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.

CakeMyDayLondon Rating