, in taste and as a bit of protein.

And finally, the crumpet. It crumbled apart well, though, this was the least exciting part of my meal. Hah. Though clearly fresh it was a little dry after the griddle. I think a tad more butter would’ve solved the issue of a tougher consistency. I didn’t get that ideal, crispy exterior and fluffy, spongy texture that melts on your tongue. That said, it wasn’t a hardship for me to finish my meal in a matter of minutes. More of a nitpick than a criticism. 

After we polished the food off my friend and I cozied up with our cups and enjoyed the rest of the morning.

Overall, I’d highly recommend a table at Crumpets. While tight there is still plenty of space to unwind. Had I been alone I would’ve pulled out my notebook and continued working on my manuscript. It’s the perfect little eatery for a writer to start their day. 

My only qualms are the lack of cross-contact safety measures and the subtle dryness at the center of my crumpet.

Rating: 8/10