Archive for the 'Cafes' Category

Crocodile Cafe – Muswell Hill

Reviewed on February 21st, 2012 by Dina

Crocodile Cafe is part of the Crocodile Antiques shop in Muswell Hill! You have the option of going through the shop to get to the cafe but I prefer the other way. The other entrance is next to the shop, down the green foliage plant filled aisle. Here you can pass by the fish pond with the carp!

The kitchen area of Crocodile Cafe can also be seen from this walkway. The pavement leads to a heated outdoor covered seating area on one side and the cafe entrance on the other.

Crocodile Cafe has lots of cakes on display, including scones and fruit bread teacakes. Along the top of the counter fridge are a row of small jars displaying the many teas on offer. The cafe does hot food such as breakfasts, soups, paninis, soups, jacket potatoes. It also does sandwiches and milkshakes.

At the Crocodile Cafe, you order at the counter, and then go upstairs to the seating areas. There are two areas, one of which had comfy seating! This area led to the shop.

The staff were really friendly and gave service with a smile. As we were indecisive on whether to go for the carrot cake or the apple cinnamon cake, we thought the easiest way would be to ask the staff. We went with their recommendation of the carrot cake.

The carrot cake was a big portion, definitely enough to share. It was moist, with raisins and carrots. A really tasty carrot cake and it was nice that it only had a thin layer of the cream frosting.

The tea was served by the pot. The vanilla chai tea was a lovely tea with the subtle flavours of the spices coming through.

Crocodile Cafe has a really relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and good quality food. It is easy to spot the cafe by the painted mural of the crocodile on the side of the walkway!

Crocodile Cafe, 120 Muswell Hill Broadway, London, N10 3RU

Rating: ★★★★½

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Euphorium Bakery – Angel

Reviewed on February 1st, 2012 by Dina

Euphorium Bakery is an extremely busy and popular one! Heading here on a weekend, it was pretty full, even though it had seating on the ground level and additional seating on a lower level too! It seemed like it was one of those places that if you saw an empty seat, you should grab it, otherwise it would get taken up fairly quickly!

All orders are taken at the counter. The first counter fridge had the savoury items including sandwiches, salads, quiches, savoury rolls and pizza! The second fridge had all the tempting sweet pastries, cakes, cookies and pies!

Euphorium Bakery serves Teapigs teas and I chose the English Breakfast. It was served in a tall mug and not by the pot. It came with a small jug of milk on the side, balanced carefully on the saucer!

The spinach and ricotta roll was tasty and very moreish. Not one of those items where you can just have one bite! Once you’ve tried it, you want to finish the whole roll! The spinach and ricotta filling was encased in a lovely buttery flaky pastry!

The vegetarian quiche was a big portion. It was jam packed with broccoli florets, button mushrooms and tomato! The taste of the creamy cheesy filling went well with all the vegetables! The pastry was quite dense and slightly harder than I like.

There is a long wooden table with small plastic Perspex like stools as the main seating area. There is also some outdoor seating.

The staff are efficient and friendly. All the tables are constantly being cleaned, ready for more customers.

Euphorium Bakery is a good place to come for tea and a bite to eat!

Euphorium Bakery, 79 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0NU

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Madam Chi Coffee Lounge – Angel

Reviewed on December 16th, 2011 by Dina

It is refreshing to have a coffee lounge that is open late into the evening and it’s all thanks to Madam Chi! At least you can go here and not have to worry about the time!

Madam Chi is spread over two floors and we chose to have our drinks on the upper level this time. There is a cushioned bench like sofa along one wall and also normal table and chairs. Various books are dotted around on one of the shelves along the wall!

As expected, Madam Chi’s does a range of coffees and teas but it also serves wine! The Darjeeling Earl Grey was served in a big clear pot, and it was with fresh tea leaves. It had a fantastic flavour and there was so much so tea! We couldn’t finish the pot between the two of us!

The staff were really friendly and gave us service with a smile! Even though they had an event planned on the upper floor, they allowed us to go and have our tea there. When it got closer to the time of the event, the staff politely said that we could take our tea downstairs and they made sure that we did not feel uneasy about having to move!

Just a note, the menu for the hot drinks is not on the wall behind the counter! Instead it is on the wall opposite the counter! So, when you walk into Madam Chi’s, you would have your back to it! We couldn’t spot the menu when we entered and had to have it pointed out by the staff!

Madam Chi Coffee Lounge, 187 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1RQ

Rating: ★★★★☆

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