The Vineyard Café, mid-way along Darlington’s Post House Wynd, opened in 2021, but I hadn’t been through its doors until a few weeks ago when grabbing a quick coffee with a friend.
Intrigued about the set-up, the menu, and what looked a relatively low pricing point, I made a mental note to return to sample the food and finally made it back this week for lunch.
The café is one of the community operations of Darlington’s Vineyard Church, based a stone’s throw away on Salt Yard, and run by Phil and Lisa Crosby.
Other ventures include Hope & Glory vintage shop, also on Post House Wynd, a toddler group, and “baby bank” offering free clothing, items and equipment for young children.
Colleague and friend Mike Hughes, business editor of The Northern Echo, and I called in for lunch on Tuesday, and got the same warm welcome as on my last visit.
We were shown to a table at the heart of the café, and our server promptly returned to give it an extra wipe down.
The décor is all rustic wood panelling, fairy lights, and soothing dark greens, while at the very far end of the room a big screen was silently showing an episode of Mr Bean. Interesting.
Inside the Vineyard Café on Post House Wynd, Darlington (Image: Hannah Chapman)
Breakfasts are served until 2pm, with main meals available after 11.30am.
There are hot and cold sandwiches, with prices from £7.50, a variety of salads, bagels, light bites such as beans on toast (£3.95) and a fulsome children’s menu.
It was heartening to see the menu explaining where all the food is sourced from – meat from TMC Butchers in Richmond, drinks from a coffee roastery supporting survivors of modern slavery, and milk, cream and butter from Darlington’s Acorn Dairy.
Both Mike and I were after something fairly light, so I went for the beetroot and feta salad (£7) and Mike chose the “Avo” toast (£6.95).
It came with either a hard boiled egg or feta, but in the end Mike opted for both.
The menu does warn that everything is made fresh to order, so there may be a bit of a wait in busy periods. And it was busy, so there was quite a gap between our drinks and food arriving – it really was no hardship though to sip our coffees, chat and enjoy the pleasant, homely hum of the place.
The food, when it did come, was top notch.
My salad came heaped with warm, crunchy croutons, thick chunks of beetroot, cherry tomatoes and a stack of fresh leaves. The saltiness of the feta was offset nicely by the sharp balsamic glaze.
Beetroot and feta salad at the Vineyard Café on Post House Wynd, Darlington (Image: Hannah Chapman)
I’m not usually a salad lover (in general, they should be side dishes to something more interesting) but I really enjoyed this combination from start to finish.
Mike also highly rated his choice – crushed avocado on a thick slice of toasted sourdough with salad and sundried tomatoes in addition to the egg and cheese.
'Avo' toast at the Vineyard Café on Post House Wynd, Darlington (Image: Hannah Chapman)
The sourdough crusts did prove a little too toasted to be tackled with a knife and fork, but that was a minor issue with a meal that was delicious overall.
Cakes start from £3, and deciding we had better get back to the office, bought a slice of pistachio “brookie” to take away.
We did feel particularly ancient asking what on earth a “brookie” is – apparently a combination of a cookie and a brownie.
It was super sweet, so we were glad of a half portion each, and it went nicely with a mid-afternoon cup of tea.
Slices of brookie - a cross between a brownie and a cookie - at the Vineyard Café on Post House Wynd, Darlington (Image: Hannah Chapman)
The bill, for two hot drinks, two main meals and the cake, came to a very reasonable £25.15 – extremely good value.
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Service throughout was a real highlight – friendly without being overbearing, and knowledgeable about the menu and its provenance.
We left with a warm glow, glad to have experienced a good lunch in what very much comes across as venue with the community at its heart.
Vineyard Café25 Post House Wynd, Darlington DL3 7LPOpen Monday to Friday, 9am to 2.30pmRatings (out of ten): Food quality 9 Value for money 10 Service 9 Surroundings 9