There are a gaggle of cozy new eateries on the block party that is Yongkang Lu, and this café, run by an endearing local couple and their barista friend, is one of several winners that we’ll be back for time and again.
The menu here is composed mostly of simple Western café staples with salad and sandwich specials. On our visit, we sampled the sandwich of the week, a turkey and avocado panini (RMB42), and were impressed—it’s welcoming and fresh, with its advertised fillings complemented by a sprawling slice of gouda and a lightly toasted outer shell that gives it a good crunch. The spaghetti carbonara (RMB38) is hearty and homey, with bits of bacon and chicken generously spread all over and a sprinkling of mushrooms and onion in between. However, we generally prefer this dish to be creamier than the Farmhouse makes it. At some point we also hope to explore the promising all-day breakfast options here—you have your choice of banana pancakes (RMB25), wraps (RMB25) and British breakfast (RMB28) options. Get in before 10:30am and you even get 20 percent off for a meal that includes a coffee.
Next time you're in the area and looking for a quick bite with a side of Wi-Fi, give this place a shot—it's comfortable, the fare is budget and the coffee is better than Wagas’.
Our rating: 4/5
DETAILS
What: The Farmhouse Caffe
Where: 69 Yongkang Lu 永康路69号
Tel: 3367-8233
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:-) While I understand/like your sentiments and advice to this and other innovative stores of YongKang Lu. I would like to add a couple more points:
1) The landlord (or biz corporation) that controls rent to that popular area needs to be realistic and encourage the shops there to built up a serious "fan base" first before attempting to increase rent (and squeeze such moms+pops shop that deliver great value).
2) Continue to innovate but retain the option of the "original flavor" for consumer that appreciates the classics - e.g. don't sweeten food to suit local Shanghainese' "sweet-tooths", or at least give consumer the choice of original flavors or Shanghainese (sweet tweaked) flavors.
3) ...and, improve the general cleaniness along the street (or of the local auth's responsibility then the shop owners), and maybe have a good public toilet since many of the moms and pops shops are too cramp for such facilities.
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Excellent. 38 RMB is incredible value for money. To buy the ingredients and make it yourself literally costs 25 to 30 RMB (yes I am pathetic, I have done the math). NOTE TO ALL THESE NEW PLACES ON YK LU: Do not let your quality drop just because you get popular. Don't scrimp on portion or quality of ingredients, nor quality of staff. If you need to gradually raise the price, so be it. But don't follow the route of so many others that drop quality just because the new crowd doesn't care about it.