*London cafes: your very best recommendations, please!
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I visited the New Piccadilly Cafe (as featured in the U75 London Cafe Guide)at the weekend, and I have to say it was absolutely superb. It was like stepping back in time, with efficient and friendly service from uniformed waiters, and all the original decor. We had cod chips and peas, bread and butter, sausage and mash, two cups of tea and two cups of coffee all for £12, hidden away in a back street in the heart of tourist land. Quality.
charlie mowbray
The Enforcer
The fuck it is- if you're a Hoxton Twat mebbe!
Batboy
Trumpeting is good for you...
Mr Retro said:
It may be an institution, but they're shit; the beigels might be ok (Stodgyish), but the fillings are vomitable especially the cheese cum plastic toilet paper.
I have to say that despite the abundance of eating places in London, the food quality is still short of the mark, I have places that I go to, but few that I could really rave about especially on the cheaper end. Any way here are a few of my selections.
Greasey Joe -would have to be the workers cafe at the top end of Church st Stoke Newington (Opp Clissold park) Their coffee aint too bad.
Take the kids to the Porchetta in upper st for Pizza/pasta Cheapish consistent (massive pizzas/portions) and the staff are great with the kids.
Go the Viet Hoa off Kingsland high Rd for Vietnamese
Gallipolli for a cheap Turkish mezze
(Mezze for two to share with bottle of plonk is about £18.00)
The usual gastro pubs (all seem the same to me but food ok)
Organic cafe in Dray walk (Off Brick lane) pricey but food/salads are good.
Best food I have is at home - my other half is a genius in the kitchen.
Edited to add a Cuban coffee/sandwich bar just opened opp Clapton pond called Havana, Coffee is brill -nice'n strong ( (And BTW/ IMO Coffee@bricklane is very average) Sandwiches are okayish.
Other coffee shop; Tinderbox in Upper St Islington (A bit poncy/expensive but coffee is good and consistent) Sandwiches are crap, cakes are ok.
Or of course a decent coffee is also on offer at the mobile coffee van across the street.
Generally coffee in London is a real disappointment, Starbucks has five shit bucket of milk-froth shops in upper st I fucking hate 'em.
Batboy
Trumpeting is good for you...
jdaviescoates said:Haven't read through all 5 pages of recommendation, so these might have been mentioned before...
Candid Arts Cafe (Islington, behind Angel tube next to Electowerks - very nice atmosphere and good veg food (a little pricey though). Could easily spend hours there reading the papers. Good one for dates, so I hear.
Food for Thought (Covent Garden) - Excellent veg food, with great value large portions. Always busy. My mate is the head chef, so I often get to eat for free(don't but tell the owner)
Cafe Kick (Exmouth Market) - because the staff treat customers like friends, the bottled beer is only £1.50 4-7pm daily, they have table football (which I like), and it's on one of my favourite streets.
Peace,
Josef.
i'd second those recommendations, haven't been to 'Food for Thought' though for ages always found that you were under pressure to eat your grub and get the fuck out -not a place to linger.
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
Peppertons in Selhurst is a hidden gem and I love the place. The food is fabby - vegetarian and vegan - and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It's address is 25 Selhurst Road, London, se25 5pp. Telephone: 02086834462.
It sells home made cakes and organic beer and wine, as well as wonderful and unusual meals, has a garden out the back, and doubles as an art gallery.
I can't recommend it enough. Because of where it is, it rarely gets busy (except when there is a private viewing, as there was recently, as part of the Make Poverty History programme).
Okay, I think I have raved enough for now. Hope some of you will try it!
It sells home made cakes and organic beer and wine, as well as wonderful and unusual meals, has a garden out the back, and doubles as an art gallery.
I can't recommend it enough. Because of where it is, it rarely gets busy (except when there is a private viewing, as there was recently, as part of the Make Poverty History programme).
Okay, I think I have raved enough for now. Hope some of you will try it!
Batboy said:
the best coffee in london is on the Old Kent Road. try the 2 North african coffee shop (opposite each other) near the post office. proper coffee, that is.
Jack's Cafe, Salisbury Road, NW6. Nearest tube: Queen's Park.
£4.95 for their "double." 2 sausages, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, chips or two hash browns, beans, mushrooms, tomato and two slices of toast. Plus all the tea you can drink.
They do other stuff too, but I've only ever been in for a fry-up. It is quite small though, so it can get mobbed at the weekend.
£4.95 for their "double." 2 sausages, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, chips or two hash browns, beans, mushrooms, tomato and two slices of toast. Plus all the tea you can drink.
They do other stuff too, but I've only ever been in for a fry-up. It is quite small though, so it can get mobbed at the weekend.
Lisarocket
In bed with me dinner
Batboy said:
Or go to the original one on Stroud Green Road in Finsbury Park. Great for birthdays- they bash trays over your head and throw pizza dough at you
Cheap, good food, huge portions, lively atmos, great (mostly Italian) waiting staff and less minimal looking than the one on Upper Street.
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
Batboy said:
we move in the same sort of circles batboy, gallipolli is a real winner, friendly staff, great turkish meals, viet hoa also an excellent cafe, the porchetta in finsbury park is better (as has been said), that mobile van is great, lovely bloke runs it,
and i have passed by that havana loads of times, i'll check it out now
Yeah, I'd say the Finsbury Park Porchetta is miles better than the one on Upper Street; it's much bigger, and has a much nicer atmosphere in my opinion. The decor in the Upper Street branch is a bit cold imo.
L'Artista, which has branches in Golders Green and Hendon, is another favourite of mine.
L'Artista, which has branches in Golders Green and Hendon, is another favourite of mine.
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
The Queen's Head on Black Prince Road (the end closest to the river at the far end of the council estate). It looks like a pub and in some ways it is, sort of. They do Karaoke in the evenings but during the day it's a caff. It's sort of like a little French cafe/bar except the food is standard London caff stuff, but they have a licence for alcohol. Anyway, I had a sausage sandwich and a beer. Very good and really lovely bread, great fresh doorsteps of it, a crusty bloomer from the look of my sarnie, with a really good crunchy crust. Best bread in a caff I've had for a long time. Good value too. My companion had a bacon and salad sarnie, I had a sausage sarnie and we had half a pint of beer each. £6.20p for the two of us. Not bad for a caff so close to the centre of London. Extra bonus for who like that sort of thing
is that lots of firemen eat in there
btw They're on a two week annual holiday at the moment.
btw They're on a two week annual holiday at the moment.
Its not London, but FWIW, the best cafe in Essex is the Rose Cafe in Chelmsford on the old A12. Orange seats and white plastic table, and a gut-buster fry up and tea for £6. Its always RAMMED full of builders and truck drivers, which is always a good indication of QUALITY in such an establishment.
01245 496788 is the number - give em a go if youre up this way!
01245 496788 is the number - give em a go if youre up this way!
charlie mowbray
The Enforcer
Yes, I really recommend this cafe, too! It's wonderful!! Vitrolite AND formica!
The market cafe on whitecross street used to be great when I went there about 7 years ago (£3 for a big plate of food), but I walked past there on friday, and they've changed the insides completely. I didn't walk in there (went to the chippie instead). Barbican Grill looked pretty good, and there was an indian food van that smelt gorgeous. Will be investigating that road over the next few months
The Famous Walworth Road Cafe in (guess it 
) had its owners retire after 27 years recently, it's now reopening as a Subway!! 
) had its owners retire after 27 years recently, it's now reopening as a Subway!! cafe guide
2 places-----
(1) Indian Vegetarian restaurant, Chapel Street Market, Islington....all you can eat £2.95. Menu doesn't vary much. Not gourmet quality, but good nutritious grub. Highly recommended.
(2) ICO, Goodge Street W1. Lovely Pizza from £3.00. Salads, pasta, sandwiches half price after 4pm. Brilliant place, very pretty female staff who work very hard. Highly recommended.
check'emout.
2 places-----
(1) Indian Vegetarian restaurant, Chapel Street Market, Islington....all you can eat £2.95. Menu doesn't vary much. Not gourmet quality, but good nutritious grub. Highly recommended.
(2) ICO, Goodge Street W1. Lovely Pizza from £3.00. Salads, pasta, sandwiches half price after 4pm. Brilliant place, very pretty female staff who work very hard. Highly recommended.
check'emout.
charlie mowbray
The Enforcer
Not a caff though, is it?
dynamicbaddog
run for your life
I would like to recommend the Pop Inn Cafe at the Blue, Bermondsey. 4 quid gets you a choice of Welsh, Scottish,Irish or English breakfasts. I opted for the Irish it came with white pudding which I'd never had before
Geoffers
Little golden birdies
I prefer my cafes to concentrate on coffee; coffee and maybe cake.
I was also looking for an analogue of pubs - in terms of opening hours - for tee-totallers like me. It's difficult when so many cafes close at 6, or - for some of the cuter tea rooms - 5, as if 'going out for a drink in the evenings' is something unheard of!
That's why I like...
Coffee, Cake and Kink
61 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2
Phone. 7419 2996
They brew their coffee in cafetieres so the beans (which you can smell and choose) are given space and time to infuse properly, and there's no massive chrome barrier of an espresso machine that staff can bash around at with coffee-tipped hammers.
The cake is nice, juicy and varied, and it's open late: until 8pm Sundays and weekdays; 11pm Fridays and Saturdays. Perfect!
I was also looking for an analogue of pubs - in terms of opening hours - for tee-totallers like me. It's difficult when so many cafes close at 6, or - for some of the cuter tea rooms - 5, as if 'going out for a drink in the evenings' is something unheard of!
That's why I like...
Coffee, Cake and Kink
61 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2
Phone. 7419 2996
They brew their coffee in cafetieres so the beans (which you can smell and choose) are given space and time to infuse properly, and there's no massive chrome barrier of an espresso machine that staff can bash around at with coffee-tipped hammers.
The cake is nice, juicy and varied, and it's open late: until 8pm Sundays and weekdays; 11pm Fridays and Saturdays. Perfect!
Roxy641
Are you local?
Piccadilly Cafe
I love that cafe too.
Roxy641
I love that cafe too.
Roxy641
chio said:
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