Harriet's Tearoom

http://harrietscafetearooms.co.uk/
Green Street
Fare: breakfast, paninis, afternoon tea, cakes
Price: £-££
Service Tips: n/a

Harriet's Tea Room is a lovely little place sequestered between Sidney and Trinity Streets, just down from Sainsbury's. For me, their biggest selling point is their tea: loose leaf, with a few black tea blends unique to Harriet's. Their biggest drawback, on the other hand, is the price. I wouldn't go here for breakfast (the Copper Kettle is cheaper and has a better view), but do go for the afternoon tea. The waitresses all wear the stereotypical maid's outfit, with the cute little black dress, white apron, and white hairpiece (there's probably a name for it, but I have no idea what), and they're usually quite pleasant, although the service can be a little slow. They seem to operate on a principle of bothering the customer as little as possible, so if you haven't been able to snag them for the bill, just go up to the register, since you'll have to pay there anyway.

You have a few options for afternoon tea, from the simpler cream tea, which is a pot of tea and two scones with clotted cream and jam, to the full afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, and, with the "special afternoon tea," an assortment of cakes. If you're sharing the cream tea with someone else, you may want to order a second round of scones--they're smaller than the ones at the Orchard, and nobody wants to skimp on the scones.

Ultimately, Harriet's is a slightly pricier spot for a nice, quiet afternoon tea with a friend, so if you don't think you'll make it out to the Orchard or you like a more refined experience, check them out.

The Copper Kettle

http://thecopperkettle.weebly.com/
King's Parade
Fare: English breakfast, paninis, etc. during the day; Mediterranean at night
Price: £/day; ££/night
Service Tips: Often the waitress will leave your receipt on the table as soon as or before your food comes out--just take it up to the register when you're ready to go

[This review focuses on their breakfast experience]
The Copper Kettle is one of those places that tourists pack into for the excellent view of King's College, which is perfectly framed by the huge windows looking out on the street. It looks especially pretty if you happen to be there early on a foggy morning, but snag a window table regardless of the weather. Because they get so busy, the best time to go is probably for breakfast on a weekday. I can't authoritatively speak for other times, since I've avoided them, but what you're really here for is a proper English breakfast anyway (surprise!).

Of course, ambiance isn't everything. The food is usually decent, nothing too fancy, but they're not doing anything cruel to their toast. Full English breakfast involves eggs, local sausages, bacon, a hash brown, beans, toast, and a grilled tomato. The vegetarian English breakfast is all of that, hold the sausages and bacon, add mushrooms. For Americans: English bacon is a little closer to Canadian bacon, in that it has less fat and more meat, so you're probably being a bit too optimistic if you expect seriously charred, crispy bacon. There are other options on the menu, like pastries and parfaits, and they also have an espresso bar, so you can order a cappuccino (again, decent but not spectacular), or opt for a simple pot of tea. If you go when it's slow, food comes out quite quickly, which is nice.

All in all, the main glamour is in the location, but you probably won't leave disappointed unless you absolutely hate beans.