Nunhead SE15 3AF
https://www.facebook.com/TheDishandtheSpoon
Twitter: @DishSE15
Cafes like The Dish and the Spoon frustrate me. It has so much untapped potential, and would require little effort to elevate it from an "OK place to take your kids" to "Wow! What a fantastic place to hang out".
If I were a teacher (which I'm not) I'd give this cafe a C. Must try harder.
Starting with its positives, it has a nice shop front. Can't complain about its street appeal.
The cafe has loads of space, so you don't feel as if you've been crammed into a pokey closet. A counter stretches across the front window where you can sit and enjoy the sun, which is fantastic when it's too chilly for outside dining.
The food counter is not unattractive, and they have a small but sufficient selection of cakes. I chose the carrot cake, it was very good. Ben selected a banana loaf, which was served toasted with butter and jam. Can't complain.
Now for the disappointing stuff.
It's all well and good to have a huge cafe space, but don't waste it by not having enough seating. Go to a local salvage shop, by some recycled pieces and double your capacity!
The decor... I barely noticed it, other than to notice that there wasn't a lot to notice. It's boring and safe. Nothing to inspire or set this place apart. I'd love for the owner to put more of her personal stamp on it. Something. Anything. A small caveat - avoid the kiddy theme unless you want this to be a kiddy cafe (oops... I think this is what they are aiming for!).
No music... no atmosphere, unless you count the sound of children squalling. Get thee a sound system!
Service... teach your staff that plonking down plates and cups unceremoniously in front customers is just rude.
Ben declared the coffee "average", and said he wouldn't go back.
And finally...
Have you ever been to someone's house, been offered a drink, and then seen the dirty state of their cups, complete with built up brown residue courtesy of the generations of people who have come before you and sipped from the same cup?
Let's face it, we've all been there And we've all politely declined the drink, remembered an urgent errand and make our getaway.
So to cut to the chase... boring white mug plonked down. Not entirely clean on the outside. Drank my tea. Observed interior of the mug. Felt sick.
Mugs are not expensive to replace. If you can't afford to replace your dirty kitchen ware, then bleach it. Buy a bucket, fill it with warm water, add bleach, add cups & plates, soak overnight, put through the dishwasher.
Simples!
CakeMyDayLondon Rating
