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

Costa - Great place for coffee by jes1uk

jes1uk — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:29:35 +0000

Review by jes1uk

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7734 4639

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

Tags: takeaway, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches

This is a fantastic place for coffee with your friends or even for having a relaxing coffee on your own. The place itself is clean and tidy and the service is generally good. This coffee house has both an upstairs area for hanging out with a few tables available, and a downstairs where there are plenty of tables available and even a couple of sofas! There is also an outside area with tables and chairs which is particularly nice in the Summer.
The quality of the coffee is good and the prices are reasonable. For example, a Primo Americano is only about Â£2 and caramel shortbread is approximately Â£1.50
Overall I would highly recommend this coffee house.This is a fantastic place for coffee with your friends or even for having a relaxing coffee on your own. The place itself is clean and tidy and the service is generally good. This coffee house has both an upstairs area for hanging out with a few tables available, and a downstairs where there are plenty of tables available and even a couple of sofas! There is also an outside area with tables and chairs which is particularly nice in the Summer.
The quality of the coffee is good and the prices are reasonable. For example, a Primo Americano is only about Â£2 and caramel shortbread is approximately Â£1.50
Overall I would highly recommend this coffee house.

Maison Bertaux - Great cakes, brilliant atmosphere by CPaskell

CPaskell — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:39:18 +0000

Review by CPaskell

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 6007

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

I come here for the cakes, I come here for the tea and I come here for the atmosphere. I love that this place still exists, when everything else of any individuality in Soho is shutting down to make way for another chain cafe. The window shows off their great range of cakes and the proprietor always has a chat with me and gives each customer the personal touch, talking through the cake choices and making recommendations. It gets very crowded and very busy but this is part of the fun of the place and part of its charm. The service is quick and the staff are really lovely. One to go to for the experience, as much as the quirky decor, friendly service and tasty cakes.I come here for the cakes, I come here for the tea and I come here for the atmosphere. I love that this place still exists, when everything else of any individuality in Soho is shutting down to make way for another chain cafe. The window shows off their great range of cakes and the proprietor always has a chat with me and gives each customer the personal touch, talking through the cake choices and making recommendations. It gets very crowded and very busy but this is part of the fun of the place and part of its charm. The service is quick and the staff are really lovely. One to go to for the experience, as much as the quirky decor, friendly service and tasty cakes.

Postcard Teas - Gorgeous Infusions by expired2008

expired2008 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:03:58 +0000

Review by expired2008

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7629 3654

Tags: amazing brew, cosy, quick bite

Don't expect your usual tetleys or PG tips to be served here, this is a proper tea shop with a wide range of infusions that will intoxicate your senses! The price is really cheap, just Â£1.50, but the taste sensation is so much more.

Food is the same price but absolutely delicious, you just can;t go wrong!

Service is also amazingly friendly, with a smile which nowadays is a rarity! They are quick to serve you and never quick to get rid of you.

As already mentioned in an earlier review, its not a large teashop and youâ¬"ll be sitting next to strangers, but it seems to work so just go with it!

Definitely recommended
Don't expect your usual tetleys or PG tips to be served here, this is a proper tea shop with a wide range of infusions that will intoxicate your senses! The price is really cheap, just Â£1.50, but the taste sensation is so much more.

Food is the same price but absolutely delicious, you just can;t go wrong!

Service is also amazingly friendly, with a smile which nowadays is a rarity! They are quick to serve you and never quick to get rid of you.

As already mentioned in an earlier review, its not a large teashop and youâ¬"ll be sitting next to strangers, but it seems to work so just go with it!

Definitely recommended

Caffe Nero - Caffe Nero by arcantara99

arcantara99 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:33:30 +0000

Review by arcantara99

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7931 9963

Website: http://www.caffenero.com

Tags: quick bite, good brew, takeaway

Another popular coffee chain, this is a nice branch as it's bright and airy and there's a sofa as well as the standard table and chairs by the windows which open completely so that the cafe becomes half inside and half outside. This is a good place to read the papers and take a break in a busy area. Caffe Nero is particularly good for its iced drinks and these are generally well-stocked here. This branch is often pretty busy with locals and office workers although service is pretty fast even when there's a queue. Staff behind the till are friendly.
Another popular coffee chain, this is a nice branch as it's bright and airy and there's a sofa as well as the standard table and chairs by the windows which open completely so that the cafe becomes half inside and half outside. This is a good place to read the papers and take a break in a busy area. Caffe Nero is particularly good for its iced drinks and these are generally well-stocked here. This branch is often pretty busy with locals and office workers although service is pretty fast even when there's a queue. Staff behind the till are friendly.

Abokado - Great new venue! by chocolatebutton

chocolatebutton — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:41:51 +0000

Review by chocolatebutton

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 5600

Tags: takeaway, seating area

Abokado seems a fairly new venue to London, and at present I have found only about 3 branches. It specialises in wraps, and in particular their sushi wraps are very delicious and well filled. The staff are extremely helpful, and an unusual and filling lunch can be had here for about Â£5 - expensive for everyday, but a nice change and a treat for your tastebuds.

One thing which really surprised me about the shops was the quality of their coffee. I wasn't expecting anything special, but in fact their coffee was better than Starbucks - a really excellent tasty cuppa!Abokado seems a fairly new venue to London, and at present I have found only about 3 branches. It specialises in wraps, and in particular their sushi wraps are very delicious and well filled. The staff are extremely helpful, and an unusual and filling lunch can be had here for about Â£5 - expensive for everyday, but a nice change and a treat for your tastebuds.

One thing which really surprised me about the shops was the quality of their coffee. I wasn't expecting anything special, but in fact their coffee was better than Starbucks - a really excellent tasty cuppa!

Bar Italia - Fab night out by beckyfox

beckyfox — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:39:03 +0000

Review by beckyfox

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 4520

Tags: quick bite, lively, italian

This is the best night club to go out with the girls. The staff are friendly and very attentive! The music is great and the atmosphere is fab!This is the best night club to go out with the girls. The staff are friendly and very attentive! The music is great and the atmosphere is fab!

Pret A Manger - good healthy alternitave to mc d by carumbasra

carumbasra — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:48:37 +0000

Review by carumbasra

Rating: 4.00

Tags: lively, top food, amazing brew

PrÃªt manger provides good quality sandwiches with a variety of fillings and breads. The menu includes sandwiches, filled baguettes, soup, salad, and coffee. PrÃªt also prepares desserts, such as American muffins, cakes, and croissants. It provides a very welcome alternative to McDonalds along with chains such as subway. PrÃªt is a London based company and this store is one of the earliest set up in 1988 2 years after the first. Generally food is tastier than subway and more quality as far as I am aware they try to use organic and non genetically modified crops in their sandwiches, soups, salads, muffins and baguettes.

PrÃªt manger provides good quality sandwiches with a variety of fillings and breads. The menu includes sandwiches, filled baguettes, soup, salad, and coffee. PrÃªt also prepares desserts, such as American muffins, cakes, and croissants. It provides a very welcome alternative to McDonalds along with chains such as subway. PrÃªt is a London based company and this store is one of the earliest set up in 1988 2 years after the first. Generally food is tastier than subway and more quality as far as I am aware they try to use organic and non genetically modified crops in their sandwiches, soups, salads, muffins and baguettes.

Ponti's Espresso - Yum! by me123

me123 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:12:29 +0000

Review by me123

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 1662

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

Tags: cosy, lively, cultured

All the food is great from Pontis. From the pasta to the cakes to the hot chocolate. The range of food is huge, The tables are always clean and there are lots of staff. The pontis in Convent Garden is in the centre of the market square. The queues are often very long and it sometimes hard to find a place to sit. The atmosphere is lovely and exciting. Great if you have some time to spare and you want something to eat or drink without spending a very huge fortune. Some of their chocolate bars and other items are a little bit over priced.All the food is great from Pontis. From the pasta to the cakes to the hot chocolate. The range of food is huge, The tables are always clean and there are lots of staff. The pontis in Convent Garden is in the centre of the market square. The queues are often very long and it sometimes hard to find a place to sit. The atmosphere is lovely and exciting. Great if you have some time to spare and you want something to eat or drink without spending a very huge fortune. Some of their chocolate bars and other items are a little bit over priced.

The Box Bar - Lively and energetic by chinbergs

chinbergs — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:03:48 +0000

Review by chinbergs

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7240 5828

Tags: lively, crowded, quick bite

I like the box bar. It's usually quite energetic and tends to be filled with the better looking guys. There are usually lots of gym goers here. The bar staff are pretty friendly and there's generally a buzz in this place.

During the day it's more like a coffee house, and serves salads and other lunch foods.

It doesn't get particularly busy during the week nights, but it can do on a Friday/Saturday evening. When it does start to get busy they take out all the tables from inside so there's more space for everyone to fit in. Quite often people will spill out onto the street area. They also dim the lights and turn up the house music a bit more to get everyone going.

There is usually a good crowd here and it's usually lively - definitely a good starting place to go before a night out at a club.I like the box bar. It's usually quite energetic and tends to be filled with the better looking guys. There are usually lots of gym goers here. The bar staff are pretty friendly and there's generally a buzz in this place.

During the day it's more like a coffee house, and serves salads and other lunch foods.

It doesn't get particularly busy during the week nights, but it can do on a Friday/Saturday evening. When it does start to get busy they take out all the tables from inside so there's more space for everyone to fit in. Quite often people will spill out onto the street area. They also dim the lights and turn up the house music a bit more to get everyone going.

There is usually a good crowd here and it's usually lively - definitely a good starting place to go before a night out at a club.

Epoca Expresso Bar - expresso expresso! by jlonners

jlonners — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:33:07 +0000

Review by jlonners

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7379 7299

Tags: coffee, illy, amazing brew

this is a long narrow proper coffee bar, ie you go in, get your coffee expresso style and drink and and get on your way, just like in italy! the expresso is proper italian and really strong so be warned, its not for the faint hearted. i like the expresso with steamed milk for a quick pick me up. this isn't the place to chill with a coffee and a book but more a fast moving place. it can get busy at lunchtime with people popping in so be prepared to queue. i wouldn't come in here for one of the snacks, they aren't the best!this is a long narrow proper coffee bar, ie you go in, get your coffee expresso style and drink and and get on your way, just like in italy! the expresso is proper italian and really strong so be warned, its not for the faint hearted. i like the expresso with steamed milk for a quick pick me up. this isn't the place to chill with a coffee and a book but more a fast moving place. it can get busy at lunchtime with people popping in so be prepared to queue. i wouldn't come in here for one of the snacks, they aren't the best!

Nordic Bakery - Chilled out Scandinavian coffee and cake by Izabel_blue

Izabel_blue — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:45:57 +0000

Review by Izabel_blue

Rating: 4.00

Tags: quick bite, good brew, quiet & relaxed

Great coffee and good pastries (especially the super sticky delicious cinnamon buns - as mentioned before) served in a pleasingly scandi - retro surrounds. Note the 70s style wall hanging!Great coffee and good pastries (especially the super sticky delicious cinnamon buns - as mentioned before) served in a pleasingly scandi - retro surrounds. Note the 70s style wall hanging!

Cafe Rouge - Cafe Rouge by Siam

Siam — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:51:57 +0000

Review by Siam

Rating: 3.00Cafe Rouge is a gorgeous restaurant especially for breakfast or lunch. Breakfast is great - choose a traditional english cooked breakfast or a delicious basket of pastries - croissants, pain au chocolat and pain aux raisin and french bread, served with butter and jam. There is a wide range of food for lunch, very reasonably priced, good portions and a good menu to choose from - vegetarian tarts, hot baguettes, salads etc. It is popular and gets busy and noisy. When it is busy, it can feel like you are dining with the whole restaurant and not on your own!
Cafe Rouge is a gorgeous restaurant especially for breakfast or lunch. Breakfast is great - choose a traditional english cooked breakfast or a delicious basket of pastries - croissants, pain au chocolat and pain aux raisin and french bread, served with butter and jam. There is a wide range of food for lunch, very reasonably priced, good portions and a good menu to choose from - vegetarian tarts, hot baguettes, salads etc. It is popular and gets busy and noisy. When it is busy, it can feel like you are dining with the whole restaurant and not on your own!

Make Mine - Unbeatable salad wraps and sandwiches by Weeboo

Weeboo — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:00:29 +0000

Review by Weeboo

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7636 1308

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

Tags: takeaway, good brew, crowded

5 stars. Wow, this is the first time I've given something 5 stars. But first, let me cover off the few minor negatives for Make Mine.

Pricing is a bit haphazard and...well, a bit pricey to be honest. And the level of service seems to fluctuate. The high turnover of staff doesn't help - sometimes the service is good, sometimes its average. Its better before the lunchtime rush...aim to get there before 12.15 to avoid the long queue.

So you may be wondering why I've given Make Mine 5 stars. It simply comes down to the food. Portions sizes are generous, ingredients are good quality and the bread comes in proper doorstep-thick slices. Off the top of my head I can highly recommend the caesar salad wrap (I usually have mine with tuna instead of chicken), the scrambled egg sandwich (with wholemeal bread) and the "breakfast mushroom" toasted bagel (as opposed to the standard mushroom filling they also have which is plainer). If you are looking for a tasty, filling lunch to have at your desk, I highly recommend Make Mine.5 stars. Wow, this is the first time I've given something 5 stars. But first, let me cover off the few minor negatives for Make Mine.

Pricing is a bit haphazard and...well, a bit pricey to be honest. And the level of service seems to fluctuate. The high turnover of staff doesn't help - sometimes the service is good, sometimes its average. Its better before the lunchtime rush...aim to get there before 12.15 to avoid the long queue.

So you may be wondering why I've given Make Mine 5 stars. It simply comes down to the food. Portions sizes are generous, ingredients are good quality and the bread comes in proper doorstep-thick slices. Off the top of my head I can highly recommend the caesar salad wrap (I usually have mine with tuna instead of chicken), the scrambled egg sandwich (with wholemeal bread) and the "breakfast mushroom" toasted bagel (as opposed to the standard mushroom filling they also have which is plainer). If you are looking for a tasty, filling lunch to have at your desk, I highly recommend Make Mine.

Pret A Manger - Useful link between Charing Cross and Embankment by chocolatebutton

chocolatebutton — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:17:59 +0000

Review by chocolatebutton

Rating: 5.00

Tags: crowded, top food, good brew

Villiers Street is the tiny street between Charing Cross and Embankment, and Pret a Manger is towards the bottom (river) end of this street. Itâ¬"s always packed, but itâ¬"s also always full of lovely food, and helpful staff. I do find Pret the best sandwich shop, as their food is great, and their coffee is good (if not quite as good as Caffe Nero).

I really like the Mocca from Prets - I have visited A LOT of Pret outlets (almost every outlet in London!) and sadly I can state with some confidence that what makes a cup of nectar is the individual staff member, rather than the individual store. Pret is always worth a visit, though!
Villiers Street is the tiny street between Charing Cross and Embankment, and Pret a Manger is towards the bottom (river) end of this street. Itâ¬"s always packed, but itâ¬"s also always full of lovely food, and helpful staff. I do find Pret the best sandwich shop, as their food is great, and their coffee is good (if not quite as good as Caffe Nero).

I really like the Mocca from Prets - I have visited A LOT of Pret outlets (almost every outlet in London!) and sadly I can state with some confidence that what makes a cup of nectar is the individual staff member, rather than the individual store. Pret is always worth a visit, though!

Regency Cafe - The Prince of Cafes by Litro_K

Litro_K — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:46:46 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7821 6596

Tags: lively, crowded, takeaway

I used to work just around the corner from The Regency CafÃ©, and I miss it terribly. It's the kind of place I would now get up early on a precious Saturday morning to go and visit, that's how great it is.

But lunchtime is when this place really comes into its own. By 1pm every weekday, it's a steamy, buzzing place, stuffed full of an unusual cross-section of people: cabbies make up its staple trade, but they usually pop in a bit earlier along with local builders, to avoid the rush of Westminster suits, Civil Servants, and Channel Four workers.

The food here does exactly what is says on the tin. Hearty, stodgy mains courses are always plentiful, and the special changes every day. The most common orders are for eggs, beans, sausages, and their legendary chips- huge yet somehow light golden bites of fluffy goodness. The scampi and the chicken fillet burgers are some of my other favourites. Scampi salad is a real pleasure- a chunky, basic salad topped off with refreshingly unhealthy fried morsels. My only criticism is that theyâ¬"re still stuck in postwar school-dinners era as far as their peas are concerned- they use those sludgy khaki-coloured tinned processed ones.

But the most memorable thing about this place is the sheer volume at which the owner/ proprietor, Marco â¬SThe Voiceâ¬

Neal's Yard Salad Bar - Neal's Yard by nispero

nispero — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:51:43 +0000

Review by nispero

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 3233

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

Tags: expensive, vegetarian, quick bite

Neals Yard Salad Bar is placed in a lovely place and is located very central in the heart of Coven Garden.
The square is full of colours and plants, and the ambient is very calm. Thatâ¬"s hard to find so being so close to Covent Garden market.
They have many tables inside and also outside, with heaters in case it gets cold.
Any kind of juices, smoothies and cafes are available, and of course, tasty desserts to go with them. They also have more food, but I havenâ¬"t tasted yet. The prices aren't cheap and don't accept credit cards with is a mess.
Neals Yard Salad Bar is placed in a lovely place and is located very central in the heart of Coven Garden.
The square is full of colours and plants, and the ambient is very calm. Thatâ¬"s hard to find so being so close to Covent Garden market.
They have many tables inside and also outside, with heaters in case it gets cold.
Any kind of juices, smoothies and cafes are available, and of course, tasty desserts to go with them. They also have more food, but I havenâ¬"t tasted yet. The prices aren't cheap and don't accept credit cards with is a mess.

Pompidou - Best Place for desert! by user161

user161 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:13:06 +0000

Review by user161

Rating: 5.00

Tags: cosy, good brew, quick bite

Pompidou is like heaven for cheesecake lovers like myself =) As soon as you walk in your hit by the color of all the cakes and all the other selection! They do have a massive selection of cakes,crossiants,danish's,crepes,waffels just a heaven for someone with a sweet tooth!The coffee is very nice and the food looks good aswell. The only complaint i have is that i never know what to choose! The staff are very friendly and helpfull and the atmosphere is always very nice.Pompidou is like heaven for cheesecake lovers like myself =) As soon as you walk in your hit by the color of all the cakes and all the other selection! They do have a massive selection of cakes,crossiants,danish's,crepes,waffels just a heaven for someone with a sweet tooth!The coffee is very nice and the food looks good aswell. The only complaint i have is that i never know what to choose! The staff are very friendly and helpfull and the atmosphere is always very nice.

The Brass Rail - The Salt Beef Bar - OK but well overpriced by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:40:07 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 3.00

Website: http://www.selfridges.com/index.cfm?page=1186&ArticleID=6256

Tags: expensive, proper food, quick bite

There is a theory often put forward by environmental campaigners that tackling road congestion by adding lanes or widening roads is counter-productive, because the volume of traffic actually increases in proportion to the space it is given. Having barely survived a weekend trip to a pedestrianised Oxford Street I can confirm the same is true of pavements and human traffic. I have never seen so many people squeezed onto one road, screaming back and forth in an uncontrolled riot of baby buggies and yellow Selfridges shopping bags.

My bright idea was to attempt lunch in the busiest part of the busiest shop on the busiest shopping street in the country, 3 weeks before Christmas. The Selfridges Food Hall can be crowded at the best of times, but on Saturday it resembled something out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting as all of London appeared to have developed a simultaneous compulsion to sample English Stilton and gawp at the lobsters on the fish counter. The queues for all the food outlets were huge at around 1pm, so we decided to try a little bit of Christmas shopping and return when they might have died down. A very difficult hour later we returned gasping and broken to the food hall, having managed only the purchase of a jar of hand wash for our own bathroom in all that time. I don't know how anyone else was doing it, but I could not get comfortable enough to be a consumer in the midst of such chaos. I resolved to buy all my Christmas gifts from the internet, and if I missed the physical abuse of high-street shopping too much I could always punch myself repeatedly in the face with my free hand.

To add insult to very real injury, The Brass Rail turned out to be overpriced and rather mediocre. The salt beef was a little on the dry side but reasonably tasty, and the rye bread was nice and fresh, but the bagels (they spell them the American way here) were dry and Â£4.50 for half a salt beef bagel is extortionate when you consider a whole one from Brick Lane is about Â£2.50. Pickles again were OK but 50p each.

Not wishing to take any more chances, we headed for Claridges for dessert. This may seem a little extravagant but given my state of mind at that point I don't think I could have coped with anything less - medicinal purposes, you understand. The Â£15 "Dessert Bento Box" was a plate of four exquisite little preparations including rice pudding, hazelnut ice cream with some sort of pastry, chocolate and raspberry cake and multicoloured macaroons. We sipped on drinks and melted into the leather armchairs in a quiet corner of the most luxurious hotel in London, and eventually the hidous memory of Oxford Street faded away.There is a theory often put forward by environmental campaigners that tackling road congestion by adding lanes or widening roads is counter-productive, because the volume of traffic actually increases in proportion to the space it is given. Having barely survived a weekend trip to a pedestrianised Oxford Street I can confirm the same is true of pavements and human traffic. I have never seen so many people squeezed onto one road, screaming back and forth in an uncontrolled riot of baby buggies and yellow Selfridges shopping bags.

My bright idea was to attempt lunch in the busiest part of the busiest shop on the busiest shopping street in the country, 3 weeks before Christmas. The Selfridges Food Hall can be crowded at the best of times, but on Saturday it resembled something out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting as all of London appeared to have developed a simultaneous compulsion to sample English Stilton and gawp at the lobsters on the fish counter. The queues for all the food outlets were huge at around 1pm, so we decided to try a little bit of Christmas shopping and return when they might have died down. A very difficult hour later we returned gasping and broken to the food hall, having managed only the purchase of a jar of hand wash for our own bathroom in all that time. I don't know how anyone else was doing it, but I could not get comfortable enough to be a consumer in the midst of such chaos. I resolved to buy all my Christmas gifts from the internet, and if I missed the physical abuse of high-street shopping too much I could always punch myself repeatedly in the face with my free hand.

To add insult to very real injury, The Brass Rail turned out to be overpriced and rather mediocre. The salt beef was a little on the dry side but reasonably tasty, and the rye bread was nice and fresh, but the bagels (they spell them the American way here) were dry and Â£4.50 for half a salt beef bagel is extortionate when you consider a whole one from Brick Lane is about Â£2.50. Pickles again were OK but 50p each.

Not wishing to take any more chances, we headed for Claridges for dessert. This may seem a little extravagant but given my state of mind at that point I don't think I could have coped with anything less - medicinal purposes, you understand. The Â£15 "Dessert Bento Box" was a plate of four exquisite little preparations including rice pudding, hazelnut ice cream with some sort of pastry, chocolate and raspberry cake and multicoloured macaroons. We sipped on drinks and melted into the leather armchairs in a quiet corner of the most luxurious hotel in London, and eventually the hidous memory of Oxford Street faded away.

Amato Patisserie - How the mighty have fallen by mrsevans101

mrsevans101 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:52:20 +0000

Review by mrsevans101

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7734 5733

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

Tags: quick bite, amazing brew, cosy

I've eaten here plenty of times but not for a while, so I was quite excited to be in London for the weekend to have chance to enjoy their wonderful breakfasts.

Sadly it was not to be.

We arrived on Suday morning about 11 am to find a pretty empty dining room. We ordered breakfast (mostly eggs on toast and eggs benedict, as no one could face a full English). Our complimentary fruit juices were brought over. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Oh my goodness.
The large table next to us complained about the wait (despite many of them arriving after us) and somehow their food was magicked up.
We were not so lucky. 45 minutes after ordering and repeated promises of food on its way we gave up, told them to cancel our food and that we would pay for our drinks. The waiter took the food off the bill and told us that the cost of our drinks (4 fruit juices, one tea and one coffee) would be Â£14. Â£14! We argued that we only ordered the fruit juice because it came with the breakfast that they had not been able to supply so they relented and charged us only for the hot drinks.

I have so many good memories of eating here. This has been burst like a soap bubble by this terrible experience. Worst of all, we had brought friends from out of town with us and told them how marvellous Amato's is. Or was, I should stay.

We left, went to Balan's (along the road) for their cracking American style pancakes and friendly, efficient service.I've eaten here plenty of times but not for a while, so I was quite excited to be in London for the weekend to have chance to enjoy their wonderful breakfasts.

Sadly it was not to be.

We arrived on Suday morning about 11 am to find a pretty empty dining room. We ordered breakfast (mostly eggs on toast and eggs benedict, as no one could face a full English). Our complimentary fruit juices were brought over. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Oh my goodness.
The large table next to us complained about the wait (despite many of them arriving after us) and somehow their food was magicked up.
We were not so lucky. 45 minutes after ordering and repeated promises of food on its way we gave up, told them to cancel our food and that we would pay for our drinks. The waiter took the food off the bill and told us that the cost of our drinks (4 fruit juices, one tea and one coffee) would be Â£14. Â£14! We argued that we only ordered the fruit juice because it came with the breakfast that they had not been able to supply so they relented and charged us only for the hot drinks.

I have so many good memories of eating here. This has been burst like a soap bubble by this terrible experience. Worst of all, we had brought friends from out of town with us and told them how marvellous Amato's is. Or was, I should stay.

We left, went to Balan's (along the road) for their cracking American style pancakes and friendly, efficient service.

Dolce - High Quality roast everyday! by Thomasinho

Thomasinho — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:58:52 +0000

Review by Thomasinho

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 5373

Tags: cosy, amazing brew, quick bite

Dolce, run by a friendly, charming Italian guy, is a great place to pick up a sandwich, I have to say that the Roast chicken, which they roast in house each day, is fantastic, as they always serve generous helpings.
The Pork sandwhich with apple saunce, salt & pepper, again great with the Ciabatta.
Or the Salt Beef on Ryebread, again great!
These guys also know how to make a good coffee, also on offer, is a selection of pasta's, from tradition Cabonara, to italian meatballs in ragu sauce, bangers on Mash, salads, and a stroganoff to die for, made with rump, again generous portions.
SO if your looking for a bit of diversity in a cosy cafe feel, this is the place to visit.Dolce, run by a friendly, charming Italian guy, is a great place to pick up a sandwich, I have to say that the Roast chicken, which they roast in house each day, is fantastic, as they always serve generous helpings.
The Pork sandwhich with apple saunce, salt & pepper, again great with the Ciabatta.
Or the Salt Beef on Ryebread, again great!
These guys also know how to make a good coffee, also on offer, is a selection of pasta's, from tradition Cabonara, to italian meatballs in ragu sauce, bangers on Mash, salads, and a stroganoff to die for, made with rump, again generous portions.
SO if your looking for a bit of diversity in a cosy cafe feel, this is the place to visit.