Canteen
2 Crispin Place
Spitalfields
E1 6DW
0845 686 1122
www.canteen.co.uk
by Cathy Latte
On certain Monday Mornings, when the week stretches ahead like an assault course from Takehashi’s Castle, a breakfast that’s anything short of exceptional could prove disastrous. So it was with dry mouths and racing hearts that Malcolm Eggs and myself took a gamble on the highly praised Canteen restaurant, which recently opened and sits between idiosyncratic Old Spitalfields Market and modern, city-facing Bishops Square. If Hopper were to have painted ‘Nighthawks’ in 2005, albeit against a backdrop of an East London shopping development, then it would have looked like Canteen. Floor-to-ceiling goldfish-bowl windows lined with fuzzyfelt green booths plus central communal bench seating makes the place look lifted straight from the pages of Wallpaper magazine.
On arrival we were greeted with luminous smiles from achingly attractive staff. We plumped for crumpets and marmalade, Cumberland sausage and roast onion sandwich, two pots of tea each and – as a cavalier extra – fresh ginger, carrot and apple juices.
Malcolm is very particular about his crumpets and to his relief the ones served here were suitably firm and the accompanying marmalade homemade. As for the sandwich, the natural-skinned sausages were translucent and succulent and the onions were plentiful, all served aloft a tasty toasted loaf. For all day breakfast lovers and those with a propensity for rising late there’s good news in the fact that breakfast is served from morning until close. But if the late rising is a symptom of studenthood or unemployment, there’s bad news in the form of the price. Our modest little breakfast (inc.12.5% service) cost £23! As we rummaged reluctantly for our credit cards we noted over furrowed brows that whilst super it was a breakfast most definitely reserved for the start of the month.
3 comments:
However do not on any account order the eggs, bacon and bubble here. The bacon is fine and the bubble maybe passable (though clearly not made from day-old stuff as it should be - too crunchy) but the eggs were an abomination.
They 'fried' the eggs in one of those little round mould things so they were thick and solid and totally devoid of egg-ness. Kind of like those 'eggs' that McDonalds puts in an Egg McMuffin.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and they should be ashamed.
Pam au Chocolat
On our second visit to Canteen the staff were so rude that we will not be going back there again. They were totally inattentive - we had to ask to order our food (and made to feel like we were asking for something outrageous) and then twice for our bill. The staff were surly to the point of sarcasm and the food was disappointing - the previous comment about the state of the eggs was true of our experience too. Really disappointing as our previous visit was fairly decent. I will be recommending to friends that they give this one a miss and go to St Johns Bread and Wine around the corner if they want an enjoyable dining experience.
I've experienced really lazy, rude service her as well. Walked in, looked at like dirt and ignored while the staff chatted amongst themsleves... (We just left)
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