This American restaurant and coffee shop in the heart of the town has been here a while now so it must be doing something right. After all, it’s one of the few buildings in the town that are not boarded up!
Inside it’s an explosion of Americana; the walls are adorned neigh caked with images of pop-stars, films and comic books, retro American enamel adverting and a couple of fairly impressive models of Batman and Kung Fu Panda upstairs (Betty Boop is downstairs on the counter).
The food is greasy and comforting (though not particularly American) and at a decent price. Their best sellers seem to be fry-ups and anything with chips and the diners seems to be perfectly happy. My bacon muffin was pretty good and followed by a decent steak so we were happy to although there are no gluten-free options. I had coffee which was not exactly ambrosial but was improved by an accompanying custard cream. Service was friendly and speedy though a little dopey at times – maybe the waitresses are on Spice (like the rest of the town)?
Motown boomed out from the speaker above us so we asked them to turned it down and they obliged eventually. Expect the odd scoundrel so check your belongings are safe. It’s not an accessible cafe with quite a few stairs and no lift.
I asked about the wifi and was told there is none in an unapologetic tone as if wifi is a new fangled thing that will never catch on. This was by an aged man who must have served in at least two Great Wars. Apparently though it’s OK if you are downstairs; you can access the wifi of the Lloyd’s bank opposite standing on a table one-legged whilst performing a Gregorian Chant. Oh how convenient for your customers!
We sat by a draughty in November near a single glazed window. The place is a little tatty in places with worn carpet downstairs, a few fading pictures and the furniture is a bit battered. The toilets are the worst things – cramped and smelling like a tramps ball-sac (last cleaned circa 2005). ‘Yakety Yak’ by The Coasters was playing as we left. How very apt.
Verdict: 3/5
Good: Food, prices, walls
Bad: Accessibility, toilets, wifi, volume
Went to Crewe once – never again!
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Cesspit of a town
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labour destroyed the town
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It was already a cesspit…
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I supose you think you are clever demonizing working class towns eh?
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You mean “I suppose you think you are clever demonising working-class towns eh?”
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Crewe is a dump. What do people expect?
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Euuuuw Crewe.
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It’s not posh but got good nosh!
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Crewe is not the place for a good cafe but this looks interesting?
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Can be a few odd/roughos in here but it’s not dull.
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Good value and nice junk foodx
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a bit ruff but nice breaky so all gud
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Interesting inside and cheap but nice food if a bit greasy. Agree with you on the toilets and staff. Great review anyway so keep up the good work!!! Polly Vernon xx
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/pollyvernon
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While I think you are a talented writer, you should temper you snobbery a little. That said,every one of your little reviews makes me laugh I have to say.
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This has now closed – RIP Big Appler
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This has now closed and has a new sign up called ‘M8tes’ or something
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RIP The Big Apple – for Crewe it was very exciting.
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Miss my cheap bacon baps and fried crap lol
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This is going to me called M8Ts I think when it opens again assuming in the summer
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Miss the Big Apple – cheap scoff 🙂
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Miss this place – we should start a campaign to bring it back!!!!!!! xxx
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Yes this is called M8Ts now – not as good but better than being closed|
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RIP the big apple this has now closed sadly – loved it and the prices 😦
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Closed
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The new place is not the same is it? Prefer the old place 😦
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M8Ts now – a load of crap.
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Went into the new place and turned back. Looks even worse – even for this hole. Will be gone by summer we reckon.
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