For many, going out for brunch or a Sunday lunch is the perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend.
Whether it’s French toast, a full fry-up or a classic roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, the traditional Sunday offering is the favourite of the week for many Teessiders. Now one continental café in Yarm has been named among the most beloved UK spots to enjoy your brunches and Sunday lunches.
Muse, in Yarm’s High Street, opened 10 years ago and has offered a varied, and delicious, breakfast menu from day one. It’s one of just seven Yorkshire restaurants to be named in the restaurant reservation service OpenTable ‘s top 100 list.
Owner Jonathan Hall says the accolade is down to the amazing staff, who provide top-tier customer service backed with a huge variety of quality dishes. “We’ve been doing breakfasts since the day we opened and we’re actually in the process of shaking up the menu a bit,” said Jonathan.
“Our main staples are out French toast with crispy bacon and maple syrup and the smashed avocado, poached eggs on sourdough toast – which is topped with red chillies, crumbled feta and lime wedge.
“We’ve always focused on quality ingredients. The staff are amazing and they’re really what people come back for time and time again.
“We have a really loyal customer base, which we’re so grateful and fortunate for. There’s a really lovely feel at Muse and the service – we have a really great, established team that have been with us for a long time. Our staff really deserve all the praise for the accolade.”
As for Sunday lunches the seafood pancakes and traditional roast beef dinner are the customer favourites. The restaurant – which is part of a group with Yarm’s Cena, The Bay Horse in Hurworth and The Devonport Hotel in Middleton One Row – is also in the process of making changes and additions to its popular Sunday menu.
While the sticky toffee pudding and traditional roasts, including a slow cooked lamb Henry, are incredibly popular in the winter months, chefs are hoping to add a fresh flair with a variety of small and large plate dishes too.
One Open Table reviewer said: “Excellent Sunday lunch with first class service throughout. Friendly atmosphere and easy access.” While another five star reviewer wrote: “First time visiting and we had a great night, the food was amazing really really good. Lovely friendly helpful staff a great atmosphere in there as well. It’s a bit expensive but as a treat now and then you don’t mind paying good money for amazing food.”
One diner said: “A lovely lunch to celebrate my friends birthday. We were a group of six and all enjoyed various starters and main courses which were all superb. Fantastic service with attentive staff that were not overbearing.”
For many businesses the covid pandemic and the cost of living and energy crises have had a huge impact, with Teesside saying goodbye to a number of much-loved restaurants and shops.
Jonathan says it’s been a turbulent time and the real challenge started with the hike in energy prices from last February – which increased by 110%.
“Our wet sales are slower – people are choosing to have a glass of wine rather than buying a bottle. I think cost and health plays a part there. Food wise we’re still doing strong, we may be 10% down on tables during the week but we’re as busy on a weekend.
“We’ve been able to keep staff wages as increasing with, even higher, than inflation and we’re still profitable. We’re able to support our staff and our suppliers to keep the quality up and that’s always been our aim.”
Source: Teesside Live
