a good place for a cup of tea and a think: H's Cafe, Neptune Street, SE16

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

Our first guest review and photo - from Colin Day. Here's what he has to say:

"Ahhh H's Cafe.. the legend "Where you know you've had a sandwich!" above the shop says it all really. No it doesn't, as H defiantly shuns exotic and continental cuisine. This is South East London, Millwall territory, you ain't getting any ciabattas and coronation chicken here mate. As you step in you're greeted with a giant blackboard with all the options on. There are no table menus or waitress service but what H's lacks in fine tuning it more than makes up with its gargantuan fry-ups. The legendary "Special" isn't for the faint hearted, literally, but it tastes brilliant so don't let the minor matter of heart disease put you off. There's a faded football feel to the place. Dennis Wise growls at your cuppa from a wall at the back and there's even some newspaper clippings of H playing back in the day. The eggs bacon chips and beans was BIG. And it tasted wonderful. Well worth making a special trip for. Oh, and there's free tabloids and a giant world map with flags on it to pass the time while you wait."

Sounds like a magnificent place. Must get visited for the full ebcb treatment soon.

Anyone else wants to contribute feel free. Email me for the extremely rigorous guidelines. ([email protected])

Comments

Good to see a sarf London caff reviewed!

Posted by: Bob from Brockley | September 21, 2005 at 06:59 PM

delicious breakfast, nice sandwiches, may be not the best sevice but the most friendly atmosphere u can find these days..

Posted by: mehmet adiguzel | January 29, 2006 at 11:38 AM

I used to live opposite H's and went regularly. One of the best fry ups ever (especially if you add an side order of chips), and a lovely cup of tea as well. In summer you can even sit out the back, they have a couple of tables and umbrellas! H and the staff are very friendly - ranks as my No.1 breakfast in London!

Posted by: Andrew | February 23, 2006 at 05:51 PM