Randomness Guide to London Menu

A better-than-average cafe and takeaway near Goodge Street in Fitzrovia. It has a separate, smaller premises just around the corner on Tottenham Street, though the two are not linked internally as far as I can tell.

The main cafe has about 15 solid wooden tables squashed in very tightly, with extra tables provided outside in good weather. It gets predictably full at lunchtimes, and there's not much space to queue for takeaway either (the queue sometimes goes out the door).

Apart from the usual, fairly varied list of sandwiches (£4-6) and jacket potatoes (£4.25-5.75), a soup of the day (£3.50) and salads (all £6), there are also hot meals such as a chicken and vegetable pie, chilli con carne with wedges, and fishcakes (all £6) or burgers (£7). Takeaway prices are listed; eating in costs a little more (for the mains, around 50p-£1 extra).

On a March 2008 visit, the "falafel balls" (£6 takeaway) came with plenty of tabouleh sald with tomatoes and onions, rocket leaves, hummous and a decent piece of pitta bread. There was certainly plenty of it, and was a satisfying lunch. Also had a slice of farmhouse fruit cake (£1.75 takeaway), which was fruity but not too dry.

Tried the "tre colore salad" (£6 takeaway in April 2008; mozzarella, avocado, tomato on rocket, with a basil pesto dressing), which was a good size, freshly prepared in front of me, with plenty of mozzarella and the pesto in a separate smaller container. Also, as they were down to the last of the apple spice cake, when I ordered a slice they gave me the remainder of the cake (easily equivalent to two quite thick slices). They have a good range of cake slices, and this was no exception, full of flavour.

The harvest vegetable pie in October 2008 (£6 takeaway) was also excellent, a large slice with a creamy cheesy sauce inside, lovely shortcrust pastry and served with vegetables and new potatoes. Great value.

See also:

• Time Out review