Well it’s been a few weeks and we have managed to get ‘Out and About’ to find some more Coffee Shops to sample and give you our ratings of their brews, so here are a few more for the list – or the Map…
Ginger – Green Lanes
We have been trying to find new places to try since we have been frequenting all the same old stores over the last few months, this is one shop we have passed a number of times but never tried, it looks nice inside with the Turkish Decor or evil eyes and paintings, there is a decent selection of groceries and a lot of seating,
We didn’t stay we just ordered a pair of Iced Oat Mochas to go and the proprietor seemed nice and chatted as he brewed, but then he started to do weird things, he filled the cup with way too much ice and poured in a lot of Oat Milk, then he poured in some green liqueur. Seeing Ash’s puzzled face he showed him the bottle of Dubai White Chocolate Liqueur, this turned the coffee green, then he added a large shot of Espresso. Ash took the drinks and presented the strange drink to Bob outside and she questioned. ‘What is it?” There really was only one answer to this…
Apart from the strange colour, well it’s erm… OH MY FUCKING LORD WAS IT SWEET!!! No seriously it was so sweet Hansel and Gretel would have had a hard time consuming it! It was worse than drinking a sugar water (Sugar and Water in equal parts). This was 6 parts sugar to 1 part liquid.
The De Beauvoir Deli co– Southgate Road
We have reviewed the DBD before a couple of years back, but since then, the deli has taken over this part of the road, there are now four shops on either side of the road, not just a Deli, but a Grocers, Restaurant and a Sandwich Shop, during the summer months the queue outside during lunch can get about 50m long and if you aren’t early they will sell out of everything.
We ordered the usual in Iced version on a Hot Monday a few weeks back and waited a few minutes, while we waited among the trendies what for their Avocado and Pesto Bagels, we were given free Biscuits and quickly enough handed our drinks.
We took them and jumped on a bus to sip and travel. The drinks were actually a decent size – see, it is possible to get good size coffee in Islington/Hackney, despite the rumours to the contrary! The Mochas were good, refreshing and just right.
The only real issue is the pretentious nature of most of the clientele, The North side of the road is filled with Birkenstocks and wooly Socks along with the bikes with giant boxes on the front, filled with children too old to be carried and the holier than thou attitude you have to suffer to get a ‘Normal Coffee’ rather than a Turmeric and Carrot Latte (Yes they really do sell that).
Usagi Anime Maid Cafe – Bloomsbury
While we were travelling around Korea and then Japan, Ash really wanted to visit one of the Maid Cafés – For book Research you understand! – We went and it was an odd experience, a bit uncomfortable, being as on a Friday evening it was only populated by middle aged single men, asking dirty questions of the maid, trying to make them blush. But there has been a Maid Cafe in London for about two years and recently Ash was early for DnD on a Wednesday, so he headed in to Bloomsbury to see if this one was any better.
And in a word – yes!- it is. As one of the serving Maids explained having a common language and an understanding of what Westerners expect from the café makes for a fun and less uncomfortable experience. The cafe in Little Russell Street is filled with cuteness, maid uniforms and Anime characters, all decorated in Pinks and yellows and little curtains.
It was busy on the Wednesday afternoon, a family of Tourists, a pair of male students there for a Birthday Coffee and play a few board games, a Mum and Daughter (who was as Anime and Cutely dressed as the Staff) and Ash. The Baristas, offer a menu and it has everything their Japanese counterpart offer, from Magic Drinks to Smiley Face Omelettes! Ash opted for a Golden Sprinkle Latte (sounds dodgy) but really should have gone for the Magical Fairy Fruit drink, it looked delicious and comes with its own spell that is cast by the anime serving girl!
Overall it is still a little kitch andodd, but it’s cute and the serving Maids are so happy and enjoy their jobs and know it’s a bit silly! The drink was a little bit small and was only a Latte but the golden sprinkles made it different and it was really nice.
We have to go back and try the magic multi coloured Fruit Drink and get Bob to go (without prejudice) and that’s the best review we can give it, it will go out the Coffee Map under Returnable for sure!
Well there we go a few more Coffee Shops for you to look out for and try yourselves, have you tried these, what is your take on them, comments are always welcome! And we will be back again real soon with something else!
Climbing Moss 