As it happens, looking at real estate makes me hungry. Thankfully our rammed itinerary had a coffee…read morebreak built in and we came here to Absolutely Starving (because I almost was, having skipped breakfast!) The table by the door was heaving with sweets and included a delectable looking oversize chocolate chip that all but whispered my name. It was my first time in an outpost of this chain and everything I encountered gave off good vibes, from the large selection of teapigs to the smell of chorizo being grilled for lunch and the airy, light-filled space. Oh and that massive chocolate chip cookie? I ate it over the course of two days and can surely say it was faultless.

Wow, what a selection! Who would go to Eat or Pret when there's this? Everything just looks so…read morefresh and everything just looks so delicious. Tables of yummy looking pastries and coolers full of salads and sandwich makings and all sorts of other hot and cold foods. I was spoiled for choice! Decent seating areas with power outlets nearby and a working free wi-fi system, which are always big bonuses in my eye. I thought the bookshelves were an interesting and unique idea. Is it a lending library or are they for sale or what? I didn't think to ask.

Yep. We were staying across the street at the Residence Inn. We passed the restaurant several times…read moreduring the day and also in the evening. By day, it wasn't so exciting looking. By night, it looked warm and inviting. But we never judge books by their covers. That's a fool's errand. Instead, we look at yelp and then at other reviews that the reviewers wrote. What we read was intriguing enough to walk across the street and in the door. There was one table in use when we walked in. We asked for a table and were led to the back room and told to take the two-top of our choice. A young woman, who was apparently being trained shared the responsibility of taking care of us under the tutelage of an experienced server. They were both wonderful although my wife told me to quit joking with the younger server because she could see that I was causing confusion or consternation or both. We ordered: Minestrone Soup - 5 - THE BEST Minestrone Soup that we've EVER HAD, EVER! Pappardelle with Pork Ragu - 5 - OMG, the PASTA! Ribbons of perfection. And the Ragu was pretty darned good too. Gamberoni Fregula - 5 - Never really a fan of couscous, Fregula is similar with the primary difference that it is made by hand rather than by machine. It was the perfect support and accompaniment for the large Prawns on top of the dish. Spinach - 5 - We needed some kind of veg besides what we got in the soup and this simple spinach dish hit the spot. Bread & Oil - 5 - It was good enough to take the leftover bread home with us to toast and butter the next morning. Apple Fruit Tart - 5 - Flakey, buttery and just the right sweetness to support the apple which still had a bite to it. And of course, the Vanilla Ice Cream was good too. Tiramisu - 5 - They have permanently ruined all future Tiramisu for us. No one has ever made such a delicious creation. It was NOT packed with drunken Lady Fingers. It may have only had three or four suspended in a creamy custard held together by a lovely thin tuille and then dusted in cocoa. We were seriously thinking about going back just to have Minestrone Soup and Tiramisu but decided that we had to try some of the other restaurants nearby. We did go to another Italian restaurant nearby and were so disappointed. That restaurant had shared tables and when we saw how disappointed our seatmates were with their orders, we suggested to them to go to Locanda del Melo for the Tiramisu and all would be better. They were intrigued so we walked them over and said our good nights as they entered the restaurant.

So so good, just ask my spaghetti bolognese eating son. That's all he wanted as we traveled through…read moreEurope, and this was by far his favorite restaurant. My wife and I tried several of the pasta and meat dishes, as well as multiple deserts over the 5 times we visited. All were superb and presented beautifully. The restaurant is situated on the corner adjacent the Residence Inn of London Bridge. The owner was always there, very inviting, full of great suggestions and smiles. If you're anywhere in that area, it's a great place to eat.

Stopped by this place today (20.10.11) after a workmates recommended that I switch up my Deli of…read morechoice. You see my local was Lina Stores (notice how I used was). So upon entering the store, I was immediately expecting the classic 'deli snobbery' experience. You know when you go to an authentic Deli where the staff give you the cold stare if you take too lon to order or don't know exactly what you want. Much to my surprise, I was welcomed in a very warm manner. I asked for a selection of meats, and seriously thought this would be the point where they'd start snapping, but nope, again the lovely lady offered a range of sample slices for me to try! Woohoo! To cut a long story short, I came out a happy girl! Lina Stores can keep there over-priced food, along with their moody staff, I'm sticking with my new bestie Camisa & Sons...! P.S. Could have sworn I spotted the 'Son' of Camisa & Sons working in the back room...

I was inspired by my visit to Little Italy in New York. Lots of amazing delis with fresh food…read moreserved by authentic Italian families who had been running the place for generations In London, there isn't any equivalent Italian area but Camisa on Old Compton is a deli straight out of New York. I love the '& Son' on the sign - gives the place a sense of continuity and history The sight of all those hams hanging up as you enter the store is enough to set the cookery brain and the stomach going. There is then the main counter with Italian cheeses galore and some deli items and home made pasta. There is also the full range of tinned and dried goods. The dry pasta from here is better than the fresh stuff from supermarkets. In Italy, they believe the pasta is the star of the dish and the sauce is just there to coat it, not drown it but for that philosophy to work, you need high quality ingredients I left with some pancetta, ham and mini mozzarellas

I could quite happily just give up shopping at supermarkets and just buy all of my produce from…read moredelis like this but unfortunately, I am not rich. The produce here is fantastic and you can tell there's been so much love and attention put into every single product. The chicken liver pate is really nice here and full of flavour and I would also highly recommend purchasing on of their quiches to take home and have with some nice salad. They've just opened a small cafe on the side that compliments the deli and serves a great selection of sandwiches and (my favourite) pork pies. The atmosphere is great in here and everyone is really made to feel at home.

Lured by the quiche and baguette in the window, I popped in to L'Artisan last week for a look-see…read more What I saw was a mini-delight. This very cosy cafe offers a wonderful, little selection of French edibles from imported chestnut spread to cheeses to pate. There was a large pot of made-from-scratch soup to warm the bones on offer, too. After chatting with the very amiable and knowledgeable French proprietor, I purchased a few different cured meats and a lovely, somewhat stinky cheese. Not only did I leave feeling like I'd had a good interaction, but I'd also left with incredibly tasty food stuffs of good quality. This place is a breath of fresh air amid a rather congested Trafalgar Road. Ah

L'Artisan (shall we call him that?) has taken pride in his work down to the last detail, and looked…read moreafter you as well as in any flash restaurant. Beautiful pear tarts came out of the kitchen as we went to pay and leave. Are these what you serve in the afternoon, I asked L'Artisan. No, I was told. He proudly runs out of food throughout the day. The batch was arriving now, because everything is cooked on the premises and cannot be supplied to demand. He does fresh soup every day and a different Plat du Jour for takeaway with salad... I quietly wished to myself that I worked next door to L'Artisan. The full Review is here: http://blackheathcoffeeshops.wordpress.com/category/lartisan/

Was looking for a little bit of my NYC home in London. Got the chopped liver which came with…read morelightly toasted challah bread. Just the way my mom made it. They offer some good choices for brunch. Had the lox with latkes and sour cream. Lox was fresh and the latkes were on point. Sat at the bar and had friendly conversation with the bartender and servers. If you're planning on coming after 1, make a reservation. Looking forward to coming back here upon my return to the area.

Man, a legit Jewish deli in East London! I've been complaining about the lack of sandwiches in…read moreLondon for so long, and this place does not disappoint! Tried their Reuben (with pastrami) and the Braised Brisket - both were fantastic. Highly highly recommend trying their pastrami, as it was cooked to perfection. The first bite sent you into this kind of food-orgasm-coma where you had to kindly remind yourself that you're in public and you should probably not be making noises like that. The owner and the staff were super friendly! Things were a bit slow but only because it was their first day open - every business has kinks to work out on opening day. Totally worth the wait, and prices are on average with other places in the area. Will definitely be going back!

This deli has got to be one of the best places to pick up some seriously good Italian produce…read more From its home-made pasta and pesto, to the selection of Italian sausage and salamis, olives and cheese, everything is top quality. Also sells the most wonderful looking bushy topped fennel and pomodorino pachino tomatos which just melt in the mouth. Fantastic, real Italian family-run place with great fresh authentic produce. Fare Visita!

This place is located inside a hotel, in a touristy area and also in an area full of offices. So…read moreyes, it is overpriced and underwhelming, since why try hard for tourists and overworked office personnel? Indoor and outdoor seating available galore. Modern, clean ambiance (best part of our experience here). The menu is typical western menu to please a bland pallet. Everything was bland. And I'm someone who doesn't go crazy with seasoning and spice (very conservative), so if I say the food was bland--it can't get any more devoid of taste and flavor. English breakfast was standard. Nothing to write home about. Same for orange juice. Omega 3 breakfast was lackluster. Everything was devoid of seasoning and flavor. How's that possible? Ingredients were good, but the dish just didn't work. What a shame. The power of salt and a little season cannot be overstated. The green smoothie was like juice--very watery. No pulp--or "smoothie" part. Sweet, so be warned. Mix in some water to dilute it. Staff are sweet and efficient. Only good things to say. Would not return. Spend your money elsewhere.

The food was great, but sitting outside made the whole experience even better. Our server was…read morelovely and made us feel right at home.

This hidden gem, obviously beloved by locals serves a delicious breakfast and scrumptious coffee…read more The service is attentive & top notch as well. Perfect stop before heading on to see the Tower.

Perfect spot for a HEARTY breakfast to keep me full before an 8.5 hour flight! Conveniently located…read morenext to where I was staying. Friendliest staff ever! The service here is top notch and brightened my morning. I got the breakfast bap (sausage, bacon, egg, mushroom). Came with three sauces on the side - ketchup, brown sauce, and house made spicy sauce. This was huge, cut into four quadrants, and very tasty (even if it doesn't look like all that much from the picture). I loved it with the brown sauce and especially with the spicy sauce. All the ingredients in the bap were great. Washed it down with an Americano coffee which really hit the spot! I ended up eating half without the top bread in order to finish it. And indeed did not get hungry on my long flight, despite the meh airplane food!

A sleeper artisan genuine Italian deli with magnificent service and food. Value for lunch is…read moreexceptional especially considering the high brow valueless restaurants on the same block that only are one in the evening for the highgate and highgate clientele