Blog Preston was invited to attend a preview night at Simply Dough in Fulwood, located within the small retail park known as the Eastway Hub that also includes a Lidl and bravely puts them right next to a competitor, Costa Coffee.
The event took place at 6pm, the night before Simply Dough would open its doors to the public, and the venue definitely benefited from the early winter nights as the bright, shiny, new sign and the well-lit inside made it stand out from everything else in the park.
Once inside, the décor is incredibly welcoming, with the overall aesthetic being a very Instagrammable affair. To the left, immediately after entering the space, there is a comfortable sofa which will be perfect for any guests waiting to be seated, but the neon sign and beautiful flower decoration will likely make this the spot that many people will use to document their visit.
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Inside, I introduced myself to the owner, Ali, a man who has more than 12 years experience in the catering industry, and also operates several other eateries around Preston and beyond. However, Simply Dough is the first of its name, and one that appears to be very important to Ali’s entire family with multiple generations getting involved.
At this point, it was time to grab a drink and take a seat, and the staff were friendly and warm, sharing what was on offer, and quickly serving customers their drink orders.
Unfortunately, while the hot drinks menu was extensive on the board, Ali and the team had the terrible misfortune that their brand-new espresso machine was not working. Ali confirmed that they had a technician coming later that evening to work into the night and ensure everything was ready for service the following day.
Having spoken to Ali today, the new machine was found to be faulty, but they do have a replacement unit in-store ready for service when they open their doors at 4:30pm.
Regardless, the range of cold drinks was even larger. From the standard soft drinks, to a variety of milkshakes, and even a couple of unique juice options that I highly recommend, there is something for everyone.
Moving on to the range of food, the menu is comprehensive as far as what you’d expect to see from a cafe. With a wide range of hot food options, including everything to make a full three-course meal, and a range of reasonably priced pizza options, there is a lot to dive into.
Starting things off, I opted for a meat heaven pizza with a kick of extra heat. And shortly after ordering, I was delighted to quickly see the food arrive at my table.
The pizza had plenty of toppings, a wonderfully firm oven-baked base, delicious soft-chew, and excellent flavor. It was well-seasoned, and beautifully balanced in terms of the ratios of sauce, to cheese, to toppings, and crust.
While I let that settle, I had a look at the dessert counter, which didn’t have any prices listed on the menu board, but the variety of cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes looked absolutely delicious, and the younger guests in attendance were gleefully tucking into the bite-sized cupcakes in such a way that I am very confident these will not disappoint.
At this stage in the evening, I was joined by another solo guest at my table as a magician made his way around the room delivering some spectacular sleight of hand and various other tricks. It certainly made the mood in the room sing, and loosened everyone up as a few more food options were brought out.
We were treated to a burger and fries, which were quickly consumed, before the mingling portion of the evening proceeded. The burger was delicious and full of flavor, but I was blown away by the range of fried potato offerings. On the table, we were served a mixture of standard fries, curly fries, and sweet potato fries, but the menu also boasts waffle fries, skin-on fries, wedges, and even loaded fries options.
Full to the brim with delicious food and energized from the buzzing conversations and warm atmosphere, I walked away from Simply Dough thoroughly satisfied. It’s a lovely location, operating with confident and friendly staff, and great ownership that will likely make this a great hub for the community and somewhere well worth taking the short drive out of Preston city centre for.
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