Latest reviews for Cafes & Coffee Shops in Tottenham Court Road, 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).

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.

Lantana - by neilgrayshon

neilgrayshon — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:02:11 +0000

Review by neilgrayshon

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7637 3347

Website: http://www.scramblingeggs.blogspot.com/

Tags: amazing brew, top food, lively

When I first stumbled on this place a couple of months ago, I was happily in love and glad to recommend it to friends. Sadly the honeymoon period seems to be over. Despite impressive coffee, an inventive and well executed menu and a playful, elegant interior (surely these three reasons are enough in themselves to suggest I had found a great local), I won't be visiting Lantana again. I won't go into the details here for fear of sounding puerile or melodramatic, but I can summarise with the conclusion that this was the rudest and indeed worst service I have ever received in London. I was enraged to the point of leaving the cafe before placing an order and appalled to be entirely dismissed by noxious, disinterested sarcasm when returning to explain my disappointment later in the day. If you can tolerate being treated with utter contempt, you'll find good things. Otherwise, I recommend finding somewhere with a little more soul, humanity (in fact) and decent manners. A hot spot for hipster masochists.When I first stumbled on this place a couple of months ago, I was happily in love and glad to recommend it to friends. Sadly the honeymoon period seems to be over. Despite impressive coffee, an inventive and well executed menu and a playful, elegant interior (surely these three reasons are enough in themselves to suggest I had found a great local), I won't be visiting Lantana again. I won't go into the details here for fear of sounding puerile or melodramatic, but I can summarise with the conclusion that this was the rudest and indeed worst service I have ever received in London. I was enraged to the point of leaving the cafe before placing an order and appalled to be entirely dismissed by noxious, disinterested sarcasm when returning to explain my disappointment later in the day. If you can tolerate being treated with utter contempt, you'll find good things. Otherwise, I recommend finding somewhere with a little more soul, humanity (in fact) and decent manners. A hot spot for hipster masochists.

The Camera Cafe - Good place to escape the world for a moment by larsrose

larsrose — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:33:39 +0000

Review by larsrose

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7831 1566

Website: http://www.apertureuk.com/cameracafe/index.html

Tags: cosy, lively, friendly

I would give them 5 stars, if they could make a better coffee. Its not too bad, but not exactly a gourmet coffee place. Nevertheless, very friendly, relaxing and a great place to sit down and go through your mails, while you ponder photographic history around you.I would give them 5 stars, if they could make a better coffee. Its not too bad, but not exactly a gourmet coffee place. Nevertheless, very friendly, relaxing and a great place to sit down and go through your mails, while you ponder photographic history around you.

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.

Neal's Yard Salad Bar - Hit and Miss by KMG

KMG — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:37:30 +0000

Review by KMG

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7836 3233

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

Tags: quick bite, lively, expensive

Now I love Neal's Yard Salad Bar, and I go there more than any other vegetarian/vegan place because of its handy location, but it does tend to be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair.

Decor is wonderful: bright, eccentric and eclectic - and the restaurant fills almost all of Neal's Yard. Wonderful atmosphere.

My primary problem is the service. Sometimes you have to go and hunt down a waiter to get you a table. If you get a takeaway, they always frown at you and are very apathetic. One thing I cannot stand is bad customer service - lived in London all my life so I should be used to it - but there's no need to be rude.
Upon being seated a guy comes up to you and asks if you 'plan to eat'. (Strange, seeing as it's what they specialise in...) He then asks if you plan to use cash - they don't take cards which is really inconveient in an area where there are so many cash point queues! Sometimes orders are taken wrong and you don't get what you asked for. Some waiters are really lovely and are very welcoming to regulars- it's totally the luck of the draw.

It does a great range of vegan desserts, which are well priced - chcolate prestigio cake is a wonderfully moist chocolate/coconut vegan cake. (For quite a price you can order a personalised whole one for birthdays etc which they very kindly prepared for us) Ginger and berry tart is wonderfully balanced in taste - though often served hot and cold (too little time in the microwave I think). Mango truffle is another gorgeous vegan dessert.

Similarly starters are delicious - vegan bruschettas are gorgeous, fried kibe balls are yummy, and so is the spinach quiche. The vegan pizza is peculiar. Very sweetcorny, and uses too much vegan mayo for my taste. The base is always rock hard as well. Sometimes served hot, sometimes cold.

Mains and drinks are very very overpriced. Almost Â£4 for juice (though pineapple and mint is a must-try), even tea is more expensive than it should be. Milkshakes are nice, so nice they're almost worth the price. There isn't a lot of choice for mains. There are generally about two vegan choices, feijoada is nice but Â£11 (which I consider pricey), and meal of the day tends to be same-y - lot of veg and starchy food cooked into a slightly stodgy stew.
Sometimes they serve noodles, and a fruity curry which are so tasty - but this is once in a blue moon. Generally it's risotto or couscous, which are so similar I can't tell them apart. The salads for which they are famous tend to be really rather bland and expensive, and avoid pumpkin and pole.nta pie - to dry and stodgy to swallow without a lot to wash it down.

In my advice - go for a wide range of starters and sides - go for two rather than a main meal - it'll still be cheaper - and then enjoy the desserts. Alternatively, brave the stern-faced man behind the counter and get a takeaway and eat in the Yard itself - it'll feel the same as one of the tables outside.Now I love Neal's Yard Salad Bar, and I go there more than any other vegetarian/vegan place because of its handy location, but it does tend to be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair.

Decor is wonderful: bright, eccentric and eclectic - and the restaurant fills almost all of Neal's Yard. Wonderful atmosphere.

My primary problem is the service. Sometimes you have to go and hunt down a waiter to get you a table. If you get a takeaway, they always frown at you and are very apathetic. One thing I cannot stand is bad customer service - lived in London all my life so I should be used to it - but there's no need to be rude.
Upon being seated a guy comes up to you and asks if you 'plan to eat'. (Strange, seeing as it's what they specialise in...) He then asks if you plan to use cash - they don't take cards which is really inconveient in an area where there are so many cash point queues! Sometimes orders are taken wrong and you don't get what you asked for. Some waiters are really lovely and are very welcoming to regulars- it's totally the luck of the draw.

It does a great range of vegan desserts, which are well priced - chcolate prestigio cake is a wonderfully moist chocolate/coconut vegan cake. (For quite a price you can order a personalised whole one for birthdays etc which they very kindly prepared for us) Ginger and berry tart is wonderfully balanced in taste - though often served hot and cold (too little time in the microwave I think). Mango truffle is another gorgeous vegan dessert.

Similarly starters are delicious - vegan bruschettas are gorgeous, fried kibe balls are yummy, and so is the spinach quiche. The vegan pizza is peculiar. Very sweetcorny, and uses too much vegan mayo for my taste. The base is always rock hard as well. Sometimes served hot, sometimes cold.

Mains and drinks are very very overpriced. Almost Â£4 for juice (though pineapple and mint is a must-try), even tea is more expensive than it should be. Milkshakes are nice, so nice they're almost worth the price. There isn't a lot of choice for mains. There are generally about two vegan choices, feijoada is nice but Â£11 (which I consider pricey), and meal of the day tends to be same-y - lot of veg and starchy food cooked into a slightly stodgy stew.
Sometimes they serve noodles, and a fruity curry which are so tasty - but this is once in a blue moon. Generally it's risotto or couscous, which are so similar I can't tell them apart. The salads for which they are famous tend to be really rather bland and expensive, and avoid pumpkin and pole.nta pie - to dry and stodgy to swallow without a lot to wash it down.

In my advice - go for a wide range of starters and sides - go for two rather than a main meal - it'll still be cheaper - and then enjoy the desserts. Alternatively, brave the stern-faced man behind the counter and get a takeaway and eat in the Yard itself - it'll feel the same as one of the tables outside.

Forum Cafe - Very bad customer service by makisushi007

makisushi007 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:46:21 +0000

Review by makisushi007

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7404 1878

I 100% agree with the previous post. Zero communication, bad body language, VERY bad customer service. Very disappointed, I wanted to say he was doing the business bad but just by being in the shop for 10 minutes, i could tell he could become a very violent man and would be shouting till i got out of the shop.

I do not recommend this place to anyone.

I 100% agree with the previous post. Zero communication, bad body language, VERY bad customer service. Very disappointed, I wanted to say he was doing the business bad but just by being in the shop for 10 minutes, i could tell he could become a very violent man and would be shouting till i got out of the shop.

I do not recommend this place to anyone.

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/

Wild & Wood Coffee - diamond in the rough by tink100

tink100 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:34:40 +0000

Review by tink100

Rating: 4.00

Tags: cosy, amazing brew

I recently stumbled across this gem whilst on a walk into the west end. not noticeable from a distance but immediately seductive as you pass the window display of fine home made cakes and pastries. You stop. Step back and realize you are staring at a coffee shop. It's dark inside so you peer through the glass window to take a closer look. The interior is decorated from floor to ceiling in an aged wood and from the walls hang a collection of black and white portraits. At most you can seat 12 people downstairs , with two larger tables in the main area and a delightful cosy cuby that seats 4. This place has character, individuality and best of all good coffee. A blackboard hanging on the wall outside informs the public 'Monmouth coffee' sold here, followed by a list of the different types of coffee available. no decaf, skinny, tall frappacino's here. just good old fashioned coffee. in particular i would recommend the piccolo. A kind of baby cappacino. They also only use organic milk. Anoher big tick in my box. So far i have only sampled the drinks but i will definately be returning to taste the food. It is obvious that care and passion goes into every cup of coffee served here and quality not quantity is the order of the day. If the same principles are applied to their food then i am sure i will have good news to report back.I recently stumbled across this gem whilst on a walk into the west end. not noticeable from a distance but immediately seductive as you pass the window display of fine home made cakes and pastries. You stop. Step back and realize you are staring at a coffee shop. It's dark inside so you peer through the glass window to take a closer look. The interior is decorated from floor to ceiling in an aged wood and from the walls hang a collection of black and white portraits. At most you can seat 12 people downstairs , with two larger tables in the main area and a delightful cosy cuby that seats 4. This place has character, individuality and best of all good coffee. A blackboard hanging on the wall outside informs the public 'Monmouth coffee' sold here, followed by a list of the different types of coffee available. no decaf, skinny, tall frappacino's here. just good old fashioned coffee. in particular i would recommend the piccolo. A kind of baby cappacino. They also only use organic milk. Anoher big tick in my box. So far i have only sampled the drinks but i will definately be returning to taste the food. It is obvious that care and passion goes into every cup of coffee served here and quality not quantity is the order of the day. If the same principles are applied to their food then i am sure i will have good news to report back.

Princi - AMAZING by biancalabufala

biancalabufala — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:13:54 +0000

Review by biancalabufala

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7478 8888

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

Tags: cosy, lively, bakery

This place is just AMAZING...................
This place is just AMAZING...................

Italiano Coffee Co - ...and I still love Icco! by miggy

miggy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:14:05 +0000

Review by miggy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7580 9688

Tags: italian, quick bite, crowded

It was my regular haunt back in the uni days, when I lived a few doors away in my halls of residence.
Of course, back then it was referred to as 'the £3 pizza place'. But of course, it couldn't stay that way forever, so now it's more like 'the £4 pizza place'. *gasp*

Years on and I will still happily pay this bright and honest restaurant/canteen a late evening visit, after a few drinks in the area.

You can't go wrong. If you want some quick, filling and tasty (when you're a little tipsy, it's all delicious anyway) grub, ICCo is the place to go.

They don't pretend to be something they're not. It's simple: pay your price (from £3.50 - £6ish), take a seat, wait for your name to be called, go and pick up your pizza, add oil and seasoning if desired, devour and go home.
Don't expect the freshest artichokes or the best flavours but do expect to leave smiling and with enough change left to do it all over again the next night! :)It was my regular haunt back in the uni days, when I lived a few doors away in my halls of residence.
Of course, back then it was referred to as 'the £3 pizza place'. But of course, it couldn't stay that way forever, so now it's more like 'the £4 pizza place'. *gasp*

Years on and I will still happily pay this bright and honest restaurant/canteen a late evening visit, after a few drinks in the area.

You can't go wrong. If you want some quick, filling and tasty (when you're a little tipsy, it's all delicious anyway) grub, ICCo is the place to go.

They don't pretend to be something they're not. It's simple: pay your price (from £3.50 - £6ish), take a seat, wait for your name to be called, go and pick up your pizza, add oil and seasoning if desired, devour and go home.
Don't expect the freshest artichokes or the best flavours but do expect to leave smiling and with enough change left to do it all over again the next night! :)

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.

Maison Bertaux - heaven by TRUSTEDEATER

TRUSTEDEATER — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:42:02 +0000

Review by TRUSTEDEATER

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 6007

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

I have been popping in this place for a few years, and still love it as much as the 1st time.I have bought a few whole cakes (for birthdays) and managed to get them home on a motorcycle even if it was slowly.
The service has never been that great however the cakes are..amazing I recommend this place to anyone and I have.I have been popping in this place for a few years, and still love it as much as the 1st time.I have bought a few whole cakes (for birthdays) and managed to get them home on a motorcycle even if it was slowly.
The service has never been that great however the cakes are..amazing I recommend this place to anyone and I have.

Cotton Cafe - ATTN: Breastfeeding ladies... Go elsewhere. by pips

pips — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:57:27 +0000

Review by pips

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 02072873200

Tags: quick bite, breakfast, cafe

Cotton Cafe is the same, standard kind of sandwich bar that you find all over London. It serves baked potatoes, sandwiches, breakfasts etc and you'd probably only go there because it's the closest option - there isn't any other reason to.

I popped into the Cotton Cafe today for a baked potato with cheese and beans. It was okay.... Not earth-shatteringly, brilliant, not awful, just okay... Actually, if anything, it was a bit soggy. Go to Caffe Tosca instead, folks.

What was absolutely NOT fine about the Cotton Cafe, and is the reason that I will never set foot in the place again, was hearing a young woman who, in a cafe containing just TWO other people (aside from her partner and their baby), was loudly berated by the man behind the counter for having the audacity to very discreetly, breastfeed her 2 month old.

Various excuses were made by him for his revolting behaviour including the gems: "this is a place for eating"
Uh, hello? What did you eat when you were an infant, mate? I'm pretty sure that it wasn't cheese and beans on a spud.

The lady breastfeeding rightly pointed out that she couldn't go outside to do it (genuine arctic winds today) and that the child would scream if left unfed. She was then told that she'd have to leave!
Justifiably angry, she asked for her money back and was told "you've drunk two coffees". But she had not drunk two coffees. She hadn't had a *chance* to take more than a sip before being told that she'd have to leave. She finally got her money back by going ballistic (and bloody good for her too), but the refund was most unwillingly given.

I finally got my baked potato at this time and left just as they did. On the way out, I noticed that a customer was sitting reading a copy of the Sun. I'll stake my life that the boobs in *that* are okay.

So horrible. So unnecessary.

Cotton Cafe = FAIL.Cotton Cafe is the same, standard kind of sandwich bar that you find all over London. It serves baked potatoes, sandwiches, breakfasts etc and you'd probably only go there because it's the closest option - there isn't any other reason to.

I popped into the Cotton Cafe today for a baked potato with cheese and beans. It was okay.... Not earth-shatteringly, brilliant, not awful, just okay... Actually, if anything, it was a bit soggy. Go to Caffe Tosca instead, folks.

What was absolutely NOT fine about the Cotton Cafe, and is the reason that I will never set foot in the place again, was hearing a young woman who, in a cafe containing just TWO other people (aside from her partner and their baby), was loudly berated by the man behind the counter for having the audacity to very discreetly, breastfeed her 2 month old.

Various excuses were made by him for his revolting behaviour including the gems: "this is a place for eating"
Uh, hello? What did you eat when you were an infant, mate? I'm pretty sure that it wasn't cheese and beans on a spud.

The lady breastfeeding rightly pointed out that she couldn't go outside to do it (genuine arctic winds today) and that the child would scream if left unfed. She was then told that she'd have to leave!
Justifiably angry, she asked for her money back and was told "you've drunk two coffees". But she had not drunk two coffees. She hadn't had a *chance* to take more than a sip before being told that she'd have to leave. She finally got her money back by going ballistic (and bloody good for her too), but the refund was most unwillingly given.

I finally got my baked potato at this time and left just as they did. On the way out, I noticed that a customer was sitting reading a copy of the Sun. I'll stake my life that the boobs in *that* are okay.

So horrible. So unnecessary.

Cotton Cafe = FAIL.

Freud - Covent Garden Saving Grace by Niamheen

Niamheen — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:36:53 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7240 9933

Tags: cool, underground, relaxed

When I first moved to London a friend brought me to Freud's. I was really impressed and became quite a regular. It's a nice place, tucked away at the bottom of a precarious staircase on Shaftsbury Ave. It's in the basement, with nice exposed stone walls and art from up and coming artists on display.

Expect nice cocktails and wine, I especially like that they serve the wine in glass tumblers. The food is reasonable pub grub: soup, salads and sandwiches, always pretty decent. The downside is that it gets so busy it can be impossible to get a seat, not to mind a few of them together.When I first moved to London a friend brought me to Freud's. I was really impressed and became quite a regular. It's a nice place, tucked away at the bottom of a precarious staircase on Shaftsbury Ave. It's in the basement, with nice exposed stone walls and art from up and coming artists on display.

Expect nice cocktails and wine, I especially like that they serve the wine in glass tumblers. The food is reasonable pub grub: soup, salads and sandwiches, always pretty decent. The downside is that it gets so busy it can be impossible to get a seat, not to mind a few of them together.

Coffee, Cake & Kink - Londons only S&M themed Cafe by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:47:53 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7419 2996

Website: http://www.coffeecakeandkink.com

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

This is a fun place to visit on a second date or something like that. It isn't slick, polished or decadently Pervy. It doesn't look like something from the set of the Hunger or The Story of O. Its way more ramshackle and amateur. I can't imagine anyone going down the stairs to main seating area in high heels - that's way too dangerous. I was grabbing the shaky banister and feeling pretty uneasy as I climbed down. Its not a place that architecturally encourages people to dress up - the design and the layout are for the novice, the tourist and the seekers of intellectual titillation. Thats cool, somewhere with a true decadent edge would be killed by an in-crowd and be out of business within a few months. On the plus side the Coffee is good. The cakes not so good. The downstairs erotic art on display is bad. That somehow makes the whole place, the whole idea of kink seem nice, safe and respectable in a cheeky, half-assed kind of way.This is a fun place to visit on a second date or something like that. It isn't slick, polished or decadently Pervy. It doesn't look like something from the set of the Hunger or The Story of O. Its way more ramshackle and amateur. I can't imagine anyone going down the stairs to main seating area in high heels - that's way too dangerous. I was grabbing the shaky banister and feeling pretty uneasy as I climbed down. Its not a place that architecturally encourages people to dress up - the design and the layout are for the novice, the tourist and the seekers of intellectual titillation. Thats cool, somewhere with a true decadent edge would be killed by an in-crowd and be out of business within a few months. On the plus side the Coffee is good. The cakes not so good. The downstairs erotic art on display is bad. That somehow makes the whole place, the whole idea of kink seem nice, safe and respectable in a cheeky, half-assed kind of way.