The latte and mocha drinks were really good. The mocha actually tasted more like a hot chocolate. We had the chunky cassava wedges as a snack. Although it looked like a small portion, it was enough. They had the right crunchiness on the outside with a soft centre.

The roast butternut squash and coconut milk soup was a rich soup and was just right for a cold winter’s day! I could taste the spiciness of the chilli in it. A good alternative was the chicken fajita wrap that was served with curly fries. The chicken was tender and tasted good with the additional filling of peppers, onion and cheese.

To complete the meal, a dessert had to be had. We shared the chocolate banoffee pie. This was an excellent choice and had the perfect proportions of chocolate, biscuit, banana and toffee.

I do have to comment on the fantastic customer service and the efficiency of all the staff at the restaurant. The restaurant was very busy in the evening and we were thinking that the service was going to be quite slow. This was not the case. The food was brought out not long after we had ordered and we weren’t waiting around for the bill either.

A fantastic restaurant with lively Latin American music and atmosphere. A highly recommended restaurant if you are at the O2 Arena!

Las Iguanas, The O2, Peninsula Square, Millenium Way, London, SE10 0DS

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The mixed grill main dish never disappoints. The chicken, lamb, kofte and lamb cutlets are always cooked perfectly and have the right tenderness. The portion size is good and this dish is very satisfying.

Its hard to resist the baklava dessert with its layers of puff pastry, nuts and sweet syrup. The mint tea is a good drink to finish off the meal, although the coffees are also good too.

The service is always really great here and it is nice that the kitchen is an open one so you can see the food being cooked on the charcoal grill as well. You never feel rushed at Hisar and can take your time savouring the food.  

Hisar, 51 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8EP

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Stage Door Cafe prepares fresh sandwiches and then they are wrapped and displayed in the fridge. The ham and mustard wholegrain sandwich was good, although a little pricey. They also have a range of hot food such as jacket potatoes, pasta dishes, bakes and soup. These are all self service and are in open trays on the hot plate.

I was going to have the cauliflower soup but then when I lifted the lid of the soup container, the soup looked stale as if it had been sitting there all day. They had a range of cakes and brownies too.

The latte was nice and they do flavoured coffees too. The cafe also serves teas and hot chocolate.

A good place to come to relax before a show or even if you just want a quiet place to have a drink and a bite to eat. The cafe does get busy before a show performance.

Stage Door Cafe and Bar, Sadlers Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

We had the Le Rosse Caprina pizza (pizza with a tomato sauce). It was a vegetarian pizza and was delicious. They also do Le Bianche pizzas which are pizzas with a white cream sauce base.

Even though we were sharing a pizza, the waitress brought it out already cut in half and on two plates. That was a nice touch! The baked mushrooms with mini dough balls were a good starter.

I would return to this restaurant because of its location, scenic views, the tasty pizzas and the great service.

Pizza Marzano, 2 place St Michel, 75006, Paris

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Now being an old fashioned Northerner born and bred, when I order a bacon and egg butty, I expect to get an egg with some bacon slapped between two slices of bread (served up by someone who reminds me of an old school dinner lady!). That was until Cafe Leo on Sheen Lane reeducated me. 

The bacon and egg roll was nothing short of delicious (fresh crunchy roll, perfectly cooked egg with good quality bacon) and the side salad made this lunchtime snack a real treat. (Cue Yorkshire accent) Followed up with a cup of tea, the bill came to under a fiver.

The staff made me feel like an old friend and the atmosphere was very relaxing. Their menu consisted of various sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. Your typical cafe menu with added class and service.

28a Sheen Lane, London, SW14 8LW

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The tea is always served by the pot and the coffee is also of a good quality. The butter biscuits are a nice accompaniment if you just want something small to go with the hot drinks.

Cafe Rouge do a soup of the day and the one that was on offer when we went was red pepper and aubergine soup. It was a  flavoursome soup with big chunks of aubergine. The soup came with half a baguette which was very fresh. A filling starter that could easily satisfy as a main meal.

Another good starter is the warm ciabatta style breadsticks which comes with three dips: hummus, tomato and aioli. You also get a  small amount of salad. The amount of dips is fairly small, but it suffices.

To finish the meal, a good choice is the assortment of desserts. These are smaller portions of the creme brulee, red fruit crumble and chocolate ganache. None of them disappointed and it was nice to get a taster of them all!

Cafe Rouge, 6-7 South Grove, Highgate, London, N6 6BP

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

They do good quality croissants and pain au chocolat. The granola with yogurt could have done with more yogurt to balance out the amount of granola. I’ve tried their muffins and thought that they were tasty and not overly sweet. The individual fresh fruit tarts always look tempting too!

The organic mezze platter is great to share. It comprises of hummus, babaganoush (aubergine salad) and aubergine and tomato. The bread that comes with it is usually rye bread but you can ask for any bread from their selection. It is all very moreish!

The coffees, teas and hot chocolates are all good. They do serve soy milk. Their freshly squeezed orange juice is OK. I did like the Luscombe bottled juices that they do.

I really like the wooden decor in Le Pain Quotidien and the rustic feel that this bistro has. It has a big communal table as well as individual seating. The staff are always friendly and accommodating to any special dietary requests.

Le Pain Quotidien, 18 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7HS

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The decor is pretty cool; nice artwork on the wall and strings of lights near the back of the restaurant. The staff were really friendly and the service was good.

Freshly baked pizzas with generous toppings is what we experienced. The food was tasty and it was nice that the atmosphere was fairly relaxed.

Sapori, 43 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RT

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The seating area if you are having just drinks is at the front of the cafe and the back is for if you are ordering food.

The waiter was friendly and we enjoyed relaxing in this cafe. The view was nice over the place de la Republique.

Cafe Republique, 11 place de la Republique, 75003, Paris

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The food here was average and I wouldn’t call it outstanding. I had the seasonal vegetables tagine which I would give full marks for presentation but not for flavour. The taste of the spices didn’t really come through. I was expecting it be more of a tomato based tagine. This Moroccan dish was cooked with chickpeas, spinach and baby carrots. It came with a good portion of couscous.

The actual restaurant decor is nice with a range of seating, from window seats to wicker chairs and normal dining tables and chairs.

The staff were friendly although the service was slow at times. We were waiting for quite a while to get the attention of the waiter, so that we could order desserts. By the time we managed to get his attention, we weren’t even sure that we wanted to order anything else.

The warm almond and cherry tart was a huge disappointment. It tasted like it had been microwaved and the pastry had become too soft. The only upside to this was that the coffee ice cream (that came with the tart) had a good flavour.

Maybe I should have opted for my friend’s choice of the warm Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce and ice cream. That looked of a better quality!

Brasserie Chez Gerard, 9 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5NP

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The hot chocolate had the right creaminess and thickness. It was served to us in a pot and we just helped ourselves. There was enough hot chocolate for a couple of top-ups!

To go with our drinks, we had the millefeuille praline which was caramelized puff pastry, praline cream, almond pralines and crispy hazelnuts. Each mouthful was divine and heavenly! It really felt like we were indulging!

The macarons are Laduree’s speciality. We went for a selection of the mini macarons: pistachio, praline and caramel with superfine salt. They were all really crisp and smooth. The waitress accidently gave us an extra macaron but she did not charge us for it, even when we told her that we had not ordered it! Must have been our lucky day!

The service was a little slow, so don’t go here if you are in a hurry. The staff were all really friendly and didn’t rush us at all. It was a very relaxing atmosphere.

Personally, I would come here on an empty stomach as the cakes and drinks are filling. It is nice to get seating upstairs as this overlooks the counter displays!

Laduree Tea Room, Harrods, 87/135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

We started off with the goat’s cheese with walnut bread and date chutney. The goat’s cheese was of the perfect consistency and the date chutney had the right sweetness. The battered fried squid was not over cooked. The bread was really fresh too.

For the mains, we had the aubergine parmigiana and the steak frites. The aubergine and the tomato sauce went perfectly together; I could taste the sweetness of the tomatoes. The steak was Aberdeen Angus rib-eye steak and the au bleu (blue cheese) sauce worked well with the steak. The frites were really thin and great!

My friends had the sea bream and the roast rack of lamb. The dishes were all very well presented and the food was of the highest quality. The whole dinner was sublime!

We had room for dessert and so we opted for the honeycomb ice cream with white chocolate sauce. This didn’t disappoint us in any way as well.

We didn’t feel at all rushed with our meal. The service was fantastic. The staff were really friendly and efficient.

My friend’s were VIP members at Bistro Aix (this can be done for free on their website)! As we were dining at this restaurant for a birthday and we had notified the waiters about this, at the end of the meal, we were given complimentary champagne and cake.

We expected the cake just to be a slice for the birthday boy, but it was for all of us. There was even enough to be taken home! This cake was so delicious. It was a fresh berry layered sponge cake covered in meringue. The meringue was just gooey enough!  

Bistro Aix, 54 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PT

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There are a few comfy seats, as well as window seating and an additional area downstairs. The focal point to this cafe is the food boat. This is the open buffet that has cuisines to suit every taste. It’s a shame that this is buffet style. We would have preferred it if it was served from behind the counter. The food looked fresh and we saw that it was getting replenished often.

The tofu and tomato sandwich that we had was really good. It was a lot more appetising than it sounds. The tofu slices worked well with the balsamic vinegar and pesto. We asked the staff what type of bread it was and they just said that it was their house speciality bread. It had a nutty taste to it and was also a bit like ciabatta. We think that it may have been made with spelt flour!

We could tell that the cakes were also of a high quality. We had the cinnamon danish which was more of a brioche texture than flaky pastry. Definitely would go back and try out some more of their sweet treats!

Tibits have a good range of hot and cold drinks. They were very accommodating when I asked for a hot soya milk with hazelnut syrup, even though it was not on the menu. The cappuccino was also nice and creamy.

We found that the staff were really friendly and hope that this cafe stays this way even after many months of it being opened. Tibits is actually a Swiss company who pride themselves on quality ingredients and produce.

Tibits, 12-14 Heddon Street (off Regent Street), London, W1B 4DA

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

To finish the meal, the pistachio ice cream was nice. The waiter tried to convince me to have two scoops of ice cream (another flavour), but wasn’t disappointed when I settled for the one scoop. The cafe creme (latte) was good too.

Leon de Bruxelles. 8 place de la Rupublique, 75011, Paris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This bakery specialises in cupcakes, cookies, brownies and layered cakes. These are all freshly baked on the premises. They also have a daily special on their menu - a different cupcake for each day of the week.

I have tried their famous red velvet cupcake. This has red vanilla sponge topped with cream cheese frosting.

I’ve also had their vanilla cupcake and one of the daily specials - cookies and cream. The cookies and cream was chocolate sponge covered with a cookies and cream frosting.

I found all the cakes overly sweet and the toppings were way too thick. After a couple of bites, all you can taste is the sugar and the cake became slightly sickly.

I have been told by a friend that if you get a piece of their layered cakes to take home with you, the slice is really big and definitely enough for two people!

The Hummingbird Bakery also serves hot drinks: coffees, tea and hot chocolate.

I have a sweet tooth but these cakes out did me! Looking at the display of the cupcakes and cakes, they all look really tempting! I would only go here if you really want an intense sweet treat! 

The Hummingbird Bakery, 47 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3JP

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The chicken taquito (a corn tortilla filled with shredded chicken) had tender chicken with taco sauce and a good amount of vegetables. The taco sauce was not too spicy and it complemented the chicken. The fries had some seasoning on them which gave them the Mexican twist.

The cheese and refried bean nachos were moreish. The flat crispy corn tortilla was cut into bite size triangles and they hadn’t skimped on the fillings. It was nice that it came with some salad so that the flavours were balanced.

The staff were so friendly and they definitely gave us service with a smile. They also accommodated us when we asked if we could move to the comfy seating area to have our after dinner drinks!

The mochas were perfectly sweet. The only thing is that they do not serve soy milk. I was also tempted by the non-alcoholic cocktails they had to offer!

Oscars, 2nd floor, Whiteleys Centre, Queensway, London, W2 4YJ

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

How To Make A Caffé Latte

The food served here differs from that from other Indian restaurants due to the fact that they do not cook with ghee (clarified butter). This means that their dishes are not heavy and they are actually healthy.

I had the vegetable biryani which came with jeera (cumin seeds) potatoes and a chick pea curry. It was really tasty and reminded me of home cooked food. The portion was plenty for a lunch time meal. Tiffinbites also do fresh naans cooked in their tandoor.

If you don’t fancy the tiffin menu, then there is also a range of snacks such as samosas to choose from and they do wraps as well.

Being an Indian cafe, on the drinks menu is chai (spiced tea) and also lassi (yogurt drink). They use Alphonso mangoes for their lassi. Alphonso mangoes come from India and are the sweetest mangoes that I have ever tasted!

The service was very quick and efficient. The communal tables were kept clean as the staff cleared up as soon as you had finished your meal.

I liked the relaxed atmosphere of Tiffinbites, although we seemed to have got there just before the lunchtime rush. The place was heaving as we were leaving the cafe!

I would come back to this restaurant either at lunchtime or even in the evening for a satisfying meal! So, skip the boring sandwich and salad, and visit Tiffinbites for a traditional Indian lunch!

Tiffinbites, 22-23 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7PD

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The cafe creme (latte) was very nice. Saw some of the hot food that other customers were having and it looked of good quality. 

The downfall to this cafe was that it was so close to the fish and vegetable market stalls. So every now and then, you would get the smell of fish wafting into the cafe.

Le Village Ronsard, 47 Ter Bd St Germain, 75005, Paris

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The first time at this restaurant, we had the mint, basil, tomato and ricotta tortellini which tasted really good. We also had the grilled vegetables (aubergine, red pepper and courgette) and matchstick potatoes (fries). The little ciabatta rolls were fresh and just the right amount to go with the meal.

The service was really good and on our second visit, the waiter remembered how we liked our coffee (with additional hot milk). This was one of the few restaurants that gave us chocolate to go with the coffee.

We tried the ratatouille ravioli as well which was not a disappointment. Unfortunately the dessert chocolate ravioli was chewy and we wouldn’t recommend it.

All in all, a great restaurant with good quick service and tasty food.

Bistro Romain, 17 place de la Republique, 75003, Paris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

There was not a great range of vegetarian steamed dim sum but we did have the vegetarian Thai spring rolls. These were crispy and not at all oily. This made a change as spring rolls are normally seeping with oil.

We were given quite a big portion of crispy seaweed. The steamed pork dim sum was very tasty and all the dipping sauces that came with the meal were really nice.

To drink, we shared the Keeman black tea. This was served by the pot. They also had a range of coffees, juices and cocktails (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

The service at Yum Cha was great. There was a lot of attention to detail and the staff were friendly. Service with a smile is what we experienced. The seats by the window are perfect for people watching. The carved wooden panels on the walls makes the decor unusual.

If you are a karaoke fan, then Yum Cha also hosts karaoke nights! This restaurant can be easily confused with the similarly named Yum Chaa Tea Space located in Camden Lock Market!

Yum Cha Silks and Spice, 28 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AG

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Even though we had ordered cafe cremes (latte), the coffee was given in pots with the jug of hot milk. It was a nice touch and you could easily have two cups of coffee from each pot.

The service was quick but not really service with a smile. They also did a range of hot and cold food. I liked the way the menu was printed on the mirror wall.

Cafe Francois, 3 place de la Bastille, 75004, Paris

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

How To Make An Espresso

The cafe creme (latte) was creamy and frothy. We didn’t feel rushed at this cafe and the decor was pretty cool with its purple and chocolate coloured theme!

Cocoa Cafe, 3 avenue de la Republique, 75011, Paris

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Their Kobe burgers are the best. They have been awarded the best burger in London award from the Restaurant Magazine.

So you may be thinking what is a Kobe burger…I did! A little bit of info for you here!

Kobe - A city of southern Honshu, Japan, on Osaka Bay south-southwest of Kyoto. A port and manufacturing center, it was almost entirely rebuilt after World War II. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1995. Population: 1,530,000.

dictionary.com

Kobe beef refers to beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Kobe beef is renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, sashimi, teppanyaki, ground hamburger patties and more.

wikipedia.org

They do great nachos topped with sour cream, cheese and salsa. Actually all the food that we have had there has been of a very high quality. I also tried the daisy vegetarian burger which was really filling. All the burgers come with a refreshing slice of melon and salad. To complement all this “healthiness”, a bowl of cheesy fries tops it off!

Then there is dessert :-) The sticky toffee pudding with ice cream is a must or if you like something a little lighter then the warm apple tart is a good choice.

I am always tempted by the milkshakes at Pick More Daisies. A glass of coffee or banana milkshake if I feel like I want to indulge otherwise a mango sorbet shake for a fruity treat. They do a good range of coffees and teas too and they serve soy milk.

I like that the restaurant is divided into two parts with the open kitchen in the middle. The back part of the restaurant is a lot more airy and light than the front. We usually ask if we can sit there and there’s only been a few occasions when it has been closed.

The service here is really good and the staff are friendly. Good food, great relaxed atmosphere, tempting desserts are just a few of the reasons why we return to Pick More Daisies time and time again!

Pick More Daisies, 12 Crouch End Hill, London, N8 8AA

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The pizzas are huge and brought out on a metal tray and stand. The pizza stand is placed at the end of the table. These pizzas are definitely for sharing!

I’ve had various toppings on the pizzas including mashed potato, aubergine and mushrooms. These have been the red pie pizzas-ones with a tomato base but they also do white pie pizzas which have a Parmesan and garlic base.

This is a great restaurant with a fantastic atmosphere and a great vibe. There are a few sections to this restaurant and you are able to sit in the bar area and have your meal.

This restaurant is very popular and busy so I would definitely recommend making a reservation. The decor is really cool and as soon as you enter BAR, you know you have stumbled into a trendy place in New Haven! BAR is open 365 nights a year!

BAR, 254 Crown Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511

The waiter didn’t seem too impressed when we said that we just wanted to share one pizza. He perked up a little though after we said that we would have some garlic bread too!

The vegetarian pizza with its toppings of artichoke, aubergine broccoli and peppers was great and the tomato base was tasty. The cafe creme (latte) at the end of the meal was good too.

A word of warning though, don’t have the bread that they bring out in the bread basket. We saw that they took the leftover bread after the customers had left and emptied it into a bigger basket near the till. Then that same bread was dished out to other customers.

If you don’t fancy eating in the restaurant, they do a takeaway service as well.

Pizza Pino, 4 place de la Republique, 75011, Paris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The breads and pastries looked nice but we settled for coffee this time round. We were given a small bowl, not a cup, of cafe lait. That was different and it was a lot of good coffee. Also had a noissette which is an espresso.

Felt very relaxed in this bistro. They also did a range of hot food, salads, crepes, pizza and ice cream.

Coquelicot, 24 rue de Abbesses, 75018, Paris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The hot chocolate was good but not too rich. The jug of hot milk meant that we could decide on how thick we wanted the hot chocolate. The cafe creme (latte) was just right too. The chips were cooked fresh and we were happy that they weren’t the thin french fries.

The service was very efficient and the staff were friendly. They made the effort to make conversation with us whenever they came and served us.

L’institut, 1 bd St Germain, 75005, Paris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I really warmed to this cafe.  The coffee and hot chocolates are great but their ice cream is out of this world. 

Trente30, 30 Sheen Lane, Richmond, SW14 8LW

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

How To Make A Caffé Mocha

It was a little creperie hidden away on one of the side streets. The tables were close together but we didn’t mind that. There was something so inviting about this restaurant and it really made us feel that we had discovered a place that was loved by the locals.

There only seemed to be two members of staff-one waiter and one chef. Both were very friendly with us and when we returned a couple of days later, they greeted us like they knew us well!

The kitchen area was along one side which overlooked the tables. This meant that customers could chat to the chef while he was making the food.

We were given a small green salad for a starter which was a nice touch. On our first visit, we had both savoury and sweet crepes. One of the savoury ones was egg, cheese and ham and the second one was mashed tomatoes and mushrooms. The tomatoes were so tasty and both crepes were thoroughly enjoyed. Our dessert was an apple, caramel and almond crepe. Just perfect to complete the meal.

Our second visit included two of the chef’s specials, La Potagere and La Rustique. La Potagere was a vegetarian buckwheat pancake with mashed tomatoes, leeks, mushrooms and carrot puree. This was not the usual crepe but more like a dense bread pattie. It was different but all the same really delicious.

La Rustique was a thin crepe with smoked bacon, egg, goat’s cheese and mashed tomatoes. There was just the right amount of all the toppings and you could tell that the goat’s cheese was of good quality.

The thing that we liked about the crepes here was that they weren’t folded into triangles like you would get at the other creperies. This meant that you could actually taste the plain crepe. The toppings were put on separate areas of the crepe, so that it was up to you what combination you created.

I would avoid all the other street stall crepe places and make a worthwhile visit to Chez Imogene. Just a note, this creperie is closed on Sundays.

Chez Imogene Creperie, rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, Paris

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

They have a range of salads, sandwiches and hot food. I’ve had the courgette, aubergine, roast peppers and hummus ciabatta sandwich and would say that it was a good choice.

To drink, I always seem to go for the jasmine tea! They have coffees, smoothies and fresh juices too and they do serve soy milk.

They have an excellent range of fresh cakes and pastries for those of you that have a sweet tooth. A little warning though, the portions are big depending on what kind of cake you go for.

The only thing that I didn’t like was that the cakes were on open display near the entrance of the cafe. Some were covered with a clear plastic sheet. At least it wasn’t self service, only the waiter would serve the cakes to you.

The service can be a little slow when the cafe is busy. I have found that the mornings here were quieter than the afternoons. A good place to meet up and relax with friends!

Del’Aziz Cafe, Ground Floor, Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Adelaide Road, London, NW3 3NF

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

We were sat upstairs and felt that we had our own personal staff! We had the vegetarian paella and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was great when the paella had been cooked, the waiters brought out the huge pan that it was cooked in and showed it to us. The pan was then taken away and served to us on our individual plates.

The selection of cake and biscuits that we had for dessert were really nice. I would definitely return to this restaurant if I was in Barcelona.

Salamanca, Almirant Cervera, 34, 27 Barcelona, CT 08003

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The bread that was given did not taste very fresh. We ordered minestrone soup and tortellini alla panna. When I asked the waiter if the minestrone soup was vegetarian, he agreed with me. But as I was eating it, there were pieces of meat in it.

The tortellini alla panna was filled with ham and the cream based sauce also had big chunks of ham. It was a good portion of pasta and very filling too.

La Pattaca, 10 bd Poissonniere, 75009, Paris

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

We felt quite relaxed as the bistro wasn’t busy when we were there in the afternoon. The wooden floors and dark leather sofas makes the bistro feel cosy. They also have a restaurant which is located on the first floor.

Don’t Tell Titus, 6 Victoria Road, Saltaire, Bradford, BD18 3LA

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The staff were very friendly and service was really good. The food and coffee were of very high quality. We asked for eggs and toast. We were served with scrambled eggs which tasted great and the toast was warmed slices of fresh white bread. The butter, strawberry preserve and marmalade was plenty for the toast.

The cafe creme is a latte. We were given a jug of hot milk in addition to the coffee which meant that two cups of coffee could be made.

The interior setting was designed by Christian de Portzamparc. Quite relevant since Cafe Beauboug is situated on the square with the Centre Georges Pompidou!

Cafe Beaubourg, 100 rue St-Martin, 75004, Paris

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Pad Thai noodles were nice although they would have been better if more vegetables had been in the dish. We really enjoyed the sweet corn cakes- very moreish! The vegetable dumplings were good too. They were not like the usual dim sum style dumplings; they reminded me more of Italian ravioli. The raw juice was a refreshing drink to accompany the meal.

The Banana Tree Canteen, 412-416 St John Street, Islington, London, EC1V 4NJ

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

They have a fantastic range of breads, and lots of deli-style food too. All the food looked mouth watering. The coffees were perfect as well.

Such a relaxed atmosphere at this bistro with friendly staff. Wooden tables and chairs, the smell of the baked goods and coffee makes you want to spend the day here watching the world go by! A hidden gem in the middle of Paris!

Bread and Roses, 7 rue de Fleurus, 75006, Paris

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Byron Bay pizza had great flavours with its toppings of mixed mushrooms, garlic and rosemary roasted potatoes, basil pesto, mozzarella, caramelized onion jam and smoked paprika.

Other pizzas that have been sampled were of equal tastiness! Imagine having a Thai green curry influenced pizza (Koi Samui) or a tandoori chicken one (Bombay). May sound a bit extreme but trust me, it works!  

The smoothies were quite good. If you like something a little sharp, then go for the Tutti Frutti Smoothie (melon, kiwi, raspberry, peach and apple juices). For something sweet, then there’s the Chocolate Brownie shake (chocolate brownie, chocolate ice cream and milk).

To top off the meal, the chocolate brownie with Madagascan ice cream was yummy! If you still feel like more pizza, then there is a dessert pizza on the menu!

Fire and Stone have good meal offers if you book online. The flaw with that is that you only have 2 hours at the table.  

Here is a great modern pizza restaurant in the heart of London which has the largest wood-fired oven in the Northern hemisphere! 

Fire and Stone, 31/32 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7JS

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Set in a very trendy part of London called Exmouth Market is a bistro called Lemon & Thyme.  The food looked ok, but something persuaded me not to try anything and I ordered a cup of coffee which I didn’t finish because it tasted so weak and bitter, not to mention it was served to me in a cheap paper cup!

Lemon & Thyme, Exmouth Market, Islington
London, EC1R

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

We really enjoyed the Hache Club burger (chicken, tomato, bacon, lettuce, cheese and avocado) and the Le Grand Champignon burger (portobello mushroom, red pepper, courgette and pesto). The perfect side order was chunky chips. A very satisfying meal!  

If you have room for dessert, then the chocolate brownie with ice-cream is a treat.  The banoffee pie will have to be tasted on the next visit! Any excuse to visit this restaurant again!

Hache Burger Connoisseurs, 24 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London, NW1 7HJ

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In contrast to this, the apple crumble cake was tasty and it was a generous portion. You can buy whole cakes. If you were to ask for a warm croissant, it will just be microwaved. Come here for the cakes but not for the coffee. They do a range of hot and cold food too.

The service was ok, not really service with a smile. The cafe had a chilled atmosphere with relaxing music. I guess the bonus about this place is that it is in a nice location.

Primrose Patisserie, 136 Regents Park Road,
Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8XL

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

I’ve only ever had the vegetarian pancake and the potato wedges. Both were really good and surprisingly filling.

If you have room for dessert, then there is a whole range of more pancakes. A warning, these pancakes are the same size as the savoury ones. I’ve had the sweet pancake which had chunky apples slices, cinnamon and was topped off with ice cream. Its hard to say whether I prefer the sweet pancakes to the savoury ones.

If you still have a sweet tooth after that, they also do great ice cream milkshakes. This restaurant is usually very busy on Shrove Tuesday so making a reservation is recommended.

My Old Dutch Pancake House, 131-132 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6PS

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

No one should ever visit the historic Castleton in Hope Valley without trying the delicious food and drinks on offer at the Rose Cottage Cafe.  I had chocolate cake with ice cream and a coffee, while my son had apple pie with ice cream and hot chocolate.  It was worth every penny and the service was pretty good too.

Rose Cottage Cafe, Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WH

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The cafe was quite quiet considering it was a Saturday afternoon.  The cakes were of the cream and mousse based variety. They looked of a high quality.

Cafe Deco, 62 Gloucester Road, London, SW7 4QT

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

How To Make Flavoured Coffee

The atmosphere reminded me of a workers cafe; somewhere my grandfather would get his cup of tea after a hard days work down the mines.  I got the impression that this was a popular stop off for mountain bikers and rock climbers as well.  No smiles from the old woman serving the tea though, tut tut!

They have a garden area, old fashioned log fire, free wifi and a B&B if you need somewhere to sleep off that large chocolate cake and ice cream.  Talking of food, the bacon sandwiches are the best I’ve tasted anywhere.  Wish I could say the same for the coffee and hot chocolate, but I can’t because I’d be lying.

Woodbine Cafe, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 6RD

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The cafe has a unique rustic feel to it with its dark red and wooden decor. It is quite spacious with a big communal table in the centre of the room.

It has a good number of comfy sofas and normal wooden chairs and table. The window seats look over the courtyard area. The cafe was very relaxing and you could imagine staying here for a few hours with a good book!

The food and drinks were reasonably priced. We had the tomato and lentil soup which was served with brown seeded bread and butter. The portion was of a good size.  The soup was ok; it wasn’t salty or sweet.

The hot food and the baguettes also looked tasty. The tea can be served by the pot or by the cup and they do soy milk.  

This cafe is situated next to the Candid Arts Trust galleries!

Candid Cafe, 3 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1N

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

We had the Bettys Tea Room Blend which is a blend of African and Assam teas. The Warm Yorkshire Fat Rascal was a good accompaniment. This is a hearty scone (double the size of a normal scone) with cherries and almonds. A special touch to this cafe is that is has a traditonal cake trolley which has a good variety of fresh cakes and tarts. The strawberry tart was well worth it with its melt in the mouth pastry.

This cafe has such a good range of teas and coffees. They also do hot chocolate and milkshakes. Even though Bettys has the title of a tea room, they do other food, ranging from cold sandwiches, breakfasts, salads to hot main meals and desserts.

One thing to note is that you may have to wait a little more time to be able to get a table at street level. If you fancy taking some tea, coffee or cakes home with you, then there is the Betty’s shop just inside the entrance to the cafe.

Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms, 6-8 St Helen’s Square, York, YO1 8QP

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

They do good coffees and teas. They have fresh juices, smoothies and power boost blends too. Soy milk is available. The staff are very friendly too. A tip is that if you sit upstairs in the cafe, then the service is a little bit slower.

Sable D’or, 249 Muswell Hill Broadway, London, N10 1DE

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

How To Make A Cappuccino

Service can be a little slow at times, but that’s probably down to the amount of people this place attracts.  People were so desperate for seats last time I visited that I’m confident I could have easily sold my seat to someone!!

If you want to be hip and trendy, hangout here.  Great little cafe if you like that kind of thing, but it’s probably a little too new age for my liking or maybe I’m just not hip and trendy enough!!

250 Camden High Street, Camden Lock
London, NW1 8QS

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With the relaxing music playing in the background and the general ambiance of the cafe, it doesn’t feel like this cafe is located on the busy Edgeware Road. 

Cafe Laville, Little Venice Parade
453 Edgeware Road, London, W2 1TH

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

To tell you the truth, I think that once you’ve been to one or two of the main chain coffee shops, they are pretty much all the same. Saying that though, one of my favourite drinks is hot soy milk. I have found that Starbucks do this drink well. Okay, it may seem like a simple enough drink to ask for, but it has been given to me a number of times with a shot of coffee.

I would also say that Starbucks do a great hot chocolate. A tip is that if you feel like a little more indulgence, then ask them to put a few extra pumps of hot chocolate in your drink. That is a real treat.

I recently tried the Vivanno(orange mango and banana) nourishing blend drink. It is just a smoothie made with banana, fruit juice and milk. It wasn’t anything special and I think that you can get better smoothies at other cafes.

As for cakes, muffins and pastries, Caffe Nero excel on this area. They always seem fresh and they taste good too. If you fancy a cold drink, then the iced chai latte is recommended from Caffe Nero. I have found that the chai latte from Starbucks was too sweet.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars