So my first review for this new blog is for Pandino, a café in Hasselt I've been to quite a few times since moving here two years ago.
It wasn't my first choice for this morning's cuppa hunt, but my first goal, which I thought would make a good first entry, was completely full, and I didn't fancy sitting outside in the drizzle...even with a blanket and heater, it's just not that pleasant on your own.
*Expat note* One thing you get to learn quickly about Hasselt, and Belgium in particular, is that Belgians really like their food, and love going out to eat, so be prepared for nice places to be full a lot of the time...Seriously, I have more trouble finding somewhere quiet to eat here than I did in London!
So, back to the review - having stuck my head in, and bumped into a colleague, (Hasselt - small yet busy) I went off to try and find somewhere else to get a cuppa, and ended up at Pandino around the corner.
Pandino is a basic café, where you can get a decent soup and sandwich at lunchtime, and has very friendly owners working there. I noticed this morning that they have regulars who come in for their weekly morning coffee and the owners greet them by name and bring them their drink without any need to order.
The clientele on a Saturday morning leans more towards the older generation. Though it does appeal to all ages. My main experience with Pandino had been from going there for lunch occasionally after my Dutch classes. This was my first morning visit.
The tea menu is decent, with decent prices for Hasselt, the average cuppa price from what I'm used to
Before, when I've had tea here, it's come in one of those pot-cup combos, where you can pour it out as you want to, and it tends to stay warm a bit longer. This morning, I was served a cup of tea, with a good sized pain au chocolat with it.
One of the perks of living in Belgium - or at least in Flanders, I need to go get some Walloon cuppas to compare - is that if you order a hot drink in the morning in a café, you will often get a small treat to go with it. That pain au choc was included in the price. I noticed they also had mini croissants and other pastries, but I don't think you usually get to choose.
The water temperature was decent, cool enough to drink right away, but that also makes for a slow infusion, so it cools down quite quickly. They serve Lipton tea, and though the menu says English Blend, it was English Breakfast tea, the triangular sachets.
As I was quite peckish, I'm glad that it was more than just a biscuit on the side, and I'll have to remember this place next time Sweet Coffee is full.
It wasn't my first choice for this morning's cuppa hunt, but my first goal, which I thought would make a good first entry, was completely full, and I didn't fancy sitting outside in the drizzle...even with a blanket and heater, it's just not that pleasant on your own.
*Expat note* One thing you get to learn quickly about Hasselt, and Belgium in particular, is that Belgians really like their food, and love going out to eat, so be prepared for nice places to be full a lot of the time...Seriously, I have more trouble finding somewhere quiet to eat here than I did in London!
So, back to the review - having stuck my head in, and bumped into a colleague, (Hasselt - small yet busy) I went off to try and find somewhere else to get a cuppa, and ended up at Pandino around the corner.
Pandino is a basic café, where you can get a decent soup and sandwich at lunchtime, and has very friendly owners working there. I noticed this morning that they have regulars who come in for their weekly morning coffee and the owners greet them by name and bring them their drink without any need to order.
The clientele on a Saturday morning leans more towards the older generation. Though it does appeal to all ages. My main experience with Pandino had been from going there for lunch occasionally after my Dutch classes. This was my first morning visit.
The tea menu is decent, with decent prices for Hasselt, the average cuppa price from what I'm used to
Before, when I've had tea here, it's come in one of those pot-cup combos, where you can pour it out as you want to, and it tends to stay warm a bit longer. This morning, I was served a cup of tea, with a good sized pain au chocolat with it.
One of the perks of living in Belgium - or at least in Flanders, I need to go get some Walloon cuppas to compare - is that if you order a hot drink in the morning in a café, you will often get a small treat to go with it. That pain au choc was included in the price. I noticed they also had mini croissants and other pastries, but I don't think you usually get to choose.
The water temperature was decent, cool enough to drink right away, but that also makes for a slow infusion, so it cools down quite quickly. They serve Lipton tea, and though the menu says English Blend, it was English Breakfast tea, the triangular sachets.
As I was quite peckish, I'm glad that it was more than just a biscuit on the side, and I'll have to remember this place next time Sweet Coffee is full.
No comments:
Post a Comment