Café Lemon
28 Grand Parade
Green Lanes
Harringay
N4
020 8800 2396
by Morcilla Black
Ah, Green Lanes — the Med of the North, with its tantalising east-meets-west frisson of gilt, chrome, novelty fountains and “ram’s reproductive organ” openly available in its healthily competitive restaurants.
But what was this I could see? A surprisingly spacious - dare I say ‘modern’ - café. What’s more, it was in the heart of Green Lanes’ best foodie drag, the stretch calling itself Grand Parade, if you don’t mind.
Breakfast starts from just £3.30 (eggs and toast and I can’t remember what else), although the abstract-expressionist mural along one wall might put the tired and emotional off their prairie oyster, deflecting their eye instead towards the sepia archive prints of Ye Olde Harringay opposite.
While my dining companion plumped for a mushroom/egg/toast combo of her own devising, I opted for the more completist ‘Full Lemon’ which, for £4.20, contained no citrus fruits of any description, but did promise all you really need on the plate plus a tea or (instant) coffee. The bacon was crisp, cooked on both sides, with nary a trace of rind. The sausage was only so-so, but the beans were piping hot, the fresh vine tomato grilled to perfection and the toast served on a side plate, to do with as you would.
Best of all was the black pudding: thinnish, peppery slices of the larger, 5cm-ish diameter sort, satisfyingly seared on both sides, and mercifully free of white, gristly lumps of dubious provenance. This left me in sanguine spirits and I was mollified further still by the discreetly-volumed background warblings of Tarkan, the renowned Turkish/German singing sensation.
With more places like this, and a little self-delusion, perhaps Green Lanes might one day approach the self-consciously chi-chi ambience of nearby Crouch End. Although possibly not in our lifetimes.
14 comments:
Big problems with Cafe Lemon is the disgusting way that they deep fry the pre-cooked, awfully cheap sausages. They're deep fried, then left to go cold, then deep fried again when someone orders a dish with a sausage. This is not unique to Cafe Lemon. Most cafes do it along Green Lanes, however you can generally ask for sausages to be grilled. However, Cafe Lemon's ridiculously strict policy on changes to the set breakfasts, and even requests to have sausages grilled, are met with grumpiness and exhorbitant charges. Many people complain about the waitress who works there. Nice place, shame about the service. And deep fried sausages are just disgusting.
Hi The person who aleft a comment above is goes one cafe to other cafe to complain to get a free meal. I heard he went to Cafe Lemon and try to make same trick but left empty handed so he is writing bad things about a Best Cafe in haringey. Don't belive me or him go and try yourself. I love this cafe.
Cafe Lemon, Green Lanes , getting to know you and make you feel at home...the food is fab and great value for money!! As a single woman in Haringey it is great to walk into a coffee bar where the surroundings are nice, and you dont feel as if you are ogled by the local male predators!!! Also really love the pictures / photo of old Haringey that are displayed on the wall......
I'd forgotten Cafe Lemon. Thanks for mentioning it, as it's a nice spot for a breakfast, and the food's pretty good.
because they were very cynical about their customers, to the point where things like this happen in McDonalds restaurants all over the world. Just don't go there. Go to Cafe Lemon
I can vouch for the coffee 100% (If I tell you that I don't do Starbucks, but enjoy Cafe Nero, that'll tell you something about my tastes in coffee). The place is actually remarkable. It was set up two years ago in the premises of the longest living cafe in Harringay. The two partners, Irfan and Cem set the cafe up with a mission to blend East and West. The decoration is modern, clean and in general succesfully executed - a local artist painted a wonderful mural along one wall. See Meet the local page for more. Two of our members wrote the following in one of the forum posts: "Cafe lemon is such a gem. Its stir fries are particularly tasty and plentiful, and everything is so cheap" "I can definitely recommend Cafe Lemon -- one of the best all-day breakfasts on the Lanes"
Proper breakfasts on offer with some good juices on offer.
A great way to deal with a hangover.
You can get it all for less than 6 quid, so if you've wazzed all your cash up the wall the night before you can probably still scrape enough together to sort yourself out.
I'm fussy about my coffee and don't usually buy it "out". When I started working in Haringey a bit over a year ago i was introduced to Cafe Lemon. As well as doing a decent veggie breakfast, fresh juices and a range of teas the cafe produces the perfect cup of coffee. I'm hooked!
Excellent local cafe with a twist. This cafe is a cut above with an astonishingly varied menu covering fried breakfasts, lunches, dinners, smoothies, herbal teas, croissants and more. The prices are fair and portions big. Clean, bright yet comfortable this the perfect place to get over that hangover!
I’ve been to Cafe Lemon a few times now for coffee with friends, and lunch with loved ones. Every time I’ve been it’s been a really nice experience. It’s so good to have somewhere local you can go for a good tea/coffee and tasty luncheon all at an affordable price.
The last time I was there was with my Mum for lunch and between us we had tomato soup and salmon burgers. The salmon burgers are worth a mention in their own right - the salmon was really fresh and served in a delicious bun. All in all, a great place just to hang-out on your own or with friends - either way you’ll be welcomed and have a very pleasant time!
I’ve been to Cafe Lemon a few times now for coffee with friends, and lunch with loved ones. Every time I’ve been it’s been a really nice experience. It’s so good to have somewhere local you can go for a good tea/coffee and tasty luncheon all at an affordable price.
The last time I was there was with my Mum for lunch and between us we had tomato soup and salmon burgers. The salmon burgers are worth a mention in their own right - the salmon was really fresh and served in a delicious bun. All in all, a great place just to hang-out on your own or with friends - either way you’ll be welcomed and have a very pleasant time!
What's going on? Who are you all? Why are you all leaving positive comments about this cafe at exactly the same time? Explain yourselves (or should I say yourself?)!
hello! I'm new in town and moved here not long from Singapore and can only say that among the long stretches of food places on green lanes, Cafe Lemon is the one I like best and the place I would choose to hangout comfortably. won't go that far to say every item on the menu tastes brilliant, there are strengths and weaknesses of course but mostly good decent food, drinks smoothies coffees are of good quality and its clean and friendly environment is very welcoming. Prices are reasonable, service good. Wish they allow payment by card though. But otherwise, all good, and i just noticed that they offer free wi-fi too? Will try that on my next visit.
Lastly.. I am not paid by Cafe Lemon, nor a paid employee or the boss of Cafe Lemon. Just a satisfied customer ----- in case my 90% praises comment raises suspicion from some cynics who find issues with views and comments shared generously by other individuals. Cheerios Cafe Lemon!!
cafe lemon is the best !!!!
we go there every day
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