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

Foyles Cafe - One of my favorites in London by tomaplaw

tomaplaw — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:00:14 +0000

Review by tomaplaw

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 5660

Foyles Jazz Cafe is the perfect place to take a classic novel and relax into your chair absorbing the atmosphere around you. I often go there to write, as they offer everything from tea and cafe to red wine and olives - all at a reasonable price.
The cafe does get busy between 5 - 7, so finding a chair can be tricky. They often have live bands come to play, which can actually be too noisy at times, but it's something you get used to. One thing that does annoy me, is the amount of red wine you get for 3 pounds - especially at the end of the day (mind you only one of the staff members does this, so stay clear of the skinny 30 - 40yo guy with black hair lol).Foyles Jazz Cafe is the perfect place to take a classic novel and relax into your chair absorbing the atmosphere around you. I often go there to write, as they offer everything from tea and cafe to red wine and olives - all at a reasonable price.
The cafe does get busy between 5 - 7, so finding a chair can be tricky. They often have live bands come to play, which can actually be too noisy at times, but it's something you get used to. One thing that does annoy me, is the amount of red wine you get for 3 pounds - especially at the end of the day (mind you only one of the staff members does this, so stay clear of the skinny 30 - 40yo guy with black hair lol).

Sacred Cafe - Great coffee a few steps from Regent St by pinotlover

pinotlover — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:22:26 +0000

Review by pinotlover

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 1415

Website: http://www.sacredcafe.co.uk/

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

Why have Italians not discovered the flat white? This is the best way possible to do coffee with milk - a shot of espresso topped with textured, not frothed, milk.
Friendy service from mainly Kiwi staff and cosy ambience especially in the basement. For something different try the lolly cake... crushed malt biscuits and marshmallows bound together with butter and condensed milk and rolled in dried coconut. (tastes better than it sounds). Another Kiwi invention apparently.Why have Italians not discovered the flat white? This is the best way possible to do coffee with milk - a shot of espresso topped with textured, not frothed, milk.
Friendy service from mainly Kiwi staff and cosy ambience especially in the basement. For something different try the lolly cake... crushed malt biscuits and marshmallows bound together with butter and condensed milk and rolled in dried coconut. (tastes better than it sounds). Another Kiwi invention apparently.

Flat White - Service is Flat, But Coffee is More than Alwite by laissezfare

laissezfare — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:48 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 0370

Website: http://www.flat-white.co.uk

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, crowded

[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Although it is really a trek from my office to Flat White, Iâ¬"ve tried this Soho-based coffee house a number of times and almost think Iâ¬"ve walked into a funky little American coffee house on a college campus somewhere. There is always rock music on the radio, the staff sort of ignore you (at least me!) and I donâ¬"t really like the vibe all that much (itâ¬"s a bit up its own backside if you ask me), but the coffee drinks are pretty good. Here, I like the eponymous drink the best.[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Although it is really a trek from my office to Flat White, Iâ¬"ve tried this Soho-based coffee house a number of times and almost think Iâ¬"ve walked into a funky little American coffee house on a college campus somewhere. There is always rock music on the radio, the staff sort of ignore you (at least me!) and I donâ¬"t really like the vibe all that much (itâ¬"s a bit up its own backside if you ask me), but the coffee drinks are pretty good. Here, I like the eponymous drink the best.

Cafe Vergnano - Their Coffee Means Business by laissezfare

laissezfare — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:43:03 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8922 6308

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, london

[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Set along the shop-fronts on an unlikely stretch of Charing Cross Road (unlikely in the sense that you donâ¬"t expect a serious coffee house here amongst the touristy drek), it is none other than CaffÃ¨ Vergnano 1882. I have been in a number of times now and havenâ¬"t exactly gotten to the bottom of what the 1882 stands for (okay, I havenâ¬"t really tried to find out), but that is beside the point. The small chain has been set up by Luciano Franchi, whose family has been working for three generations in the London food industry. They apparently supply coffee and related machinery to the Italian Embassy, for whatever thatâ¬"s worth.

But the best thing about walking into CaffÃ¨ Vergnano is seeing their gargantuan silver madame, the holy grail of espresso fabrication, the elegant and maniacal stainless steel workhorse that pumps dark brown blood through its veins, the aortic arch from which the pulse of Vergananoâ¬"s espresso emanates. Yeah, itâ¬"s the big honkinâ¬" shiny espresso machine that you canâ¬"t miss from window. It is the Elektra Belle Epoque, and on its crown is perched a peering eagle.

To make a long story short, it makes a mean cup of espresso. Their own blend of espresso is composed of seven single-origin beans (including the elusive and expensive Nicaraguan Maragogype) and it is one of the nicer ones Iâ¬"ve had, certainly one of the top in London. It has a full and broad flavor spectrum and, to me, has a tad more bitterness beneath it than Monmouthâ¬"s, though without being cloying. My favorite incarnation of Vergnanoâ¬"s espresso is a double macchiato, with the little bit of foam providing a tiny cushion of creaminess to offset the fine espresso flavor.

The other thing I like about Vergnano is that it is sort of like an Italian espresso bar. You can order your drink and have it standing up at the counter â¬ or if you want you can sit down or walk out with it. With each coffee they also give you a little Italian biscuit or chocolate (I have never figured out if itâ¬"s the drink you order or the luck of the draw that determines which one you get), and I think itâ¬"s a great little touch. I would probably describe the service at the Charing Cross Road branch as â¬Üprofessionalâ¬". Itâ¬"s not warm, itâ¬"s not touchy, itâ¬"s not personal, but itâ¬"s not rude or mean either. They are just there doing their job and trying to provide you with a good drink.

The gist of it: I havenâ¬"t been to their other branches, but I think that this one is great. No-nonsense accomplished espresso drinks and the holy grail of coffee machines staring you in the face. Plus you get a little treat with your coffee and can stand at the bar.[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Set along the shop-fronts on an unlikely stretch of Charing Cross Road (unlikely in the sense that you donâ¬"t expect a serious coffee house here amongst the touristy drek), it is none other than CaffÃ¨ Vergnano 1882. I have been in a number of times now and havenâ¬"t exactly gotten to the bottom of what the 1882 stands for (okay, I havenâ¬"t really tried to find out), but that is beside the point. The small chain has been set up by Luciano Franchi, whose family has been working for three generations in the London food industry. They apparently supply coffee and related machinery to the Italian Embassy, for whatever thatâ¬"s worth.

But the best thing about walking into CaffÃ¨ Vergnano is seeing their gargantuan silver madame, the holy grail of espresso fabrication, the elegant and maniacal stainless steel workhorse that pumps dark brown blood through its veins, the aortic arch from which the pulse of Vergananoâ¬"s espresso emanates. Yeah, itâ¬"s the big honkinâ¬" shiny espresso machine that you canâ¬"t miss from window. It is the Elektra Belle Epoque, and on its crown is perched a peering eagle.

To make a long story short, it makes a mean cup of espresso. Their own blend of espresso is composed of seven single-origin beans (including the elusive and expensive Nicaraguan Maragogype) and it is one of the nicer ones Iâ¬"ve had, certainly one of the top in London. It has a full and broad flavor spectrum and, to me, has a tad more bitterness beneath it than Monmouthâ¬"s, though without being cloying. My favorite incarnation of Vergnanoâ¬"s espresso is a double macchiato, with the little bit of foam providing a tiny cushion of creaminess to offset the fine espresso flavor.

The other thing I like about Vergnano is that it is sort of like an Italian espresso bar. You can order your drink and have it standing up at the counter â¬ or if you want you can sit down or walk out with it. With each coffee they also give you a little Italian biscuit or chocolate (I have never figured out if itâ¬"s the drink you order or the luck of the draw that determines which one you get), and I think itâ¬"s a great little touch. I would probably describe the service at the Charing Cross Road branch as â¬Üprofessionalâ¬". Itâ¬"s not warm, itâ¬"s not touchy, itâ¬"s not personal, but itâ¬"s not rude or mean either. They are just there doing their job and trying to provide you with a good drink.

The gist of it: I havenâ¬"t been to their other branches, but I think that this one is great. No-nonsense accomplished espresso drinks and the holy grail of coffee machines staring you in the face. Plus you get a little treat with your coffee and can stand at the bar.

The Breakfast Club - it is a nice place by xiaodonggua

xiaodonggua — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:49:50 +0000

Review by xiaodonggua

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7434 2571

Website: http://www.thebreakfastclubsoho.com

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

that is okthat is ok

Bar Italia - Lives up to its name by larsrose

larsrose — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:29:08 +0000

Review by larsrose

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 4520

Tags: quick bite, lively, italian

A little piece of real Italian spirit, in the heart of London. They know their coffee and its the perfect place to stop for a panino.A little piece of real Italian spirit, in the heart of London. They know their coffee and its the perfect place to stop for a panino.

Fernandez & Wells - by rfinean

rfinean — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:05:31 +0000

Review by rfinean

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 8124

Website: http://www.fernandezandwells.com/beak.php

Tags: quick bite, amazing brew, lively

An espresso with zing!An espresso with zing!

Make Mine - Rude by davhud

davhud — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:47:42 +0000

Review by davhud

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7636 1308

Website: http://www.makemine.co.uk

Tags: takeaway, crowded, good brew

Make Mine has the rudest staff in Soho, unhelpful and made my day miserable for being personally assaulted by the chefs and the cashier, just because they made a mistake with my order! The sandwiches are not bad but for less of your money you can find better. So if you want to have a bad day stop by Make Mine!

Make Mine has the rudest staff in Soho, unhelpful and made my day miserable for being personally assaulted by the chefs and the cashier, just because they made a mistake with my order! The sandwiches are not bad but for less of your money you can find better. So if you want to have a bad day stop by Make Mine!

Cafe Soho - Best value lunches in Soho? by lowjohnny

lowjohnny — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:15:07 +0000

Review by lowjohnny

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 8572

Tags: cosy, european, quick bite

I work in the area and have pretty much eaten here every day for almost a year, which is very unusual considering my attention span for most things.

Cafe Soho is not exactly in a prime location for walk by traffic, so I'd imagine they rely heavily on word of mouth to drum up business.

The sandwiches are to die for, and the daily hot food specials are very tasty with generous servings.

My personal favourites would be the Ground Beef Burger (low carb) and Roast Beef Special sandwich.

Yes, I like my meat, so much so that they call me "more meat boy" because I generally order everything with extra meat for a mere Â£1 more.I work in the area and have pretty much eaten here every day for almost a year, which is very unusual considering my attention span for most things.

Cafe Soho is not exactly in a prime location for walk by traffic, so I'd imagine they rely heavily on word of mouth to drum up business.

The sandwiches are to die for, and the daily hot food specials are very tasty with generous servings.

My personal favourites would be the Ground Beef Burger (low carb) and Roast Beef Special sandwich.

Yes, I like my meat, so much so that they call me "more meat boy" because I generally order everything with extra meat for a mere Â£1 more.

Milk Bar - by Caffemania

Caffemania — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:09:29 +0000

Review by Caffemania

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 4796

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, cosy

what a decent coffee place in Soho. This is one of the best coffee shop in London. I love this place and also the music that play in the shop is great as well.what a decent coffee place in Soho. This is one of the best coffee shop in London. I love this place and also the music that play in the shop is great as well.

Crepe Affaire - by gilka

gilka — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:42:55 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 3.00

Tags: quick bite, cosy, fun

Crepe Affaire is fine, but here is the real thing:
http://www.gilka.co.uk/2009/04/20/la-creperie-de-hampstead/Crepe Affaire is fine, but here is the real thing:
http://www.gilka.co.uk/2009/04/20/la-creperie-de-hampstead/

Pompidou - Serious communication problems! by eatoutalways

eatoutalways — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:03:07 +0000

Review by eatoutalways

Rating: 1.00

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

I never thought you could go wrong with the plain old baguette served in patisseries but the Pompidou is a very misleading place. It all looks nice from the outside but when you go in and order is when it disappoints.

The young girl who served me could not speak a word of English and I mean not a WORD. When her colleague came over I hinted the best I could that I didn't want my cheese & salad baguette toasted. Well the bread may not have been but the cheese inside certainly was - hot and melted dripping everywhere! The bread was soggy with hot lettuce falling out but as it was disappointingly small I managed to at least eat it.

All I had with the soggy baguette was a tea and cake for afters - not much better but circled with by nice little cream dollops to make it look wholesome.

And the bill - just over 13 quid! Just HOW do they justify that?I never thought you could go wrong with the plain old baguette served in patisseries but the Pompidou is a very misleading place. It all looks nice from the outside but when you go in and order is when it disappoints.

The young girl who served me could not speak a word of English and I mean not a WORD. When her colleague came over I hinted the best I could that I didn't want my cheese & salad baguette toasted. Well the bread may not have been but the cheese inside certainly was - hot and melted dripping everywhere! The bread was soggy with hot lettuce falling out but as it was disappointingly small I managed to at least eat it.

All I had with the soggy baguette was a tea and cake for afters - not much better but circled with by nice little cream dollops to make it look wholesome.

And the bill - just over 13 quid! Just HOW do they justify that?

Rendez-Vous - Yummy ice cream by Dip

Dip — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:34:27 +0000

Review by Dip

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7925 1082

Tags: quick bite, lively, quiet & relaxed

I remember being there when Ms Smith was there, she was a very rude customer and i remember her being more annoyed at the price than at the food. If I remember correctly, all her friends finished their food, so it couldn't have been that bad. Anyway, I go there quite regularly as it is handy for work, during the week it can be a good place to get work done if you don't want to be hassled by staff and other customers. Some of their stuff is expensive, but it is central London. However, the quality of their ice cream and cakes can't be questioned as I have pretty much tasted all they have to offer and it can't be beaten. As for the staff being miserable, they are always joking with customers and the place has a better feel than the soulless chains everywhere.I remember being there when Ms Smith was there, she was a very rude customer and i remember her being more annoyed at the price than at the food. If I remember correctly, all her friends finished their food, so it couldn't have been that bad. Anyway, I go there quite regularly as it is handy for work, during the week it can be a good place to get work done if you don't want to be hassled by staff and other customers. Some of their stuff is expensive, but it is central London. However, the quality of their ice cream and cakes can't be questioned as I have pretty much tasted all they have to offer and it can't be beaten. As for the staff being miserable, they are always joking with customers and the place has a better feel than the soulless chains everywhere.

The National Cafe - Talk about Trusted Places by shirleyfair

shirleyfair — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:57:04 +0000

Review by shirleyfair

Rating: 5.00

Tags: relaxed, friendly, brasserie

I managed to leave a valuable and much-loved ring in the ladies room at the National Cafe last night. When I got home and realised my mistake, I thought I'd never see my ring again. Turns out that the manager, Arien, found it when he checked the loos before locking up. What would you have done in his place? He could have pocketed it and no one would have blamed him because it is, after all, a public place and anyone could have found my ring. It blows me away that this young man put it away and kept it safe until I reclaimed it today. In a cynical world he reminds me that the world is full of good, honest people, and I'm deeply impressed.

Did I mention that the food is always good in this beautiful room, and that the staff are unfailingly friendly and helpful - it's the reason I was there last night in the first place. I've always admired Oliver Peyton's restaurants and I like them even more now.I managed to leave a valuable and much-loved ring in the ladies room at the National Cafe last night. When I got home and realised my mistake, I thought I'd never see my ring again. Turns out that the manager, Arien, found it when he checked the loos before locking up. What would you have done in his place? He could have pocketed it and no one would have blamed him because it is, after all, a public place and anyone could have found my ring. It blows me away that this young man put it away and kept it safe until I reclaimed it today. In a cynical world he reminds me that the world is full of good, honest people, and I'm deeply impressed.

Did I mention that the food is always good in this beautiful room, and that the staff are unfailingly friendly and helpful - it's the reason I was there last night in the first place. I've always admired Oliver Peyton's restaurants and I like them even more now.

Cafe in the Crypt - Café in the Crypt: dining on gravestones by MagicRusski

MagicRusski — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:20:26 +0000

Review by MagicRusski

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7839 4342

Website: http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

Pro's: great location, freaky and creepy design twist
Con's: the smell of boiled cabbage pervades EVERYTHING.
Summary: Simple and honest food but expect nothing fancy.

A detailed report here: http://niftynoshing.blogspot.com/2009/03/stmartin-in-fields-cafe-in-crypt-dining.htmlPro's: great location, freaky and creepy design twist
Con's: the smell of boiled cabbage pervades EVERYTHING.
Summary: Simple and honest food but expect nothing fancy.

A detailed report here: http://niftynoshing.blogspot.com/2009/03/stmartin-in-fields-cafe-in-crypt-dining.html

Zilli Cafe - Dinner quality at lunch prices by emmanx

emmanx — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:55:16 +0000

Review by emmanx

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 9233

Website: http://www.zillialdo.com

Tags: italian, cultured, lively

I happen to be lucky enough to work just around the corner from Zilli cafe. Anytime I'm in the mood for some tasty comfort food without the nasty pools of butter usually found at your local cafe, I head into Zilli to pick up whatever Italianesque my heart fancies.

My last meal at Zilli Cafe consisted of a blackened fillet of salmon with roasted carrots and freshly-made mash only for £7, well worth the £2 extra since lunch in Soho is at least a fiver. For the more budget conscious, Zilli's paninis are only about £3.50 and have a variety of combinations, roast vegetables rocket and mozzarella is my fav. Not to mention the endless trays of fresh pasta ready to for flash boiling and dumped into your favourite sauce...

Not to be underestimated, Zilli Cafe also serves a mean cup of coffee, similar to what you get in Rome. Give it a go, you'll be glad you did. Some outdoor seating in the summer too!I happen to be lucky enough to work just around the corner from Zilli cafe. Anytime I'm in the mood for some tasty comfort food without the nasty pools of butter usually found at your local cafe, I head into Zilli to pick up whatever Italianesque my heart fancies.

My last meal at Zilli Cafe consisted of a blackened fillet of salmon with roasted carrots and freshly-made mash only for £7, well worth the £2 extra since lunch in Soho is at least a fiver. For the more budget conscious, Zilli's paninis are only about £3.50 and have a variety of combinations, roast vegetables rocket and mozzarella is my fav. Not to mention the endless trays of fresh pasta ready to for flash boiling and dumped into your favourite sauce...

Not to be underestimated, Zilli Cafe also serves a mean cup of coffee, similar to what you get in Rome. Give it a go, you'll be glad you did. Some outdoor seating in the summer too!

Sun Leun Cafe - more civilized than its sister by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:26:46 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 0251

Too fragile for the gruff treatment doled out at its sister shop then try this one just around the corner. The selection of cakes is sadly smaller, Less drafty, clean and welcoming. Still one of the cheapest & best cafes in Chinatown. Good place for a swift snack and a quick chat.Too fragile for the gruff treatment doled out at its sister shop then try this one just around the corner. The selection of cakes is sadly smaller, Less drafty, clean and welcoming. Still one of the cheapest & best cafes in Chinatown. Good place for a swift snack and a quick chat.

Sun Luen - cosmic cakes & cosmically offhand by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:18:02 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 0251

Staff here can be sneery and diffident not just to the gweilos but to everybody. Its as famous for bad tempered attitude of the old cougars that work there as it is for its cakes, especially the juicy, crunchy, round Melon cake made from melon soaked in rock sugar and covered with crumbly, flaky pastry. Other cakes that are particularly gnyummy are the large chocolate Swiss rolls, yellow bean slices. The yellow bean slices are only in season 6 months of the year - look for them if you are there ... they're fairly toothsome & wholesome. The place is always spotless. The formica covered tables at the back usually have a few local chinese looking a bit worse for wear hanging out. Ooolong Chinese Tea is seventy pence a cup. They just thwang a few leaves in and zap it with hot water. Cakes are well under a pound each - way cheaper than more high falutin cake-holes nearby, where they meet treat you with civility but you won't get that genuine taste of China.Staff here can be sneery and diffident not just to the gweilos but to everybody. Its as famous for bad tempered attitude of the old cougars that work there as it is for its cakes, especially the juicy, crunchy, round Melon cake made from melon soaked in rock sugar and covered with crumbly, flaky pastry. Other cakes that are particularly gnyummy are the large chocolate Swiss rolls, yellow bean slices. The yellow bean slices are only in season 6 months of the year - look for them if you are there ... they're fairly toothsome & wholesome. The place is always spotless. The formica covered tables at the back usually have a few local chinese looking a bit worse for wear hanging out. Ooolong Chinese Tea is seventy pence a cup. They just thwang a few leaves in and zap it with hot water. Cakes are well under a pound each - way cheaper than more high falutin cake-holes nearby, where they meet treat you with civility but you won't get that genuine taste of China.

Amato Patisserie - Sinful Cakes by bellaphon

bellaphon — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:58:29 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 5733

Website: http://www.amato.co.uk

Tags: quick bite, cosy, amazing brew

Despite being part of the Richoux group, I believe that Amato has always retained its independence and therefore the consistent quality of its superb cakes and pastries has also been maintained. If one were on a diet it would be a total waste of time to even step in here, as youâ¬"ll be confronted head on with the sinful display of the pÃ¢tisserie. Together with the Hummingbird Bakery on Portobello Road, Amato is responsible for the finest cakes in London and lest I forget the coffee is every bit as good as Bar Italia.

Letâ¬"s face it that the inside of the cafÃ© is never going to be highlighted in an interior designerâ¬"s bible; at least itâ¬"s clean and bright. The service has always been friendly and efficient. What Amato lacks in the bohemian atmosphere of the nearby Maison Bertaux, it totally comes out better with its food and service. The usual cafÃ© suspects like breakfast fry-ups are offered alongside the more generic Italian pasta dishes. My near decadent choice of Spaghetti Carbonara was somewhat pleasing and appetizing; despite the claim on the menu of pancetta being used in the dish, I couldâ¬"ve sworn it was just plain thick-cut back bacon and the lavish sprinkling of some unidentifiable dried herb was unnecessary. Ultimately I come here for the cakes and coffee. The huge choice of cakes on display can be daunting, if it werenâ¬"t for gluttony being one of the seven deadly sins, I could quite easily polish off four to five assorted slices in one go. The lightness and freshness of each individual slice indicate that they can only be baked and made in the same premises. The constant stream of customers, both eat in and take away, only goes to prove that this place is rather special.

Iâ¬"m not suggesting that we all do a JK Rowling and make a cup of coffee last an entire chapter of your forthcoming book, but Amato is very nearly that type of cafÃ©, the word rush simply doesnâ¬"t exist in this establishment. Wonderful Amato.
Despite being part of the Richoux group, I believe that Amato has always retained its independence and therefore the consistent quality of its superb cakes and pastries has also been maintained. If one were on a diet it would be a total waste of time to even step in here, as youâ¬"ll be confronted head on with the sinful display of the pÃ¢tisserie. Together with the Hummingbird Bakery on Portobello Road, Amato is responsible for the finest cakes in London and lest I forget the coffee is every bit as good as Bar Italia.

Letâ¬"s face it that the inside of the cafÃ© is never going to be highlighted in an interior designerâ¬"s bible; at least itâ¬"s clean and bright. The service has always been friendly and efficient. What Amato lacks in the bohemian atmosphere of the nearby Maison Bertaux, it totally comes out better with its food and service. The usual cafÃ© suspects like breakfast fry-ups are offered alongside the more generic Italian pasta dishes. My near decadent choice of Spaghetti Carbonara was somewhat pleasing and appetizing; despite the claim on the menu of pancetta being used in the dish, I couldâ¬"ve sworn it was just plain thick-cut back bacon and the lavish sprinkling of some unidentifiable dried herb was unnecessary. Ultimately I come here for the cakes and coffee. The huge choice of cakes on display can be daunting, if it werenâ¬"t for gluttony being one of the seven deadly sins, I could quite easily polish off four to five assorted slices in one go. The lightness and freshness of each individual slice indicate that they can only be baked and made in the same premises. The constant stream of customers, both eat in and take away, only goes to prove that this place is rather special.

Iâ¬"m not suggesting that we all do a JK Rowling and make a cup of coffee last an entire chapter of your forthcoming book, but Amato is very nearly that type of cafÃ©, the word rush simply doesnâ¬"t exist in this establishment. Wonderful Amato.

Cafe Mario - at last ! by proffesore

proffesore — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:24:23 +0000

Review by proffesore

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7321 0287

Tags: takeaway, amazing brew, top food

whilst walking in regent street the other day i stumbled accross cafe mario, it was like walking into a bar in italy ..and oh my god what a fantastic coffee i had . why on earth we go to caffe nero or costa i dont know ....people this is the real deal . the panini beutiful ! the service friendly as it should be too as i discovered its a family run business and has been since 1990 ! i was told they had just opened their second store in hatton garden clerkenwell...i shall be off to see that one soon . we need more places like this in london who care about what they are doing.whilst walking in regent street the other day i stumbled accross cafe mario, it was like walking into a bar in italy ..and oh my god what a fantastic coffee i had . why on earth we go to caffe nero or costa i dont know ....people this is the real deal . the panini beutiful ! the service friendly as it should be too as i discovered its a family run business and has been since 1990 ! i was told they had just opened their second store in hatton garden clerkenwell...i shall be off to see that one soon . we need more places like this in london who care about what they are doing.