When it was announced that there was to be a new cafe in the Collier Arcade at Blackheath my associate Editor Des and I were very excited. We love to do a little writing over a working lunch. It’s a lot quieter in the arcade than out on busy Govetts Leap Road.
I suspect Covid delayed things, and the wait to visit Hounslow was agonizing.
As a true history buff, I love that this new eatery remembers the first name Governor Macquarie gave Blackheath. It has always amused me that he forgot he named it Hounslow on the way west in 1815, and renamed it a few weeks later on the journey home. Unkind people would say that the latter is more appropriate as we can so easily corrupt it ‘Bleakheath’ or ‘Lackheat.
There is another positive to this cafe. It is surrounded by books, with outlets of Gleebooks both next door and opposite.
Modesty forbids me mentioning whose book is the front row.
My first main course at Hounslow was a lunch of blue swimmer crab omelette. I’ve never eaten crab this way before, but it was really nice; light and full of flavour. By the way, service is warm and friendly, but never intrusive, which suits me perfectly.
I might try Ocean Trout next time. I stole the following pic from their Facebook page. You can check the page for more menu items. Breakfast options look good.
The interior of Hounslow is a little ‘minimalist’ at the moment. However, artworks will decorate the walls as soon as final decisions are made re shelving. Bravo to the proprietors for opening a new business during the pandemic, it could not have been easy. Do give them a try…. and tell them the writer lady sent you.
Opening hours will increase as the wretched Covid retreats. Nearly all the cafes in the village open early and close around three. One exception is the Victory Theatre Cafe at the antiques centre, just around the corner.
