i used to work as a dispatch rider in london and went to hundreds of cafes and i've seen some of my old faves on your website. i wonder if you can help me find a real gem.... it was a small cafe run by an ex-boxer in his late 50's and had old b&w photos of boxers/fights/promo posters all over the place and i mean from skirting boards to ceilings. the food was good but the character of the place and the people there was awesome. all i can remember is that it was in it's own small building in the greenwich area on a desolate industrial estate. it'd be great to re-visit or see a review cheers and thanks for all that dedicated eating
It may be too far out of the west end for you, but I have a haven of greasy spooned-ness at the end of my road. YORK CAFE on Woolwich Road is clean, friendly and with proper chips. It is even licensed I think. Give it a go!
TJ's Cafe in mortlake sw14 open seven days a weeks, big portions!! cheap. you should definatley visit this place won the "best greasy spoon" in london award 2003
Russell how come we have not seen you at our cafe you are missing a treat. We serve the best all day breakfast in the North West We cater for everyone also we are in the process of taking on the title of the Ace Cafe of the Midlands Regards Lynn & Pete.
May I heartily recommend Sues Cafe in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, Kent (almost opposite the Arriva Bus Depot). Great food, great tea............very good prices for such good quality breakfasts and dinners.
The mess in Hackney is much nicer (and admittedly middle classer) than it's local counterparts (nice sausage rather than pig's bum). Some say it's better than Mario's... Alt for a good proper greasy spoon Dilari's on the corner of Mare Street is pretty good. Packed out every lunchtime and they have a non-smoking side of the room. Finally, if you live near Ealing and you've never been to Starvin' Marvins you're missing out. I was cautiously eating my breakfast with the pancake and maple syrup on one side and the bacon and eggs and hash brown on the other. Then absentmindedly I stabbed a bit of bacon onto the end of my syrupy pancaked-up fork… It's manna from lardarse heaven.
I love yr book and website. I have never commented on one or a blog before as I dont know how to. My son got this space for me. I am trying to get info on my favourite old cafe, The Blue Sky, by corner of Westbourne Grove and Chepstow Rd,London W2, between PAddington and Portobello Rd, which was my home from home from 1974-80.I lived in various squats and flats nearby and hung out with various groovy people in those days.... It closed down a few years ago. I wld love to get photos and the name/address of the lovely Irish waitress and Italian boss.... I have tried the Archives at Westminster City Library but no luck. I am doing a Ceramics degree as a v mature student and want to do an installation recreating a table at it, the light coming thru steamy bright plateglass windows, the smells, food, china,plastic menus, etc etc. I have assembled a load of stuff (tables, chairs etc),but they are not perfect. I wonder if you have any ideas on where I cld borrow/hire perfect stuff in one fell swoop, for a few days in early Jan 07? Most of all I want to get hold of a tape/CD of cafe background noises. Any ideas? Many thanks, Emma
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Not normally my kind of thing, a vegetarian cafe, but this place is irresistible. They've taken the shell of an old cafe and filled it with ancient patinaed bits of second hand stuff. Old wooden table and chairs, trays you might have got in a school canteen...
...and those 70s cups with the plastic sleeves/holders.
All kinds of wood, scented with generations of crumbs.
That condiment area says a lot. No sauces. You're not going to get eggbaconchipsandbeans here.
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I feel like the bearer of bad tidings again ! I've been here about 20 times in the past year. Unfortunately, the block it's in, Romney House, is due to be redeveloped. One of the shop keepers told me a couple of weeks ago that all the existing small shops are due to vacate within the next two months. He thinks that Marks and Spencer will occupy what is currently the ground floor parade. Thanks for capturing the memory of this unique place on camera, before it becomes erased for ever.
Posted by: Patrick Turland | September 19, 2004 at 12:20 AM
I used to work on Marsham Street and going to Wilkins always made me so happy. The food was cooked by the owner and his wife and the portions were massive and cheap. He would always give us a good selection of whatever was on offer as well.
I think it is such a shame that Wilkins has had to close down and it makes it worse that it is being replaced by a Marks and Spencers. It was one of the best secrets in London and I will miss it.
I hope that the owner will read this and know that I always enjoyed coming to his cafe, that the food he made was the best Italian food in London and that I always appreciated his smile and good humour.
Posted by: Michelle Delon | September 23, 2004 at 04:51 PM
Wilkins is now vacated.
I passed by this morning, only to see a forlorn interior, empty but for a table and sad looking collection of plastic chairs.
All the other shops are empty. You can see inside their empty shells, to see the gutted innards of the building.
I can recommend Tevere up the road as a nice, restful cafe.
Posted by: Patrick | October 07, 2004 at 08:43 PM
Thank you. Interesting site, have you considered an index, we have lots of good greasy spoon addresses aroung the country.
Cas
Posted by: Casimir Stankiewicz | January 10, 2005 at 07:01 PM
Although I don't have piccies of it yet, The Workman's Cafe on Blackstock Road, near Finsbury Park, is probably one of the best cafes I've been to here. The bubble is the stuff of legend, big portions, small prices, and friendly staff...sunday morning with the papers is bliss
Posted by: texasfences | February 19, 2005 at 08:49 PM
Thanks for the pix and the memory blast. I worked there when it was owned by Pamela Wilkins, '79-80. Still use her basic recipe for wholemeal bread. Sorry about the demise.
Posted by: KathleenM | June 18, 2006 at 06:39 AM
oh my gosh, I worked there in 1984 as well, when peter and pamela wilkins still owned it. american exchange student. i WISH i had the whole wheat bread recipe! if texasfences reads this can s/he send it to me?? best bread EVER.
great homemade food cafe. thanks for the memories!
Posted by: janice | May 29, 2007 at 12:06 AM