Magnus H.
Yelp
Okay, so full disclosure before I start: Hans, one of the owners of Steampunk, is a very good friend of mine. That does not mean my review is a lie, simply that I wouldn't have written a review at all if I felt like Steampunk's new home in the Warehouse wasn't worthy of the review I'm about to write.
I've always felt like North Berwick's food and coffee options were at odds with the vibe I got from the small town itself. Visiting the first time, it felt like the perfect place for quaint but modern fare, a kind of mini-Portland. Progressive and interesting and full of creatives. When looking for refreshments, though, we felt the place was sorely lacking. There's no end to old-fashioned cafes that haven't really had to try hard for years and are quite staid as a result. In other words: not a good place for coffee.
Then, a wild Steampunk appeared! While I'll agree that their old home in The Den was lacking in atmosphere, the coffee was excellent and the brownies were sublime.
And now we have The Warehouse. With a focus on good coffee and good food and with a rustic, bohemian aesthetic, I felt like this could be the place North Berwick had been waiting for. There's a free-standing fireplace right near the entrance, the actual coffee roaster they use is tucked away in one corner, the countertop is a surprisingly stylish blend of molded concrete, sinks and tubes. Lots and lots of tubes and gauges! It all seems to blend together really well and feels a LOT more inviting than The Den (sorry). It helps that the mezzanine eating area doesn't block the view of the roof from the ground floor. Everything feels connected.
I was there on the second day after opening, and I don't think anyone had quite expected the amount of people that showed up! There was a constant influx of customers, and most seats were taken most of the time. I saw a LOT of people waving at the staff and shouting positive feedback as they left, so if you don't take MY word for it, take the word of... those people... Who I'm telling you said something positive. So take my word for it after all, I guess. I mean, who am I kidding? I could have made this entire paragraph up. -I- know it's true, but... well, yeah. It's true. People seem to love the place.
As for the quality of their fare, Hans and Luiza were doing the coffees that day, and they both do some of the smoothest Flat Whites I've had in the UK. Personally, I prefer my flats a bit bolder to the taste, with a bit more of an acidic and fruity espresso, but this is a very deliberate choice of blend to create a Flat White that will be palatable both to the newcomer and to the more seasoned espresso-based coffee drinkers among us. I hope that they'll start doing weekly guestspressos (see what I did there?!!? Yeah, don't expect my stand-up show at the Fringe any time soon) as that would satisfy my more exploratory urges. I usually end up having the guest beans at Brew Lab when I go there (my go-to in Edinburgh, along with Wellington's) so the option would have been great, though not strictly necessary.
The brownie I had was gooey and delicious, and the lamb tagine that was the special that day was beyond anything I had any business expecting at a place that was built on a coffee foundation.
All in all, I do indeed think this might be exactly the kind of place that could revitalise North Berwick's appeal. If you're a fan of coffee, food, the sea, puffins and the rustic-modern aesthetic I think it's well worth it to take the trip out to N. Berwick for the sake of checking out Steampunk. It's a nice drive/ train ride, too!
PS: They are dog-friendly, too, which my puppy Balrog was very happy about.
