For the sake of diversity I normally wouldn't write a review about a cafe located a few doors from the cafe I reviewed last time. But last time I had intended to visit a brand new cafe in Crookes, but I never found it. It turns out I wasn't hallucinating after all -- there was a new coffee cafe in Crookes where I thought I'd seen one. But on the day I went in search of it, it had quickly become nothing but a shuttered memory.

Not long after, however, the storefront reopened as The Cafe, and I was fortunate enough to visit during its first week in business. The Cafe, run by the owners of the sandwich shop across the street next to Choices Video, is a small and clean cafe decorated with white walls, light-coloured wood, and paintings of beaches. The biggest painting of two classic canvas beach chairs reminds me of my childhood with my beach bunny of a mother who would lie on the beach for hours with her best mate Bettye Anne in a quest for TPT (That Perfect Tan), while I romped around in the little waves with my brother and my friend Barb. Gazing at those chairs transported me back to the sands of Alamitos Bay or Belmont Shore -- and the new classic Italian-sports-car sandals I happened to be wearing enhanced the whole image.

The only espresso drinks on the menu were Cappuccino and Americano. The owner apologised for this, explaining that she did not yet have proper espresso cups, which we could respect. After saying we were happy to have our double macchiatos in cappuccino cups we then described how to make them -- and they turned out surprisingly good! She certainly doesn't have much to learn about making espresso drinks. The coffee (Verde) is quite good, the shots are good, the milk froth is just right, and the presentation is acceptable.

While we were there we had lunch. The food is pleasant and very basic. I had a tuna, cheese, and olive panini, served with crisps and a salad, all for only £3.50. And it was a good panini, made with crusty chewy bread and stuffed green olives, and the tuna wasn't drowned in mayonnaise like I always fear. Andrew's jacket potato with chilli looked good. The cafe caters for children as well, and there are 2 tables out on the pavement where we spoke with the owner while she chatted with passing neighbours during a cigarette break. She's obviously been in the area for a long time and is an established part of the community.

So did Crookes ever have a beach? Hmm, perhaps a very, very, very, very long time ago, back when the Isle of Axholme was still an island and Romney Marsh was still a marsh...