Rest-A-While in Strood, Kent

Headed for our favourite spot in Rochester, Kent, we decide to stop in Strood on this side of the River Medway.  “Rest-‘A’-While” Café stands on the V-corner where the two one-way streets that cut through the town centre reconnect. We almost miss the entrance -- Happy, now hungry, Husband happens to look up and see the sign 20 feet up the wall!  

We make our way past the dumpster and find ourselves in a warm and absolutely shining cafe. Turns out we entered by the back door.  The front tells a different story!

Almost everything about this café goes against our point system, as flexible as it is. The pictures are of food seem the variety that one would purchase from a DIY-Café-on-line-shop, the rigid table and chairs are attached and fastened tight to the floor and walls, a plastic DIY-café-on-line-shop menu sits on each table. 

  But the ultra-friendly staff make up for all that.  Ozzy, from Izmir, Turkey came to the UK 14 years ago.  He's chatty and insists on taking our picture, as we've asked to take his.

He keeps his café sparkling clean, serves very hot tea, provides newspapers, offers soft radio in the background, and has no noisy machines blasting on the scene.  There’s been an attempt to brighten things up with Christmas décor.  He talks of his homeland, Turkey, and we watch his eyes sparkle.  He recommends Nevsehir, Kapadokya for our next holiday, proudly describing fantastic scenery displayed on his phone screen.  The clientele, many workers donning reflective jackets, keep him hopping.

The food tastes great!  Typical cafe Full English Breakfast for Happy Husband and 2x2 for me -- an artsy touch with the bread arrangement -- a bit owlish!

 The sunlight fills the street while we eat.  We head out to enjoy the local art work -- sculpture of local shipbuilding.

 We head off across the bridge into Rochester for a visit to the Castle (an English Heritage site -- we do recommend membership) and all our favourite charity shops.

 Another delightful Breakfast in Britain.