London’s Greatest Greasy Spoons
Come back with me if you will to the days before Pret a Manger, Costa, Eat, way back to the days of Simon’s Basement and real London; days before the real sandwich bars, usually run by charming Italians and serving the best ever bacon sandwiches got slaughtered by the relentless rise of private equity and that strange white sludge now mandated in all corporate sandwiches. Remember Sidoli’s or Sheila when she owned it in Lancaster Mews? Ok so she wasn’t Italian but you get the idea. They didn’t have websites then, and they don’t now.
Sheila’s Cafe (chris parkinson)
Anyhoo (I hate that expression) do yourselves a favor. Eschew the corporate. Seek out the independent cafe, the purveyor of true London joy! Help them fight the interminable battle of rent, rates, tax, employment headaches, utility costs, ever rising bacon prices …
‘OK, we get it,’ I hear you cry, ‘but where should we go?’
Glad you asked.
You could do worse than Franks (probably Franco in truth but the Brits were funny about foreign sounding names in those days – we’re fine now). It’s in Great Titchfield Street where it’s been for a million years.
Franks – Great Titchfield St (chris parkinson)
Walk down from Great Portland Street tube (or up from Oxford Circus) and you’ll be in a land of restaurants and cafes that most guides ignore. No idea why. Nice white bread bacon sandwich and loads of other good homemade Italian food. Good on a budget.
Talking of good food on a budget, if you’re in Kentish Town (Kentish Town tube) pop into Troy’s afe. Yes, it’s falling down but inside you’ll find super friendly people, surprising fresh stuff like freshly squeezed orange juice, fab bacon sandwiches, fryups and even (sadly) healthy options.
Troys – Kentish Town (chris parkinson)
And look! You can sit outside! In a quiet side street. What’s not to like?
Full English Breakfast (chris parkinson)
Over in Lancaster Gate there’s a rather entrepreneurial approach to the spoon. This guy does the obvious mix of dry cleaning and food. Of course he does. And he has an Elvis Bistro. So what. We’ve all gotta try and make a living.
Lancaster Deli (chris parkinson)
more soon – I have my health to think of.
In the meantime why not check out The Best (mainly fabulous) FREE things to do in London