North London, Primrose Hill, Lanka

Lanka, 71 Regent's Park Road, NW1 8UY (Nearest tube Chalk Farm)

So apologise that I haven't written a review for weeks but I've been all caked out! Imagine! Not a phrase I ever thought I'd say but it's true. I've simply eaten too much cake and was suffering from cake fatigue!
So with this visit, my first in weeks I had hoped to cure my jaded view of the cake world.

To start, the cafe was very stylish and chic with a good selection of cakes. The cake selection offers both a mixture of the traditional e.g coffe eclair and a bit more exotic - green tea as an added cake ingredient.

I wasn't sure about the addition of green tea and the pastry chef when questioned said it tasted of grass. When I commented that cows like grass and I wasn't sure I'd like the same things cows do, he kindly allowed me to taste the raw green tea. It tasted of spirulina/grass. Nuf said! I still decided on a left field choice (after all I can buy a coffee eclair at Sainsburys!) and went for the green tea and white chocolate cake(£3.60). 
                               
For this price and size of portion I was expecting alot. On a positive note the cake didn't taste of grass. In fact it didn't taste of very much at all and so was very disappointing. I'd give it 2/5. 

My friend went for the white chocolate and azuki bean gateaux (£4.10). Again it was tasteless. When we swopped cake they both tasted exactly the same. The azuki beans added nothing and were just a tasteless crumble on the bottom. She gave it 2/5.

Both cakes seemed a bit Emperor's new clothesy. Exotic ingredients which didn't actually add anything to an already bland cake.

The cafe itself is very narrow so there are two tables outside and then just high stools and a counter inside. This means that the place doesn't feel like you would want to while away much time here taking time over your tea and cake which to be honest is for me all part of the tea and cake magic!

However on a positve note the coffee (small £2.80/large £3.00 - takeaway cheaper) was fantastic. My friend who is a coffeehead and only rates 3 places in London as serving coffee up to her standards gave the coffee 5/5.

So overall good for coffee but don't bother with the cake. I hope the next place I try will re-ignite my love of CAKE!!

North London Crouch End Haberdashery Cafe

22 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London N8 8PL http://www.the-haberdashery.com/Home.html. No nearest tube. This cafe is in the wilds of North London with no tube but the nearest train station is Crouch Hill.

Okay so good start the outside is very twee but in a good way and welcoming. My friend had forgotten that we were meeting so I spent the first 3/4 of an hour on my own in this cafe and it was the sort of place you could happily spend hours just drinking tea and watching the world go past. The atmosphere is friendly and clearly a lot of the clientele are regulars.

I ordered tea and decided to wait til my friend arrived to order food. The tea was excellent both in quality and value -  £2.40 and 4 cups out of a pot.

So that was the good part. However once my friend arrived and we decided to order food things went down hill. There was a limited range of cake(to be fair it was 11.30 in the morning so perhaps the cafe hadn't got its full range out yet) and the three on offer didn't really jump out and shout EAT ME! The chocolate brownie at £4 was way over priced on the hand it was massive but too big for one.

The baked goods looked appealing but again there was not much choice and the muffins looked as if they had been there sometime.

In the end I went for a sausage sandwich. The sausages were excellent quality as was the roll but the portion was sooo mean. If you're going to have to cook 2 sausages don't then give your customer 1 1/2 it just looks mean especially when the customer is paying £4. Incidentally the next day I went to Sainsburys bought 6 Taste the Difference sausages for £2.79 and a roll from Lidl for 30p and made the best sausage sandwich ever!



My friend went for bagette and jam which she said was good but they'd toasted the bagette which she hadn't asked for. The coffee was excellent but she would have preferred it in a cup not a mug.

Overall I loved the atmosphere of this cafe so 5/5 for this. The beverages were excellent 4/5. I would definitely come back for a cup of tea but sadly the food was over priced and just ok.

East London Hackney Pogo Cafe

76 Clarence Road,Hackney, London, E5 8HB Nearest Overground Hackney Central. Opening times Weds-Saturday 12.30. Sunday 11-9.30.

Well this was my first vegan cafe and I was somewhat apprensive.Having cycled from Camden I was gagging for a cup of tea by the time I arrived. So imagine my dismay when the place looked distinctly closed and I started thinking perhaps I should have checked opening times before setting off...

The cafe was in fact closed (see opening times above) but the lovely volunteers - yes it's a non-hierarchical volunteer run co-operative were waiting for a delivery so they let me in and I was able to try their tea and cake.

Normally they have a range of cakes but what's on offer depends on the volunteer chef on duty and what they fancy making. Unfortunately because the cafe was officially closed there were only two cakes to choose from and they were both chocolate based. I'm not really a chocolate fan but I went for the chocolate mousse cake (£2.50).

It was light and moussee and if I was a chocoholic I think even a non vegan would have enjoyed it. I enjoyed the first few bites but then was chocolated out. There were a wide range of teas but their normal boys tea (80p)was a bit weak.

My  vegan friend turned up at this point(which was a relief because up to this point I felt I was an impostor who would be outed at any minute as being a murdering meat eater). She chose the chocolate coconut cake (only £2.00 because apparently it hadn't turned out very well but it looked okay to us) and tea. She really enjoyed both her cake and tea.

Overall both cakes were good but for me the tea was weak so 3/5. The place itsself is comfy and they have lots of interesting stuff going on. The volunteers who were kind enough to serve us were really friendly so the place and the staff get 5/5. If I lived nearer I would certainly go again when they're officially open because look at what someone baked last week!

Bonus picture. On the way home I saw this.....

It's a rubbish duck- literally!!!

Central London, Bloomsbury Mary Ward Centre Cafe

Mary Ward Centre, 42 Queen Square WC1N 3AQ . This cafe is in the Mary Ward Adult Education Centre so is only open during term time and specific times at weekends. Check website for details. http://www.marywardcentre.ac.uk/StudentInfo/StudentInfo-Opening.asp. This place gets really busy at lunch time with all the staff from the surrounding hospitals.

I've been meaning to write about this place for ages. I love it! It's a veggie cafe where vegans and gluten freers are catered for. The food is excellent and the staff really friendly. You can get a main with salad for a fiver which for central London is a bargain. The portion sizes are not stingy.

Unfortunately the photo below doesn't do they're lovely food justice. You'll just have to imagine all the yummy food laid out.

I often pop in for tea - mug 80p. On the day I went I also had carrot cake which sadly had no topping so was a little dry. Normally though their standard is good but their piece de resistance is the portugese custard tarts bought in from an authentic portugese bakery. These are my favourite cakes of all time but I have to try other things otherwise I worry that one day there will come a stage when I woudln't be able to eat any more!

Overall the cafe is good value for money and there is often student art on the walls so it's a nice environment to spend time in. The tea is strong ( if you look carefully in the picture I've still got my tea bag in the cup!). I can't give this place a mark out of 5 because I don't really go there just for the cake so it would be unfair to compare it with the other cake specific places in this blog.

West London Richmond Stein's Beer Garden

55 Richmond Towpath, TW10 6UX . Opening times vary as this is a totally outside venue and is affected by the weather.

Yes I know I'm supposed to be doing tea and cake reviews but I came upon this today by chance and had to share.

So last week I tried a fantastic German sausage (phe na phe na!) with a very cheap and nasty bun(£4-5.00) just off the roundabout at Old St - mmmm nice. So today me and my friend were walking along the river in Richmond when we came upon Steins who sold all things German Beergarden orientated. As I wanted to erase last weeks miserable sausage experience we thought we'd try this place.

Well I'm so glad we did. Sadly there is no photo of sausage/roll combo(£3.90)-we ate it too fast but it was excellent and better value and in a much nicer setting than last week. Photo of view from the beergarden.

This was all washed down with a half of Erdinger weissbier(£2.90 for a half) - pricey but better value if you share the half with a friend yeh that's right a quarter of a pint each! Well it was early and we really only wanted the sausage/roll but it was a lovely sunny day and it felt it would be rude not to do the whole German thing and have the beer as well.

All the other food looked delicious and I would definitely go back.

For what I had and the setting 5/5

West London - The Teahouse at Petersham Nurseries

Church Lane, off Petersham Lane TW10 7AG. Nearest train tube/train Richmond. You'd then have to either take a bus or have a nice walk along the river. I know which one I'd prefer!

I've always wanited to come here as the idea of a nursery/cafe/michelin star place intrigued me. However it's not ever been near any where I was going to plus I could never afford the michelin prices.

However today I went for a walk along the river at richmond and this place fitted in with my plans so I finally go here. So I really want to like this place.

The place is really lovely with outdoor seating and indoor in heated greenhouses if the weather proves inclement. There are beautiful well kept plants everywhere.

There is a good selection of cakes although I think they're rather pricey for what we then tasted. Their carrot cake was £4.50 for a slice smaller than the two cakes we picked.

My friend had beetroot and raisin cake (£4.00) and apple juice (£3.25) because she was intrigued with the thought of beetroot in a cake. It was okay, the beetroot gave it an interesting earthy taste but it was a bit dry considering the beetroot should have put moisture in and there was no icing so she gave it 2 1/2/5.

I had coconut and carrot cake with chocolate (£4.00) which was basically a very nice moist sponge cake with nasty children's party chocolate on the top. I would give the cake without the topping 4/5.

The tea although pricey (£2.75) was excellent and as you got four good cups out of the pot was therefore okay value.

So overall I really liked the setting and it wasn't as if the cakes weren't bad but they weren't really good for the price so overall

3/5



Central London - Holborn - Fleet River Bakery

71 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3JF Nearest tube Holborn


Tiny place. Excellent selection of cakes and I don't normally drink coffee but their coffee was so good I had a second cup. I had a chocolate brownie. It was everything a brownie should be - moist and very chocolately. Went very well together with the coffee.
Would defo recommend 4/5

Central London - Bloomsbury - London Review Cake Shop

14 Bury Place WC1A 2JL (nearest tube Tottenham Court Road/Russell Square)

Tucked down a side road opposite the British Museum this tea shop is actually within the London Review Bookshop which is why I've never seen it when passing. The cafe is bright and breezy and the staff are really friendly and helpful.

The cafe is very small but has an excellent and wide range of cakes.I imagine if you came at weekends you'd struggle to get a seat. I had the passiofruit cake which was like a sponge with passionfruit in. How they managed to make it without being soagy I don't know but it was really yummy.

My mum had carrot cake which we both agreed looked great but was too sweet.

Finally, we have to finish on a very bad note. THE TEA. It was £3.25 for a pot of loose leaf tea out of which you got two small cups and the tea was nothing to write home about. In fact I'd say Sainsbury's red label would give you a better cuppa. Which is a shame because it's a nice place and my cake was fab. Perhaps just drink the coffee!

So 3/5- would have got less(for the tea and my mum's cake) but my cake and the surroundings brought it up to a 3.

Central London - Cafe at Foyles

113-119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB (nearest tube Leicester Square/Tottenham Court Road)
Look for a small doorway to the right of Foyles' main entrance.

I had just by coincidence visited two other tea and cake places on the previous two days so by the time I got to the Cafe at Foyles I was all caked out. However there was a wide selection of cakes which all looked great. I will definitely be trying the plum and almond cake in the near future. However, I just had to write about the tea (having had a bad cuppa the day before). If you like strong builders' tea then this is the place for you. £1.60 will buy you a mug of tea so strong that even I had to take the tea bag out after only a few minutes. Excellent tea and excellent value in the heart of London.

East London - Towpath

Regent's Canal Towpath between Whitmore Bridgew  and Kingsland Road Bridge N1 5SB

As the name denotes this hole in the wall is literally on the tow path between Angel and Dalston so not sure what the nearest tube would be. |Came across it on a walk along the canal from Angel to Limehouse. Can't believe how fantastic it was. The selection of cakes was not big but my friend and I both had the rhubarb and fragiapani tart ( 5/5) and I have to say it was the best pastry I have ever had and well worth the £3.25 I paid for it. The coffee was also excellent.

However probably only a place to come to on a good weather day as the seating is very exposed to the elements therefore I can't really give a mark for its ambience.

5/5 for tart and coffee

North London - Angel - Kipferl

20 Camden Passage, N1 8ED (no where near Camden, nearest tube Angel)

Apparently this place is well known for its apple cake but as my mum makes the best one in the world I didn't want it to fall at the first hurdle so I choose the espresso cake.(£2.50). Unfortunately it did not taste of coffee at all just chocolate.More like a slab of chocolate brownie. My friend suggested that what they meant was that the cake would be good with an espresso but either way it was a bit dry and why call it espresso cake then? I give the cake 2/5 for being dry and failing the trade description act.

This time I had a coffee (£2.40) which I enjoyed and as I don't really like coffee is a big compliment.

We sat outside but the interior is okay but I wouldn't say particularly inviting.

Overall I probably wouldn't come here again and I would try somewhere in Angel as there seems to be loads of other independentish places to try.

Overall 2 1/2/5

Central London - Strand Courtauld Institute Cafe

Nearest Tube Charing Cross/Temple Part of the Somerset House complex Somerset House
Strand London WC2R 0RN

My mum and I were going to the gallery so we popped into Tom's diner which is in Somerset House. The cake selection was very poor so we decided to go to the Courtauld Institute Cafe instead. It's out of the way tucked underneath the gallery and you have to go past the gallery ticket office to access it. You just need to say you're just going to the cafe and don't want to visit the gallery and they'll let you through.

The cafe isn't very big but there is an outside courtyard and the room its self feels very homily with comfy sofas as well as chairs and tables.

Here's a picture of their range of cakes. All cakes are in the £3-£4 range. They are all handmade in the kitchen on the premises. I had a nice chat with the chap who makes them more about his scones later...

So my mum had a piece of pistachio and rosewater cake (£3.75)  as we were both intrigued with the idea of rose water in cakes.

Sadly there wasn't really any taste of rose water and the cake was a bit dry. She gave the cake 2/5.

 I chose polenta, almond and lemon cake (£3.50). It was delicious. Moist and really tasty. I gave it 4/5.

We both agreed the tea served was excellent and good value at £1.95 a pot. All served in a proper pot and everything.

So after we chose our cakes and were happily munching on them these babies were brought out. Check them out...

Have you ever seen such beautifully risen scones??  I will definitely be checking these out the next time I go!

I think the dry cake was an exception as mine was great and I've been here before and the cake that time was also good. The tea was good and the surroundings nice.So overall I'll give the cafe 4/5.