Northfield
Avenue is abundant with independent cafes, but one thing that really
sets Papillon apart is, as the name suggests, its French-ness. Although
slightly more expensive than the average greasy-spoon, you do get what
you pay for, as the atmosphere is friendly and the food is excellent.
The small cafe is extremeley appealing as the decor is bright and
airy, while the mixture of the French and English spoken by waiters adds
to the warm and generally busy ambience. Therefore, it is unsurprising
that the food is also mainly French, and equally delicious.
As you walk in, a pastry counter greets you with inviting and
tempting treats such as scones, cakes and freshly toasted sandwiches,
and it's seriously hard not to jump over the counter and eat everything!
A personal favourite of mine is the custard tart, which is always
served in a generous portion, and the best I've had for a while, however
the toasted sandwiches are also incredibly popular. There is also an
excellent array of drinks- from mochas and herbal tea to chilled bottles
of Orangina, Papillon manages to cover both English and French
classics, and has something for everyone.
However, the one thing that slightly lets Papillon down is its
service- in busy hours it often is quite easy to feel a little neglected
due to a small number of staff having to cater to the needs of masses
of people, but when they are not swamped by a vast amount of customers,
the staff are generally friendly and welcoming.
Overall, Papillon is a great little alternative to the usual Starbucks or Costa, with food that a Frenchman would be proud of. read more