'Charming' North Wales café where Christmas comes early

North Wales Live

20-07-2025

Small in size but mega in quality, value and service, Upper Crust is one of Llandudno's best kept secrets. A haven of delicious aromas, warmth and friendly faces, over the last five years this unassuming little café close to the town centre has become firmly established.
Satisfying home cooking like your mum or granny used to make will never lose its appeal - no wonder that the eatery attached to Ableworld mobility store in Mostyn Broadway has a strong local following as well as attracting a steady stream of visitors.
Veggie, vegan and dietary needs are catered for and children and dogs are welcome too.
Opened in April 2019, the café is the brain child of successful local coffee shop owner Deborah Stein, who created the venue from scratch in an empty space of the mobility store's entrance.
It is her own independent business, which she runs with the help of a small team and is not part of the Upper Crust international restaurant chain that now operates as a franchise.
A daytime venue serving breakfast, snacks, lunch, cakes and a legendary full afternoon tea that Deborah also delivers all over the Llandudno area,
Upper Crust is located opposite Llandudno's busy retail park. With the coach park just a short distance away, it is also a popular pit stop for hungry coach passengers arriving for a day out in the resort.
I must admit that on many occasions I have passed the place without stopping, but after a neighbour told me how much he enjoyed the food there, my step daughter Karen and I decided to pop in for an early lunch before hitting the shops.
Would it be the pick of the day? Two hungry ladies were about to find out.
Although it was only just after 12 noon, the café and seven outside tables were already almost full with an all age mix of locals, visitors and mobility store customers. Luckily we found an inside table near the front window, where we had a great view of our surroundings and the comings and goings in the street.
The café was cosy, inviting and unpretentious, perfectly catering to its diverse clientele. Karen and I liked the decor that was functional rather than high design, with a collection of clocks and rustic wood panelling on the walls brought by Deborah from her former sandwich bar in Madoc Street. Quirky lights hanging from the ceiling and fairy lights by the entrance added to the charm.
Seating was at sturdy wooden tables and chairs designed for a quick bite or a get together with family and friends. The atmosphere was informal and relaxing, enhanced by the smell of sizzling bacon wafting from the kitchen that gave our taste buds a kick start.
Karen and I felt very much at home as we decided what to eat - and we really were spoiled for choice!
The a la carte menu offered an extensive selection of hot and cold food freshly prepared to order, using local produce where possible.
Available throughout the day was full English breakfast, scrambled eggs or baked beans on toast, classic toasted BLT sandwich i.e bacon, lettuce, tomato with mayo, omelettes, soup, plus toasties, paninis, baps, rolls and jacket potatoes.....all with a variety of fillings that customers were encouraged to create themselves.
Specials included baps filled with hot beef or pork with all the trimmings and the highly popular early Christmas festive bap containing a generous helping of hot turkey breast. I must mention that the chickens and joints of meats were roasted on the premises and their quality and flavours were first class.
Also on the specials menu was a gourmet cheese burger and onions served with mayo and salad and a jumbo wikinger hotdog with fried onions - a bockwurst style hot dog made from turkey and chicken that can be eaten hot or cold.
A large counter near the entrance where you ordered and paid for your food displayed a tempting assortment of cakes – gluten free carrot cake, Victoria cream sponge, sticky chocolate orange to name but a few, and goodies such as Bara Brith, scones, toasted tea cake and apple pie with custard or cream. Various flavours of Parisella's soft scoop ice cream completed the line up.
The majority of cakes are freshly baked every day in the compact kitchen by talented cook Lisa.
The café does not have an alcohol licence but offers a selection of speciality coffees, teas and soft drinks.
After considerable deliberation, Karen decided to try the early Christmas festive bap, that not only had a generous helping of hot turkey breast, but also came with stuffing, sausage, cranberry sauce and drizzled in gravy.
'My Christmas really has come early. The bap was substantial and absolutely delicious, a complete meal in itself,' declared a very happy Karen.
I was equally delighted with my choice of omelette with cheese and mushroom filling, served with fresh salad garnish and crunchy house coleslaw. Piping hot, flavoursome and nicely presented on a large platter, it ticked all the right boxes and nothing was left on my plate.
The cake counter was too tempting to ignore, so our lunch ended on a sweet note as we sampled a generous slice of gluten free carrot cake that really did melt in the mouth.
Karen and I thoroughly enjoyed lunching at this charming little café and we hope to return soon for second helpings. It earned our seal of approval so give it a try - you won't be disappointed.
One for the notebook? Most certainly.,.