a good place for a cup of tea and a think: Vecchio Snack Bar, Madoc Street, Llandudno

cafe miscellania

from Kieran
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
from Clare
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!
from Lambros
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
from The Shropshire Cafe
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.
from Dave
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.
from Abby
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.
from Emma
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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Vecchio Snack Bar, Madoc Street, Llandudno

This place is perfect. Slightly off the Llandudno main drag it was fairly quiet in December. I hope it's packed in the summer. It's completely fantastic.

As regular readers may know I'm normally a tea man. But this place demanded a frothy coffee - one which was clearly made by Tommy Steele in 1957 and transported here by time-machine.

Someone ate all the pies.

Fantastic formica. Lovely cabinets. Minimal, but sufficient, confectionary selection.

Deeply ancient and patinaed booths. Like the timbers of a well-loved yacht or the seats on an elderly ferry.

Of course they serve Tunnock's tea cakes. Anne would approve.

And Horlicks. Not cheap though is it? Is Horlicks normally a luxury like Hot Chocolate? I don't know much of the way of the Horlicker.

One of the things I love about cafes is the informal signage. And the way that cafe owners can just decide their own rules. This is a perfectly sensible rule. And magnificent hand-writing.

Again, nothing to argue with here. Though if persons did bring their own food could they still sit in there, despite not getting served? I think we should be told.

I have to quibble with this. I know why push-chairs cause trouble but I can think of nothing better for young parents who've just got little Ikea off to sleep than popping in here for a tea and a tunnocks.

This is the piece de resistance though. A brilliant sign. Look at that type. I love these people.

Go to Llandudno. Give these people your custom. Keep them going.

(a point of explanation on the comments below. I originally had this place listed as in Aberystwyth. Which it isn't. Sorry about that. Richard kindly pointed that out. And I disagree with Tony. There's some lovely people in Aberystwyth. And a lovely chip shop.)

January 06, 2005 in wales | Permalink

Comments

There is no Vecchio's snack bar cafe in Aberystwyth; and no Madoc Street either
Richard Macve, 3 Trefor Rd, Aberystwyth SY23 2EH

Posted by: Richard Macve | January 07, 2005 at 08:40 PM

aberystwyth gets my vote for places not to go to.Once is enough,i've never met a more miserable group of people all living in the same town.However for those of you sent there on some form of punishment go to the indian restaurant,they're the only people i met who speak & understand english
happy holidays Tony Calder,France

Posted by: Tony Calder | January 08, 2005 at 10:23 AM