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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Marylebone Cafe, Marylebone Lane. Modest, unassuming place. Lovely cup of tea.
Welcoming windows.
Plain, vibey ambience.
Enormous pile of ashtrays. This is a place for smoking hard.
There's an air of the decor not quite being finished. Don't know how long it's not been quite finished.
Wouldn't you like to spend time arranging these windows.
I'm hungry. This sign makes me hungry.
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This cafe holds many memories for me as my parents, John and Alma Negri were proprietors for many years from the late fifties to the late sixties. My paternal grandparents ran it before that for many years. I remember seeing my auntie Brenda on the evening TV news in 1963, crossing Wigmore Street, with a tray of tea and biscuits. They were for Christine Keeler and John Profumo when the had just been arrested. The picture of the corner with the telephone is also evocative. That was where the old phone was that needed four old pennies (with buttons A and B to press). The phone is in a corner at the top of the cellar stairs and was where the local junkies would slip into to have a fix. My parents were quite sanguine about this but the junkies would still have to be ejected if caught in the process! We also had the 'Restaurant' next door (is it a travel agents now?) We only opened it at lunchtimes and it was run by my dad's twin sisters, Anna and Maria. I think they were as big a draw as the steak and kidney puddings.
Posted by: Peter Negri | January 09, 2005 at 10:36 PM
Peter, many, many thanks for those stories. Brilliant to hear. Really evocative.
Posted by: russell | January 10, 2005 at 08:45 AM
I was here a few days ago for lunch. It was one of the few places open on a Good Friday. The staff were eastern European I think, and friendly and smiling. The food took ages to arrive however. It was ok grub, and the cup of tea was also fairly decent. Not bad, but definitely not the cheapest caff in town either.
Posted by: Jin | March 29, 2005 at 10:38 AM