As someone who spent just over four years of my life working at Nando’s, I’m no stranger to preparing and eating Portuguese-inspired food.
One menu item that wasn’t particularly popular when I worked there but that seems to have become much more loved in recent years is the pastel de nata – the Portuguese (and superior) version of an egg custard.
For a few years now, Th3 Guys in Bolton town centre has been my go-to if I fancy one of these delicious little treats, and a couple of months ago, I saw the café post something on social media that caught my attention – a ‘pay it forward community board’.
The idea is that customers have the option to pay for some food, or maybe even just a coffee, and then post their receipt on the board, so that someone less fortunate can get something to eat or drink at the venue. When I visited over the past weekend, there were around 15 receipts ranging from cups of tea to breakfast barms. It really is a lovely idea.
That being said, just how good is the food?
Although I was already well aware about the quality of their traditional natas, I’d never gotten breakfast or brunch at Th3 Guys until very recently, but I’ve since visited twice in relatively quick succession.
The corner café, on the junction of Great Moor Street and Black Horse Street, gets loads of natural sunlight, giving it an airy feel. On the wall next to the till, there is also a mural detailing the ‘history of the pastel de nata’, giving you something to read as you queue up.
I ordered ‘It’s a Wrap’ (a breakfast wrap containing cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans and hash browns, which set me back £10.99) and Mrs Molloy had the eggs benedict with smoked salmon (£11.99).
My wrap was glistening with garlic butter and was incredibly hot to touch, owing to it being partially toasted on the grill prior to serving. Risking a burnt tongue, I dived right in and each bite provided an explosion of different flavours. The cheese and baked beans stopped it from being too dry and meant that the lack of sauce didn’t even cross my mind. Safe to say, I made very short work of it.
Mrs Molloy’s eggs benedict were cooked to perfection and I did try a bit of the hollandaise sauce which was velvety smooth.
The atmosphere in the café is also really nice and latin pop being piped through the speakers practically transports you to Portugal and almost makes you forget that you’re between a Morrisons and a Mecca Bingo in Bolton town centre.
Th3 Guys happens to be Bolton’s best rated coffee shop on Tripadvisor, which is probably down to a few of the factors I’ve listed above, but the coffee itself was also really good – even though I don’t consider myself a coffee connoisseur by any means.
My wrap was so good that I went back and ordered it again last weekend, but unfortunately this is where I have to share my only negative.
I got it with brown sauce for a bit of a change but unfortunately this was a mistake. It wasn’t classic HP and the flavour of it sadly overpowered all of the other fillings of the wrap. It also didn’t seem to have the garlic butter brushed on the outside this time and it generally felt like a pale imitation of the first one, which happened to be one of the best breakfast wraps I’ve ever eaten.
To make up for it, I ordered a box of three natas and decided to try the cherry and chocolate variations, as well as the traditional.
Make up for it they did. On all three the pastry was outrageously flaky with the caramelised custard filling bursting from the seams. Perfect on their own or with a sprinkle of cinnamon, all three were delightful. Although I think the original is still best, huge shout out to the chocolate one, which is now a very close second place.
If you live in Bolton or even if you’re just passing through, Th3 Guys is definitely worth a visit – even if just for their amazing Portuguese pastries. But if you do want breakfast, just make sure to get the wrap without sauce… you won’t regret it.