Aneto Café (SE22 9AX)

58 East Dulwich Road
Dulwich SE22 9AX
http://anetocafe.com/

We’ve driven past Aneto Café many times, and finally decided to visit.

I was surprised at how quiet it was inside, as usually it seems to be jam packed every time we drive past; perhaps everyone was out doing their Christmas shopping.
 

Service picked up as we were leaving, but during our visit there were only a couple of other diners in the café. I don’t know if it was for this reason that I really noticed the staff. 

There were 4 people behind the counter, one of whom was relentlessly pacing back and forth, going outside, coming back inside, going outside again, pacing, pacing, pacing, unpacking boxes, pacing some more. Overall I found his bustling a little unsettling and not that relaxing. 

The waitress who served us was a little odd – reserved and quiet, she barely spoke to us when taking our order. Service was very quick (which was to be expected given that there were hardly any customers).

The décor inside is very simple, with a counter along one wall. I thought the interior lacked impact and character compared to the pretty street frontage. I would have liked to see less clutter and mess behind the counter, and some more decorative touches around the café. 

The cakes, however, were excellent. I had an individual mini carrot cakes, which was delicious. Ben’s banana loaf (while untoasted), was dense and moist. His flat white was given the thumbs up, and my pot of tea was so generous that after two full cups Ben ended up with a third cup for himself.

 

Overall I was left feeling neutral about Aneto Café. There is some fierce competition around these parts in terms of cafes, and I wouldn’t rush to go back. It’s a "good" option if you’re in the area, but I think there are better places close by that offer a richer experience.

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The Vintage Empire (CT6 5LE)

104 High Street
Herne Bay CT6 5LE
https://www.facebook.com/TheVintageEmpire

This is a charming 40s themed café located on the High Street of the delightful seaside town of Herne Bay. I do love themed cafes, provided they are done well, which this is. 

The décor and ambience are harmoniously consistent, with crooning 40s jazz playing on the stereo , bold floral wallpaper and crocheted blankets draped over cosy armchairs. We were transported back in time to another era, and I imagine this what the living room of many people’s grandparents looked like during those days. 

I appreciated the subtle touches such as the 1943 “Ration Book” cover on the menu, photos of Winston Churchill over the mantelpiece and old newspapers on the tables.

The cake options were limited, as we’d arrived late in the afternoon and they’d had a busy day. I had the Victoria Sponge and Ben selected a brownie. 

I’m not a huge fan of Victoria Sponge; to me it’s a cake that generally lacks moisture, and there’s something unappealing about layers of raspberry jam. I think Vintage Empire did a reasonable job with it, but the brownie was better.

I loved the ornate gold teapot, and the loose leaf tea was very good. Ben was surprised that the coffee was better than he’d expected it to be, although he was not a fan of the clear Perspex cup and saucer as he always feels this looks a bit cheap. 

The staff here are lovely and extremely friendly. It’s a popular place, with a steady stream of customers, many of whom are happy to chat with the waitresses. We overheard them saying that they planned to open the garden courtyard in summer 2015, which I’m confident will be a hit on sunny days.
 

The Vintage Empire seems to be “the place to be” in Herne Bay, and I’m looking forward to coming back in the new year. I’d better remember to bring my bathing costume.

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Café G (SE22 9QA)

184 Peckham Rye

SE22 9QA 

Café G sits opposite the lovely Peckham Rye Common, where the former café/bakery “The Gardens” used to be. The rear section of The Gardens was always a bit dark and dingy, and the new owners have done a good job with reviving the large floor space, opening it up inside to bring in more light, making the most of the huge windows along the front and side of the café.

There is abundant seating space in the courtyard at the front of the café, which has the added bonus of being a bit of a sun trap as well as enjoying views over the common. 

They’ve gone with an orange theme (orange awning, orange lights, orange table legs), which gives it a light and fresh feel. I own a very nice orange Vivien Westwood handbag, and I also have orange wallpaper in my spare room, so I’m rather  a fan of the colour (but I’m not obsessive or anything… not really).

Inside, the café has a semi-industrial feel, with chunky, rough wooden tables complemented by metal chairs. Along the front is a tempting display of treats – pastries, cakes and slices, with a long bar down the interior side wall.

I ordered a slice of the red velvet cake, while Ben had a slice of banana loaf (he seems to be developing a “thing” for banana loaf these days). Disappointingly they did not offer to toast his loaf (note - this is not a euphemism). 

I was surprised by the icing on my cake, as it was more akin to fresh cream that traditional butter cream icing. I quite liked it, as it’s always nice to have something different. My tea (served in a large orange teapot) was a generous serving. Ben enjoyed his coffee.

The only drawback for me was the number of children and babies … this is a very family-friendly café in a popular family area, with lots of inside space to accommodate pushchairs. Of course, if you do have a family, this is a bonus. 

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Tea on the Green (CM3 4QF)

3 Eves Corner, Danbury CM3 4QF

Overlooking the village green, this is a bustling little tea room that caters for large afternoon tea parties; on our first attempt to visit we were unable to get a seat because it was fully booked out, so had to return another day.

The interior is somewhat old fashioned, with floral table cloths and turned wood chairs. There is an impressive selection of tea pots on display along one wall, and framed certificates of awards the café has won from The Tea Guild (http://www.tea.co.uk/news/2013-tea-guild-awards-of-excellence). 

However, the overall ambiance is a little flat and too “old lady” for my tastes.

Even late in the afternoon we were still able to choose from a good selection of cakes (I selected carrot cake and Ben had a ginger slice). Both were satisfying – tasty and well made. 

Generous servings of tea made for a pleasant afternoon affair, although we had limited time for our visit, arriving 30 minutes before closing time.

Tea on the Green is a quaint, sweet local, but not somewhere I’d go out of my way to revisit. 

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