I visited Hull's prettiest cafe and had the greatest homemade lasagne of all time

Lasagne at The Corner Cafe and Bistro in Princes Avenue, Hull
-Credit: (Image: Hull Live)


There's no shortage of cafes in Hull - you're probably never more than a quarter of a mile from somewhere selling paninis and coffee.

Sometimes I fancy something a bit special though, so when I found myself outside the striking Grade II Listed building that houses Corner Cafe and Bistro in Princes Avenue I decided to have a nosy.

The former butcher has kept all of its former charm with painted tiles on the walls dating back a century. There's also a meat rail hanging from the ceiling, now adorned with sunflowers which match the cheerful pastel-coloured window panes, making an extremely pretty environment for eating out.

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Corner Cafe and Bistro has a good-sized menu, not too big (which would imply cut corners) but not too small either. There are also options for vegetarians and vegans.

The specials board offered more freshly-cooked food and so I decided to pick the lasagne. I don't normally order lasagne out, but since this one was described as "homemade" I had some hope it would be better than the standard gastropub stuff.

The interior of The Corner Cafe and Bistro in Princes Avenue, Hull
The interior of The Corner Cafe and Bistro in Princes Avenue, Hull -Credit:Hull Live

To drink, I went for a decaf latte. I'd already had two coffees at home and I didn't want to become jittery. It was a nice surprise to see a decaf option on the menu.

I was served very quickly and was pleased to see my latte automatically came with a glass of water on the side and a Biscoff biscuit, my all-time favourite. Naturally, the biscuit only lasted about half a second.

A decaf latte at The Corner Cafe and Bistro in Princes Avenue, Hull
The decaf latte came with a Biscoff biscuit and a glass of water -Credit:Hull Live

The latte was good, the milk perfectly frothed and the flavour was so deep and rich I couldn't tell it was decaf, other than not getting the caffeine side-effects.

My lasagne's arrival was quite a big moment, it was about twice the size I'd expected and came bubbling straight from the oven in a large square dish. On the side were fries with just the right amount of chip spice, a dressed salad, and a pot of red coleslaw.

I ate the chips first and they were cooked until golden, beautifully seasoned, and not greasy. I was impressed with the tomatoes in my salad, they were sweet and flavoursome and complemented the crisp leaves and honey-flavoured salad dressing.

The coleslaw also tasted homemade, it tasted like yoghurt dressing rather than mayonnaise. But the lasagne was the star of the show; I don't believe any other lasagne I've eaten could hold a candle to this one.

First off, the tomato sauce was so perfectly seasoned it instantly evoked feelings of comfort and warmth. I can't even guess the combination of herbs and spices it contained because they were balanced so beautifully.

The tomatoes in the sauce were just as rich as the ones in the salad, so I wondered if the sauce had been prepared with fresh tomatoes rather than tinned. If so, the extra effort of skinning fresh tomatoes was definitely worth it.

Each sheet of pasta had a wonderful texture, neither soggy nor crisp. I also loved the sweetness of courgettes in the sauce. It was topped with a single layer of molten cheese which I prefer to runny white sauce.

The cheese was decent - mature enough to stand out against the other rich flavours but not so rich to overpower them. I think £11.95 is more than reasonable for the nicest lasagne I've ever had, bubbling fresh out of the oven.

A selection of homemade scones at The Corner Cafe and Bistro
A selection of homemade scones at The Corner Cafe and Bistro which come with jam and butter -Credit:Hull Live

Corner Cafe and Bistro also had a selection of sweet treats on the counter. When I visited, there was chocolate cake, fruit scones, and large American-style cookies.

I asked and was told the scones were also homemade and came with jam and butter. I was sorely tempted, but after the feast I'd just had I'd be lucky if I managed to roll home. There's always a next time, and I can hardly wait.