Le Petit Bistrot - The Mark of Good Service by ONscotland

ONscotland — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:08:27 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 4.00

Tags: quick bite, good brew, crowded

This review is proof that when things go wrong, a good venue will still have a happy customer...

Hooray! Another new coffee shop in Balham... an independent one I hasten to add. Located at the pointy end of Hildreth Street (where it meets Bedford Hill) Le Petit Bistrot is a welcome addition to the area. It's bright and fresh and is all windows, so it was with a sense of discovery that I ventured in for lunch...

1.00PM - We peruse the simple but tempting menu, and order our coffees. Very nice, very frothy. Full English breakfast is offered, and I spied this on other diners tables. It looked gorgeous.

1.10PM - We order food. The wraps look delicious, and they are freshly made (unlike the prepacked ones that Caffe Nero and Starbucks would have us accept as 'fresh'), and a bargain at Â£3.50 each (with a side salad).

1.25PM - No sign of the food. "It's just coming" we are told by the chirpy waitress.
1.35PM - "We're really busy it is just on it's way. Five minutes".
1.45PM - Still no food. We have to go back to work, and we won't have time to enjoy it. Disappointed, we pay for our coffees as the waitress cancels the order. Unfortunately we can't have it as a packed lunch either as we start back at work in about ten minutes.

As we leave, the manager runs after us. He is carrying two boxes, with our lunch. He is very apologetic, and says that as they had made the food, we were welcome to take it, with their compliments. He was aware that we may not have time to eat it, but that we might be able to enjoy some of it, and again apologises that they let us down. Despite missing lunch, why do I have a warm glow?

We go back to work, and lo and behold, we can find half an hour to literally SCOFF the food down, it is so delicious. Packed with chicken and falafel, these wraps are something else.

I go back to the place, and insist on paying - I want to support independent places, and as the food was so nice, and we did get to enjoy it, it seems only fair. This is entirely due to the attitude of the manager and his staff, who completely turned around what could have been a disappointing lunch. But I got a free muffin :)

I will be back.This review is proof that when things go wrong, a good venue will still have a happy customer...

Hooray! Another new coffee shop in Balham... an independent one I hasten to add. Located at the pointy end of Hildreth Street (where it meets Bedford Hill) Le Petit Bistrot is a welcome addition to the area. It's bright and fresh and is all windows, so it was with a sense of discovery that I ventured in for lunch...

1.00PM - We peruse the simple but tempting menu, and order our coffees. Very nice, very frothy. Full English breakfast is offered, and I spied this on other diners tables. It looked gorgeous.

1.10PM - We order food. The wraps look delicious, and they are freshly made (unlike the prepacked ones that Caffe Nero and Starbucks would have us accept as 'fresh'), and a bargain at Â£3.50 each (with a side salad).

1.25PM - No sign of the food. "It's just coming" we are told by the chirpy waitress.
1.35PM - "We're really busy it is just on it's way. Five minutes".
1.45PM - Still no food. We have to go back to work, and we won't have time to enjoy it. Disappointed, we pay for our coffees as the waitress cancels the order. Unfortunately we can't have it as a packed lunch either as we start back at work in about ten minutes.

As we leave, the manager runs after us. He is carrying two boxes, with our lunch. He is very apologetic, and says that as they had made the food, we were welcome to take it, with their compliments. He was aware that we may not have time to eat it, but that we might be able to enjoy some of it, and again apologises that they let us down. Despite missing lunch, why do I have a warm glow?

We go back to work, and lo and behold, we can find half an hour to literally SCOFF the food down, it is so delicious. Packed with chicken and falafel, these wraps are something else.

I go back to the place, and insist on paying - I want to support independent places, and as the food was so nice, and we did get to enjoy it, it seems only fair. This is entirely due to the attitude of the manager and his staff, who completely turned around what could have been a disappointing lunch. But I got a free muffin :)

I will be back.

Bertie and Boo Cafe - Lovely by ONscotland

ONscotland — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:57:27 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8772 9987

Website: http://www.bertieandboo.com/cafe.html

Tags: cosy, quick bite, cultured

I have to second the previous review - this is a lovely place to have a coffee and a snack, although for me, the school theme is somewhat overplayed, and I'm not keen on the school tables to sit at, but then this is a cafe that is dedicated to families, and it's great that there's a place where children are welcomed with open arms.

That said, everything else is great - the service is friendly, and there's a great variety of items on offer, including muffins, cupcakes and savoury items like sandwiches, quiches, pasta etc, and it all looks home made.

Balham has recently seen the arrival of Starbucks, to add to the Caffe Nero already there. But it's places like this that give an area personality, and when it's as good as Bertie and Boo, there's no reason to seek the 'security' of a ubiquitous brand.I have to second the previous review - this is a lovely place to have a coffee and a snack, although for me, the school theme is somewhat overplayed, and I'm not keen on the school tables to sit at, but then this is a cafe that is dedicated to families, and it's great that there's a place where children are welcomed with open arms.

That said, everything else is great - the service is friendly, and there's a great variety of items on offer, including muffins, cupcakes and savoury items like sandwiches, quiches, pasta etc, and it all looks home made.

Balham has recently seen the arrival of Starbucks, to add to the Caffe Nero already there. But it's places like this that give an area personality, and when it's as good as Bertie and Boo, there's no reason to seek the 'security' of a ubiquitous brand.

Latest reviews for Cafes & Coffee Shops in Balham, London, United Kingdom

Le Petit Bistrot - The Mark of Good Service by ONscotland

Bertie and Boo Cafe - Lovely by ONscotland