Annette Cunningham tries out the breakfast on offer at an Oxford High Street restaurant

There’s no denying that Quod on the High Street has kerb appeal. In the warm, spring Sunday sunshine, with its majestic windows glinting, it positively beckoned us in.

While studying the vast breakfast menu a young, highly lip-glossed, waitress came over and haughtily informed us that as non-residents she could only serve us our ordered Prosecco at the manager’s discretion before midday. When we questioned, perchance, if the manager was maybe available, she declared our request illegal. We left humiliated.

As unwitting outlaws we then followed our, slightly out of joint, noses up the High Street until we stumbled across an A-board advertising breakfast at The Mitre. Why not?

It was buzzing with a diverse clientele and the warm welcome more than made up for the lack of finesse. We were soon huddled in a window seat nursing a glass of coveted Prosecco and choosing from the primitive breakfast menu of my childhood.

In keeping, there wasn’t a hint of Eggs Benedict, granola or smoked salmon to be sniffed at, but cooked breakfasts, omelettes and bacon baps aplenty. You’ll rub your eyes to believe the prices. A Cooked Breakfast (sausage, bacon, egg, mushrooms, hash brown, tomato, beans and toast) means forking out the non-princely sum of £3.75 (£5.25 for the Ultimate version).

It gets better. Pay an extra £1 and sink as much tea, Costa coffee or juice as you dare.

I haven’t finished... for every adult ordering an Ultimate Breakfast (including the vegetarian option), pay just an extra £1 and a child under the age of 10 eats free from the menu. Now that’s pretty damn good.

I chose the Ultimate Vegetarian for £5.25 and my brunch buddy went for the Cooked Breakfast at £3.75. His plate came with charcoaled sausage and bacon as requested and he declared it ‘hit the spot’ nicely.

My plentiful meal included a three egg omelette, my only gripe being the raw red onions within that I tasted all day.

It’s definitely not The Ritz, but if you’re looking for an affordable and tasty, no-frills breakfast with friendly service you can certainly take your hat off to The Mitre.

The Mitre, 17 High Street, Oxford 01865 244563
Breakfast served 8am – 11am