The Balanced Bean is a newly-opened coffee shop and yoga studio on Brownedge Road in Lostock Hall, which also holds wellbeing and craft events. From following on Instagram, it looked like a great addition to the village, so I had to pop over and try it out.
With a rare Thursday afternoon off due to a cancelled dentist appointment, without hesitation, I managed to fit in a massage before heading to the new coffee shop for lunch with my friend Caroline. On arrival, it was quite busy and there was a calming, friendly vibe to the cafe with a welcoming interior. We picked a table and I had a quick glance at the cake counter and the selection of cute gifts and accessories for sale.
The menu has a small range of breakfast bowls and choice of toasties and bagels, with a monthly specials board and a counter of sweet treats. Yippee. I went for the Italian Bagel (£5.50) with pickles (£1) and Caroline chose the Tuna Cucumber Bagel off the March specials board (£4.50). I had seen some half and half cups on their Instagram so I decided on half a cup with Strawberry Cold Foam Matcha from the March specials and half a cup with Vanilla Latté (£4.90) and Caroline also chose the Strawberry Matcha and then had a Pistachio Latté in the other half (£4.90). The best of both worlds. The drinks were delicious, there was a large list of syrups to choose from and the coffee was excellent. I noticed they sell the beans, so I’ll be getting a pack of them in the near future.
When I ordered at the counter, I was given the option of Italian meats instead of ham and I chose to take them up on the offer. The bagel was soft and fresh and the filling was tasty with the perfect ratio of meat to cheese. There was some confusion with the pickles, which I now see is my fault. I thought they were missing, not realising that they were an extra pound. So, I owe them a quid (oops, sorry). The lovely lady behind the counter was more than happy to add them in, apologised and didn’t charge me but it was in fact, me, who yet again (like in my previous review) did not read a menu correctly. Wake up Louise. Anyway… Back to the bagel, I would have this one again. Caroline also enjoyed her bagel saying it was one of the nicest she’d had and it had loads of the tuna filling. We both thought it could’ve done with a little side of salad or crisps, a little something to add variety to the plate.
Time for something sweet. We’d had a look at the counter already and we both liked the look of the Biscoff Crookie (£4) and the Mini Egg Cookie (£3.50), so we ordered those. I thought the Biscoff Crookie was delightfully different, a croissant with a biscuit bottom and a layer of creamy Biscoff inside. So good, I want one now. Caroline thought both the treats were a bit on the dry side, which I agreed with when it came to the cookie. It was yummy but I noticed a bit of a hole inside the one we had, perhaps where some gooeyness should’ve been.
I’m just writing the last part of my review back in the cafe because I’m returning the half and half cup which I accidentally stole. Whoops. FYI, they look like takeaway cups but they’re sturdier and they’re sit in cups only, so don’t take them away. Another strawberry cold foam matcha please. Yum.
The total was £28.30, which initially seems expensive but then I have to remind myself that this is how much things cost these days, so it was about right. The service was friendly and the place has a lovely vibe, so I’ll be back again, perhaps for one of the exciting April’s specials that include banana matcha, Caesar bagel and cookie topped drinks. The latter might win.
Where to next?
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