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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Fantastic place in Clerkenwell. Not there for fry-ups really. More about sandwiches, coffee and a break from the 21st century. Really friendly people and all the right kind of stuff. There's some great pictures of the owners at classic cafes. Nice cup of tea an' all.
A gorgeous exterior which really fits in well in the vibe of the area.
Everything in the place has been rubbed smooth with use and affection.
Piled high with goodness, caffeine and crisps.
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Russell,
Great pics - as ever. You're right about taking a break from the 21st century, or even the last 35 years of the 20th century !
I was here last October, and was pretty surprised to see a place this untouched still in existence in a gentrification hot-spot like Clerkenwell.
If you want to see a real, hard-core unreconstructed caff, check out the Cafe ( no name)in Redchurch St, near Brick Lane. I don't think it's open on Saturdays, and I would have thought its life-expectancy must be measured in months. Be warned -it ain't exactly The Ivy. To use Adrian Maddox-esque phraseology, it will test your "moribundian mettle" to the full !!!
Posted by: Patrick | January 17, 2005 at 07:33 PM
Kitty's Diner, Hayling Island is excellent. Big mugs steaming tea, no problem with brown toasted bacon sarnies, clean, well attended. Lost Joy's Cafe on West Beach littlehampton some time ago and glad to find somewhere else as good. No fishermen here though
Posted by: Denise Bowes | September 25, 2005 at 12:08 PM
Scottis...
What an escalope they do there!!! The Holy Grail of escalopes.
Say no more. Let them do it their way in french bread. Mmmm...
Posted by: James Garnham | November 28, 2006 at 02:00 AM