Póg is a small and unassuming restaurant. The minimalist signage outside their Bachelor’s Walk residence means that far too many people obliviously walk past the boundless goodness on offer everyday. Póg’s menu offers breakfast, brunch and lunch, with a host of light snacks, sweet treats and exciting beverages to keep you going in between. I fell in love with when, as a self-proclaimed breakfast aficionado, I found I spent far too much time going out for dinner and far too little time going out for breakfast. Breakfast is after all the most important meal of the day, so why not make it a great one, if a good start truly is half the battle then any battle can be won if you start your day off with a Póg.
Weekly Póg breakfasts fast became cemented in my routine and I tried something new on each visit. My first order saw me torn between “Green Eggs” and “Red Eggs”, both a handy tenner. I settled on the former because it reminded me of Doctor Seuss and proceeded to be delighted by a wholesome bowl of scrambled eggs permeated with all the green goodness of spinach, avocado, spring onion and linseed. This was all topped with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese and served with toasted rye bread. Needless to say after this dish I was energised and satisfied, ready to take on the world and convinced that no breakfast could top that. I was mistaken, the following week I tried “Red Eggs” and the thrills continued. A slightly more indulgent affair, this dish sees kidney beans, red cheddar, chorizo, tomato and chilli scrambled amongst the titular eggs which are served with a toasted tortilla.
If you need a protein-infused boost to set you up for a big day then any of the egg dishes are the way to go. If however you’re feeling a little more on the sweet side then never fear, Póg is well-equipped to satisfy any and all breakfast needs. The “Vegan Banana Bread” option is simple but effective, served with almond butter (best I’ve ever had), blueberry maple compote and coconut yoghurt. Other sweet favourites include the dark chocolate, pecan and rose banana bread, the mixed berry and vanilla muffin and of course their famous protein pancakes, for which they had to extend their opening hours on Pancake Tuesday to feed the eager masses.
But, what if you simply can’t decide between sweet and savoury, what if, like Hannah Montana, you demand the best of both worlds? Never one to shy away from a challenge Póg presents “Toast Two Ways”, a recent addition to their menu which is fast becoming a favourite among regulars and rightly so. The first of two toasts features the aforementioned almond butter, this time topped with cinnamon, banana and mixed berries. The second packs a punch with chilli hummus, avocado and pomegranate. You can have a two-course breakfast or flit between the two so the sweet and savoury merge in perfect harmony.
Póg also offers a massive range of set salads as well as a make-your-own salad counter for all your lunchtime needs. They also stock health-conscious snacks such as protein bars and vitamin drinks. Their delicious made-to-order juices and smoothies deserve special mention – I personally recommend the “Happiness” for its suitably joyous combination of raspberry, apple, lemon and mint combination.
So the next time you run into an old friend swap “let’s get lunch” for “let’s get brekkie” or even leave your house a little earlier and fill yourself up with fun fruity goodness before a perilous succession of lectures, take a juice for the road and start your day off right with a nice big Póg.
