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.

The Orchard

Website: www.orchard-grantchester.com
Mill Way, Grantchester
Fare: afternoon tea, desserts, lunch menu
Price: £-££
Service Tips: they have a cafeteria set-up where you go through a self-serve line, but you can order sandwiches, salads, and hot drinks at the end where you pay; sugar is not set out on the tables; there are signs outside about table busing if you sit in the orchard

This charming tea spot is a 45-minute walk from Pembroke if you take the paved walking path out through the Grantchester Meadows along the River Cam. The Orchard is sort of a historical landmark and is especially famous for hosting the likes of Rupert Brooke, Sylvia Plath, A.A. Milne, and a variety of other creative and intellectual figures who've haunted its lawn chairs and taken tea amid the rambly old trees from which it takes its name. If you happen to go on a wet or chilly day, never fear: they have plenty of indoor seating, and it's spacious enough that even when it's busy, it probably doesn't feel too cramped.

While Harriet's or Auntie's are much closer, the Orchard is the place to go for huge, fresh scones, scrumptious clotted cream, and some seriously good honey. Harriet's has better tea, because they use loose leaf and have their own blends, but the scones, which are baked fresh in house, more than make up for any lack on the Orchard's part. Plus, it's a bit less expensive than the places in town, and it's positively bursting with character. If you fancy a look around before heading back, there's also the Brooke Museum, and probably some other interesting bits besides.