0 Followers
Bake me up before you go go
I don't want to miss it when you hit that pie.
- 239
- 727
29 Places
-
Larissa’s 5-star review: The place where you can get the best doughnut in London. I'm being purposefully ambiguous. This is because I really don't want you all to go here. -
London, United Kingdom
Larissa’s 5-star review: The carrot and courgette cupcake with cream cheese icing here changed my life. This is not hyperbole. The café itself is simple and unassuming. But the cake. Oh, the homemade cake... CAKE. CAke. cake. cake -
Larissa’s 3-star review: The baked goods might be divine. The food might be tastily above average. But the service is shit. Certifiably, undeniably shit. The shittiest of shit. The tables aren't cleaned; the queue stretches out the door, not because Fleet River Bakery is THAT good but because the service is so slow; and it is NOT okay to leave me standing at the register for nigh-on a minute-and-a-half with a boxed chocolate torte waiting to hand you my £3 while you merely disregard the fact that I exist. I might love the cakes and enjoy the lunch food, but I probably won't ever be going back to Fleet River Bakery now, because I don't really enjoy waiting without justification and dining amongst dirty plates left behind by long-since-departed diners. -
Larissa’s 4-star review: I've been in London for 4 years, and for some of those years I lived right around the corner from Wild & Wood. I've passed by it on many an occasion on my way to the Seven Dials or Soho or while just wanding around during a lunch hour, but I've never stopped in for a coffee. Despite being quite possibly the oldest coffee shop doing proper coffee in the capital, Wild & Wood's 'Monmouth coffee' with 'Jersey milk' is snubbed by many because, frankly, of its proximity to the real deal (ie, Monmouth in the Seven Dials). My thinking was - why would you go anywhere else when black gold is just around the corner? To get a cup of that same espesso-based beverage for a fraction of the cost and to actually be able to sit down to drink it, that's why. The repurposed wooden church pews fitted in the tiny inside space of Wild & Wood were homey and welcoming. And even though the seating numbers fewer than that in Monmouth Coffee around the corner, Wild & Wood isn't as popular so the chance of you sitting in is much higher. And the service was /actually/ pleasant, unlike the the sometimes haughty superiority of the rushed baristas in Monmouth. Best yet, my piccolo was only £1.40. £1.40! Sure it might not be as expertly crafted as the bevvie you'll get from the barista who's churning out flat whites non-stop for 8 hours, but it's pretty damn good. The cake, bought in from Villandry and Clarke's of Kensington, was costly albeit delicious (£4.95 for a fancy dark chocolate slice). Although - it has to be said - there are much better sweet options to accompany your coffee here than you'll find over at Monmouth. And, given the cheapness of the coffee at Wild & Wood, you might just break even. -
Larissa’s 5-star review: This place really couldn't get any better. The loose-leaf (Irish) breakfast tea (a cute little nod to the business owners' background, I should add) was dynamic and delicious, served appropriately in a teapot for one with a little filter cup at the top (so that the tea didn't over-steep between cups, thankyouverymuch). The scrambled egg on toast was wonderfully seasoned and cooked, served atop fluffy and freshly made bread that was handily buttered for me in advance. It might seem really simple, but think about it. How many places have you been to where you've been served up DELICIOUS (and inexpensive) scrambled egg on toast? Not very many, no. Mostly you'll get rubbery, tasteless eggs on a slice of toasted Tesco Value range bread; let's be honest here. The service was amiable and attentive, yet unobtrusive. As for my impression of the atmosphere, I will not rehash it here (since I've already gushed about it in my previous review). Needless to say, I love it. The 243 bus from Waterloo travels right outside J&A Café... I think I shall return for pancakes at the weekend. Again and again. And again. (But also maybe for some Irish soda bread... And brownies. And cake.) (I like brackets (parentheses).) -
Larissa’s 3-star review: That eclair I inhaled in about 3 bites on the pavement after purchasing it from the vendor outside on a market day was pretty good, I'll admit. -
Larissa’s 4-star review: Perfectly quirky, perfectly tasty, perfectly antipodean. I was wow-ed by the three single-estate drip coffee options on the menu, but otherwise this café didn't have that 'wow' factor for me. It offered a good place to loiter and people watch, sure. And I feel kind of harsh giving it just four stars, since the coffee was delicious (sourced from Nude Espresso). But I just wouldn't find myself going back to Brixton specifically for this coffee experience; there are other coffee outlets in London that I would travel for, you see. So - if you live in Brixton this is totally a solid option for you. And the baked goods looked shit-hot. I might go back to have the coffee with one of the cakes, actually. So there you go. Oh, and free wifi. Bonus. And I was really digging the fact that they actually had cortados and piccolos on their coffee menu. Yeah, this should probably be five stars; you're right. I'm a bitch. -
Larissa’s 4-star review: Bea has opened up a market stall in the ever-growing, grassroots Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey. This pleases me immensely since I live 3 minutes away. What with the market's cheese, coffee, doughnuts, beer and - now - Bea's absolutelyfuckingdelicious Guinness chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, Saturday will now be known colloquially as 'Faturday'. Oh, and there are some quaint little blue tables and chairs outside at which to rest and consume copious amounts of baked goods. -
Larissa’s 4-star review: I have to say, the filter coffee was pretty fabulous. A die-hard Monmouth Coffee fan, I might just have found a worthy contender in the coffee shop battle for my affections. Sure, there's only one bean and roast available, but whatever it is, it is smooth and satisfying (You know, they probably get it from Monmouth. This seems to be the vogue thing to do in London coffee shops). It's hard to find real filter coffee in this town, overrun as it is with espresso houses that will either serve you up an americano or give you some filter coffee that's been sitting in an insulated coffee dispenser for god-knows how long. The baristas at Nordic Bakery make espresso drinks, but they will also grind and filter a cup for you to order, which I totally dig. Mmm... fresh. But the Nordic Bakery isn't just a purveyor of filter coffee, so it should not be judged on my appreciation for its filter coffee alone. So, as a formality, I will run down the pros and cons of this fine establishment (that, did I mention, serves up a great filter coffee). PRO: The cup only costs £2 (which is 20p cheaper than Monmouth). CON: Only one type of coffee is available (it is no Monmouth in terms of variety...). PRO: Seating is readily available, plus it's just off Golden Square (more seating! Pigeons! Okay, so this might be a con if you don't like pigeons.) CON: The service walked a fine line between indifference and annoyance. PRO: There's a toilet! And the kitchen downstairs near the toilet smells of delicious cinnamon bun! CON: My cinnamon bun was just so-so (not fresh out of the oven), especially given its £2 price tag. Conclusion: I will undoubtedly return for some more coffee, but I'll check my appetite and service expectations at the door. That is, unless the cinnamon buns are fresh from the oven. -
Larissa’s 3-star review: Eh, for 90p you get a small chewy bagel cut in half with a slab of cream cheese in it. I would complain that it wasn't exactly a taste explosion of chewy-creamy deliciousness, but it was only 90p. Let's just say that I enjoy the toasted 'everything' bagels with cream cheese that I get from the boring old Bagel Factory kiosk at Waterloo Station on my way home from the City just as much if not more, and at least those are made to order... Still, 90p. Really. -
Larissa’s 4-star review: Perfectly lovely coffee + Perfectly lovely baristas + Perfectly lovely cakes + Perfectly lovely seating + Perfectly lovely music* + Perfectly lovely wifi + Perfectly lovely community vibe ___________________________ A perfectly lovely breath of fresh caffeinated air from East-End coffee fascism. *Portishead's Dummy was playing during my Saturday morning visit -
Larissa’s 4-star review: I came here to get an early-morning weekday breakfast with the always-lovely Lizzie G this morning, as Bea's is just around the corner from my office AND is open at 8am. I feel, though, that my breakfast visit gives me quite a different perspective of Bea's than everyone else, because I didn't have to fight for a table (the place had just opened when we popped in) and I didn't get any cakes or the 'afternoon tea' experience which everyone else seems to come to Bea's for. What I can say, though, is that Bea certainly wooed me with her warm and gooey porridge with help-yourself toppings. Toppings available: dried fruit, cinnamon and sugar, brown sugar, milk, honey, dessicated coconut and mixed nuts. Toppings on my porridge: dried fruit, cinnamon and sugar, brown sugar, milk, honey, dessicated coconut and mixed nuts. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a buffet. Bea's interior was modern and dark with subtle feminine notes. Yeah, um. That's all I really have to say about that. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Being the piggies--I mean good Yelpers--that we are, Lizzie and I went back for a cheese and herb scone. A pitch-perfect cheese and herb scone. Crumbly yet soft, delicious and totally nom-able: I put some leftovers in my bag to have as a heavenly mid-morning snack at my desk. Scone-alicious! I drank some JING English Breakfast tea, which I was pretty stoked for, having just heard about JING via the Yelp Talk boards yesterday. Sorry to say, I wasn't particularly blown away by the tea, but that could just be down to unnecessarily high expectations. Had I not just researched JING tea online the day before and had been expecting it to be the kind of tea that Jesus serves to Jane Austen at the Big Tea House in the Sky, I probably would have happily gluggled my pot from Bea's this morning and said, 'Mmm, tea, caffeine, more please!' But, there you have it. I do have to say: the rotating lunch menu which is available to view online looks AMAZING. I may just have to pop up here for a takeaway lunch sometime soon. -
Larissa’s 5-star review: Love it. Yumtea. It has all the elements necessary to keep me coming back again and again. For easy reference, I will list them. 1) £2 pots of tea. Since you can get more than one cup from the pot, this price doesn't automatically make me recoil in price-markup horror. 2) Real tea service. 3) Loads of different teas to keep me coming back for more. 4) Loads of different teas in little cups on the counter for my olfactory pleasure and to help in the difficult task of decision making. 5) Baked goods. Tasty ones. Let me just say, lemon drizzle cake heaven. 6) A pretty roomy seating area during off-peak hours. 7) Free wifi. 8) Kitschy exposed brick, shabby-chic decor. (Yeah, I admit it fills me with joy.) -
Larissa’s 4-star review: I like big buns, and I cannot lie. Scandinavian Kitchen had buns of a cinnamon variety a-plenty. And they flirted with me from their prominent place on the counter that I just had to have one*. My eyes may have glazed over as I ate it. Overall, I was impressed with the space, atmosphere and service here. The café was cool without being Fizrovia-trendy. Sure, the flat white I got wasn't even in the same playing field as the one I'd've got at Kaffeine just down the road.** But I wasn't here for coffee. The grocery area at the back had a pretty impressively Scandinavian spread of items and not just in the 'I got meatballs from Ikea!' way. I was a fan. Buns. ______________________________________________ * I left the 'stud muffin' ordering to my male companion. It was pretty damn tasty. ** I went to Kaffeine later... -
Larissa’s 4-star review: So I'm a little bit older and a little bit more affluent and have realised that Borough Market is absolutely amazing. But only from 9am to 9:30am on Saturday. Any other time - manic. -
Larissa’s 5-star review: I really like tea. I really like tea in pots. I really like tea in pots poured into teacups. I really like tea in pots poured into teacups sitting on tea saucers. I really like tea in pots poured into teacups sitting on tea saucers that are consumed whilst perched atop a robin's-egg blue velour settee, with cake. Finally, I really like it when I drink so much tea that I've had to visit the loo at least three times yet when the bill comes I am only asked to pay £1.50. -
Larissa’s 5-star review: What do you get when you combine: A small, simply and inexpensively decorated shop + Skillfully roasted and brewed coffee + An impossibly friendly and outgoing Turkish shop keeper + Big wicker chairs that look like they belong in a conservatory + The possibility of free samples of cake? __________ Larissa's highest praise. -
Larissa’s 3-star review: Totally legit challah. I can't help but think Beigel Bake is better, though. This is for no reason in particular, I assure you. With two nearly identical old-school bakeries selling nearly identical things within two shopfronts of each other, you've just gotta pick one or the other and pledge your unwavering custom to it. I picked Beigel Bake. For the record, I didn't buy the aforementioned challah, so my conscience is clear. Also, bacon goes surprisingly well between two buttered slices of this delicious, Jewish loaf. Go figure. -
Larissa’s 3-star review: Macbooks. A sea of Macbooks. Come here on a weekday evening and find an army of 20-somethings, faces aglow from behind their individual Macbooks, surfing the interwebs on the Albion's free wifi. Other than that: The food was mediocre. And overpriced. The service was abominable. Aloof, inefficient and unconcerned. The clientele was way too cool for me. (And I'm pretty cool. Ahem.) The Meantime Pale Ale I ordered was delicious. Once I sent back the Porter the server brought me mistakenly. But the fresh, free homemade bread was divine. And accompanied by the soft butter on the table - Perfection. -
Larissa’s 3-star review: Hm. THE CONCEPT? Five stars. -I love the toasters on every table and the DIY all-you-can-eat toast buffet. -The coffee beans are roasted onsite (apparently); my first americano was delicious. THE EXECUTION? Two stars. -The toaster on my table was a bit naff, and due to the communal nature of it I ended up launching a neighbouring diner's toast into someone else's lap whilst trying to free my own (burning) slices from the toaster's vice-like grip. -The homemade baked beans were gross. Just... gross. That's all I have to say about that. -The spreads for the toast were store bought (peanut butter, jam, nutella). I would have liked to have seen some homemade jam and/or nut butters. Furthermore, if Breads etcetera has nothing against Sunpat peanut butter, why not just serve me Heinz Baked Beans? (see point regarding failure of excecution above.) -Despite everything else being communal (tables, spreads, breads, bread knives), the butter was individually packaged. Waste of resources, like whoa. Just put a tub of butter on the table, and call it a day! -The bread was merely average, even bordering on below average. Many loaves from which to choose were burnt on the top. None of the bread was marked so as to tell diners what they were about to get themselves into. One loaf I sliced from was gooey on the inside with some sort of savoury (but not at all savoury tasting, if you get what I mean) stickiness that, I'll be honest, grossed me the fuck out. I have no guesses as to what THAT loaf was supposed to be. -My second americano was bitter. I might return. But, then again, I might not. That's how I feel about this place. -
Larissa’s 3-star review: I like tea and cakes for tea-and-cake time. As I stepped into Primrose Bakery, the heady smell of vanilla enveloped me, welcoming me into its folds. The display of cupcakes was still large and enticing even in the middle of afternoon. Cupcakes of all sizes and colours beckoned me, willing me to eat them. Between two ravenous cupcake eaters, no fewer than three cupcakes and a pot of earl grey would do. While we ate nearly all of the cupcakes in our hoard, they were a bit unpredictable. And I have to say that two of the three weren't entirely satisfying: the Chocolate Banana Cupcake had a delicious banana-bready cake but the icing was a bit too creamy and naff; on the other hand, the Coconut Lime Cupcake had a wonderfully whippy icing but its cake was dry. As promised, the Carrot Cake Cupcake was the Queen of Cakes, taking home the prize of being eaten in its entirety, with abandon. The shop itself is ADORABLE. It's small, though, so if you snag a seat, you should feel lucky. Will I return? Of course. The only other cupcake options in Covent Garden are of the Candy Cake variety. And everyone knows those aren't REAL cupcakes. I mean, wtf hard icing? Yeah, Primrose Bakery, you have earned my custom. Just work on your consistency. Keep your cakes moist and your icings fluffy and delicious. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: Stopped in on my way into the Tube after a sneaky indulgent Whole Foods shopping spree because I recollected the raving reviews about Ben's cookie fame here on Yelp. The Dark Chocolate Chunk cookie was undercooked and tasted rather bland. Nothing but the chunks of chocolate stood out about that cookie. And if I wanted chocolate chunks, I would have bought a chocolate bar. Did I catch them on an off day or are my tastebuds out of tune with what is considered cookie perfection? Between two adults, one Ben's cookie went unfinished. That should say something. EDIT: Gluttony eventually got the best of me, and I finished the cookie. Begrudgingly. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: £4.10: what you'll pay for a dry and generally tasteless chocolate torte to take away. Um, no.
-
Larissa’s 2-star review: Colour me unimpressed by a Twinings teabag chucked into a coffee mug. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: The one time I got a cupcake from Buttercup, it was stale. Not stale like, I'm being picky, stale. Stale like, it shouldn't have been sold because it had obviously been baked a long time ago, stale. And it was expensive, too. Considering the fact that I'm buying a cupcake that I must eat whilst walking around the mall due to Buttercup's kiosk location inside Westfield, you'd think these cupcakes would cost a bit less than they would in a shop in which you sit down and eat them, thus consuming the shop's energy and requiring staff members' time to potentially clear up after you. But, no. I was thoroughly unimpressed. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: I was met at the table outside by a man who I can only assume was Papa Gustibus. A chatty old chap. Papa: Hello, my dear. What can I get you? Me: I'd like some hot cross buns, please. Papa: [packaging buns] And how are you today? Me: Pretty good, actually. And you? Papa: Getting better. Was a bit rough earlier. Me: ...oh yeah? Papa: You American girls, you're trouble. Just last night, you insisted on taking me out to the pub down there [pointing] and getting me drunk. Me: Sounds about right. _______________________________________________ While this exchange made me smile on the warm and sunny Good Friday morning of my visit, the buns - sadly - did not. They were dry and underwhelming despite being 'fresh from the oven', according to Papa Gustibus. A failure in the eyes of Jesus and baked goods. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: I do enjoy a good bakery in the morning, but, mouais. J'ai connu mieux. Typically French coffee (bad). Properly average food. Pretty out-of-the-way location. Poorly ventilated dining area. The pastries looked nice (too bad I didn't order any of them) and the service was friendly and hospitable. But, yeah, I've had better. -
Larissa’s 2-star review: I've never had a Ben's Cookie and thought OMG DELICIOUS COOKIES MOOAAARR COOOKKIIIEES!! like everyone else seems to. In fact, I've always thought*, 'This cookie makes me sad', which isn't really what you want when you're eating expensive cookies. I once even bought a box of cookies for my colleagues and we all stood around in a little awkward circle back in the office eating Ben's Cookies after lunch, and they were all like FUCK YEAH COOKIES!!! and I was all like 'meh'. Maybe it's me. But, I mean, cookies from Subway are 597 times better, people! And they're 3 for £1, not nearly £1 per cookie. Truefax. _______________________________________________ *I've thought this at least 3 times. Yes, I've given Ben 3 chances to win me over with his baked goods. 3 strikes and you're out, my friend. -
Larissa’s 5-star review: Mrs Marengo's is a tiny vegetarian cafe that serves up huge flavours. I got the vegetarian burger of the day with a side of sweet chips. I also ordered a slice of gluten-free chocolate raspberry cake for dessert, so ravenous I was at the time I ordered everything. After two bites, one from the totally nom-able burger and one from the tender-yet-crispy sweet chips, I was in vegetarian nirvana. I tried my best to polish off the massive lunch plate, and it soon became apparent that dessert was going to be a wash out. I had to have the cake boxed up to take away, head hung in shame, a failure at luncheoning.
