The London Particular (SE14 6LA)

399 New Cross Rd, London, Greater London SE14 6LA

http://www.thelondonparticular.co.uk/

I struggled with this review, mostly due to lack of cake sampling content.

No-one can deny the popularity of this place. My husband’s cycling “crew” meet up here for pre- or post- rides. It always gets great write-ups. People say the coffee is great. Really great.

The problem for me is that I like to sleep in on weekends. While Ben will get up at the crack of dawn to go for a 4-hour 120 km ride on Saturday and Sunday mornings, I usually prefer to spend these mornings asleep in bed. 

Some days I’ve been known to sleep in past 11am, by which time Ben has already been out for his ride and come home. He knows not to wake me… I’m not a morning person. I’m not a night person either. I like to think of myself as more of a middle-of-the-day person.

So what on earth does this have to do with The London Particular?

Well, as I stated above, the London Particular is popular. Ergo, their cakes sell out early. So by the time I visit (in the early afternoon) most of their cakes are gone, leaving only a few sad loafy things.

I thought I should leave a piece for the other dinner guests to share. 

So it was with pleasure that I attended a birthday dinner party recently at the London Particular. 

For dessert they baked an upside down plum cake (a special request), which came served with bowls of warm custard. The cake was utterly sublime. The addition of custard transported me to gustatory heaven. 

The setting was helped by a few glasses of wine and some cocktails thrown into the mix. And great company of course.

I therefore resolve to set the alarm clock one Saturday morning in the near future for an early(ish) rise. The prospect of cake may be all the motivation I need.

As they say, the early bird catches the cake. 

CakeMyDayLondon Rating

Franze & Evans take two (E2 7DL)

101 Redchurch St, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, E2 7DL
http://www.franzeevans.com/

Further to a previous post (http://cakemydaylondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/franze-evans-e2-7dl.html) I went back to Franze & Evans to get a better cake photo. Truth be told, I went back to have more cake and the "better photo" excuse is just that... an excuse. 

This time the day was sunny, an unexpected bonus for early October. The cafe was just as packed as on my last visit. I walked around the block, hoping that a table would become free on my return. 

During my walk I did scope out some potential cafes to visit next time I'm in the area, so all was not in vain.

This cake has the ideal cake:icing ratio - ie: a lot of icing. 

My persistence paid off. On returning to the cafe, while I was standing at the counter debating whether to have cake to take-away and sod the niceties of a sit-down afternoon tea, a table did free up. I pounced on it with the eagerness of a lion bringing down a gazelle. I am woman, hear me roar.

Being a lone diner on this occasion, and given the queue, I had to share my table with a rather amorous couple where the lady in question laughed like a hyena.

Fortunately the lemon & courgette cake transported me to my happy place, rendering hyena lady a little less annoying.

I've upgraded my initial rating to an 8/10 following this second visit, as there were a lot more cakes on display than I noticed last time.

So many more that I will have to return for a third or even fourth sampling.

CakeMyDayLondon Rating

Climpson & Sons (E8 4PH)

67 Broadway Market, London, Greater London E8 4PH
http://www.climpsonandsons.com/

As I've said before, I don't drink coffee. 

And since Climpson & Sons don't really do cake (other than a few brownies and slices which don't count in my book), why have I included them on this blog?

Two reasons:

1. I really like the photo I took and felt compelled to share it. 

2. According to Ben they do "bloody good coffee". 

The End. 

Loafing (E9 7HJ)

79 Lauriston Rd, London, Greater London E9 7HJ
http://www.loafing.co.uk/

This is the quintessential cake cafe and no self-respecting cafe reviewer would leave this place off their list of places to review. And since I definitely respect myself... 

Loafing has many points in its favour. It's cosy. It's busy. It's rustic. It's cute. It has lots of cakes... a veritable plethora of them enticingly arrayed in the window to tempt passers-by. Prices are reasonable. 

The toilet has lovely smelling handwash and moisturiser. 

There is seating out the front, inside and in a small internal courtyard out the back. Yet even so, finding an unoccupied table often proves a challenge. It's hugely popular...deservedly so. 

So is there anything to complain about? A few minor points... nothing to do with the cakes however. 

I don't like self-serve cutlery housed in over-sized drinking glasses on tables. Smacks of a burger joint, and this cafe should elevate itself above that. 

The seat at the end of the counter next to the wash basin is to be avoided at all costs unless you enjoy getting water dripped down your back while dining. 

But I don't want to end this review on a bad note, because it's a fantastic place and other cafe owners would do well to take a loaf leaf out of Loafing's book. 

CakeMyDayLondon Rating

St David Coffee House (SE23 3EP)

5 David's Rd, London, Greater London SE23 3EP
http://www.stdavidcoffeehouse.co.uk/

While running some errands in the Forest Hill area, Ben and I decided to visit St David Coffee House. It’s the café that comes up most often when searching the internet for “Forest Hill café”, so it seemed the most logical place to go. Low hanging fruit right?

This has to be located in one of the noisiest locations we’ve yet been to, alongside a main road heaving with traffic. Yet once inside the door I forgot all about the cacophony outside.

This café is such a great find. It’s quirky, with mismatched chairs and old mirrors on the walls, and also features modern artwork for sale. It’s a little like sitting in an upmarket junk shop.

Our table had its very own wind-up toy robot, so what’s not to like?

The interior is really cosy, so perfect for cold wintry days. There is also seating on the terrace outside the front if you’re in need of fresh air.

Service was a little on the clunky “slam down your plate” side, and the toilet is located in the middle of the kitchen, but these are relatively minor gripes all things considered. The staff were a friendly and relaxed bunch.

The cake selection, though limited, was scrumptious and my tea was served in a boxy, angular tea-pot, just the way I like it. Or not. I mean, the flavour of tea is indifferent to the shape of its vessel, isn’t it? 

But still, I did like the teapot. And the robot. And the cake. And the cafe.

CakeMyDayLondon Rating