To mark the start of an exciting new adventure for a close friend, it was an Afternoon Tea event. Oliver’s Village Cafe is a family run independent cafe away from the high street of Belsize Park. It prides itself on using local produce and producers for its food, including meats, smoked salmon and free range eggs.
Breakfast, lunch and sweet treats are all on the menu as well as smoothies, juices, teas and coffees for drinks. There are plenty of dairy free alternatives to the milks such as almond, oat and soya.
Rooibos tea hadn’t been had for a long time, so the caffeine free Teapigs infusion was chosen. A slightly sweet tea of the rooibos and honeybush went well with the nutty almond milk.
For the excellent Afternoon Tea at Oliver’s Village Cafe, big doorstep style sandwiches were served on wooden platters. The freshest of breads was used and that’s what made these grain bread sandwiches delicious. The generous fillings which consisted of ham and mustard, cheese and pickle, tuna, salmon with cream cheese, were amazing too.
The sweet delights were of such a high quality. The gooiest and most moist chocolatey brownies were the cubes of the brownie tower. For a fan of Bakewells, the soft buttery almond and berry slices were an absolute delight. Cinnamon and oats balanced the sweetness for the flapjacks. The vegan coconut and blueberry muffin had a good flavour and there was the nice texture from the coconut. You could tell that all of the food at Oliver’s Village Cafe was fresh, homemade and of a high standard.
The service from the friendly staff was great. They made sure that things were all to our liking and were happy to give us extra refills of the tea. Even when it wasn’t long to go until they closed, they gave us the chance to move into the front area and didn’t rush us at all.
Oliver’s Village Cafe has two areas for seating. The front area is just by the counter and has regular wooden tables and chairs. The back area that we were in was very light and airy due to the skylight. The talented owner, Oliver, has some of his artwork displayed on the walls. There were lots of cushions, plants and even an area for kiddies filled with toys, crayons, games and books.
Oliver’s Village Cafe is a place to go to for a relaxed quality Afternoon Tea. It has wonderful food. It’s always a bonus to support and enjoy independent businesses.
Oliver’s Village Cafe, 92 Belsize Lane, London, NW3 5BE
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