Frank's Cafe

bristle

No longer! 11th September 2008

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Sadly, Frank's Cafe closed recently, after almost half a century of serving market porters, local residents, tourists, day-trippers, office workers and anyone in between.
Salvatore and Mena run a wonderful, traditional 'greasy spoon', but were eventually priced out of the market.
The rent on their modest cafe premises had risen to a ridiculous level and it was no longer realistic to work such long hours, keep everyone happy, pay the landlord, and make a living.
With Frank's going, Covent Garden has lost not only a nice, easy-going cafe, it has lost part of its history. When Neal Street was full of market warehouses and ancillary trades, Frank's was there. When it changed into a fashionable shopping street, Frank's was still there, doing what it had always done.
Unfortunately, Neal St has become a victim of its own success. Without Frank's it is just like any other over-priced Covent Garden retail street: soul-less.

jupiterjude at 23/12/08

I was devastated to find Frank's Cafe gone from Neal Street when we went to have our usual annual meal there yesterday. My son and I have been going to Frank's for the last 19 years, since he was three, and was a focal point of our London day-visit at Christmas, from Bristol. Those trips will never be the same again. I agree with everything said in the review. Covent Garden is the poorer for their going. I am SO sad.

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