Just when you think the seam of magnificent cafes has been exhausted this splendid place hoves into view. And it reminds you what makes a brilliant cafe. It's not special ingredients or faded formica, it's effort. It's continually making an effort, injecting some care and energy into the place.
Which is not to say the food isn't important. It is. And this stuff is splendid. Big piles of high quality stuff. No scrimping here. If food equals love (and I think you'll find it does) then no-one loves you more than the Star Cafe Grill.
Those chips are brilliant. I want them all over again. I might go tomorrow. I will. I'll see you there.
And a very good, civilised cup of tea.
It's a big old place too. Lots of space. Big, generous booths. Lovely colours.
Simple condiments. Nothing fancy, but a pleasing roundness to the bottoms.
A bargain.
That's what I mean by effort. Someone's sat and made that menu art, they're injected life into the place. Brilliant.
And those illuminated photos are the same. I love those things; they're the stained glass of cafes. Secular altars.
And then there's these gorgeous plastic flowers. They don't have to have them. No-one goes into a cafe for the plastic flowers. And yet they do, because they show that someone cares. Someone's making an effort. Splendid stuff.
it looks like my kind of cafe!
Posted by: silverdale flowers | June 03, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Chandeliers too!
Posted by: Ben | June 03, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Try the "Giggling Sausage" in Great Suffolk Street SE1. You may be pleasantly suprised.One of the very few places where they do the fried eggs properly. I await your report with interest. There is also an interesting one called Terry's across the road.
Posted by: Derm | June 04, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Some time ago I bought a can of beans with the intention of making my own EBCB as no where hereabouts serves anything remotely like it. Alas, still haven't done it, but this place makes me think I should.
Posted by: Thom Wong | June 04, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Nice pictures! <img src="http://reviewsblog.pcriot.com/img/spacer.jpg">
Posted by: Gal | July 02, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Looks great. I think I walked past it recently but didn't go in because I'm put off by the restaurant word and the slightly chainy look from the outside.
But I can see I got it wrong. Next time I'm in London, see you there!
Posted by: bganon | July 04, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Years and years ago I worked in a laboratory in Hammersmith; and I remember it as a good place for a plate of chips and tea.
Posted by: maybelles mom (feeding maybelle) | July 09, 2008 at 01:38 AM