Timing is everything. We arrived at Millington’s’ Cafe in Cwmbran town centre today at 11.57am and peered through the glass door.
All the tables were taken, so we were going to turn away. But then luck was on our side. A couple of women suddenly stood up and headed for the door.
We pounced and started looking at the menus while a member of staff cleared away the plates. At 11.59am, my wife said she wanted a small breakfast (bacon, sausage, egg, toasts, beans or tomatoes – £6.90).
Breakfast served until 12pm
The menu said breakfasts were served until 12pm, so the pressure was on me to pick quickly and get the order over the line. But then this isn’t McDonald’s with its rigid 11am cut-off. Even though there was a customer ahead of me in the queue, the staff member wasn’t watching the clock 
Ten minutes later, we were tucking into our food. I was so tempted by one of the Christmas specials – turkey, brie, and cranberry sauce panini or toastie (£8) or a turkey, stuffing, and gravy bap with cranberry sauce (£8).
But thanks to the pressure put on me by wife, to choose within seconds, I went for a simple scrambled eggs on toast (£5.80) and a latte (£3.60). Very traditional and very tasty. No regrets from me.
My wife was then forgiven by me after slipping one of her slices of bacon onto my eggs.
Millington’s Cafe closed in the summer when the previous lease was running out and the owner decided not to renew. Dawn Button, a member of staff, decided to take it on and become her own boss for the first time in her life.
We both gave the place top marks for food and atmosphere. As we were sipping our coffees, my wife became animated and suddenly said: “That’s criminal. That lady has left her coleslaw.
“They’ve always done the best coleslaw in here.”
A nearby table had been vacated, and one of the customers had left an empty plate apart from their stunning coleslaw.
I can recommend the breakfasts, and my wife can definitely recommend any of their meals…with a side of coleslaw, of course.
Millington’s Cafe is open Monday to Saturday, but will be open on the next few Sundays leading up to Christmas.