Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 2 and Version 1 of Bela Vista, E13 9JU

Portuguese cafe and restaurant in Plaistow.

As well as Portuguese dishes, it does sandwiches, sweet and savoury pastries, and all-day English breakfasts. It's licensed, and has a couple of keg taps for draught lager. Tap water is provided in a dispenser on the service counter, with glasses out for people to help themselves.

Entry is into a tiled cafe area, with seats for 14 people at square wooden tables flanked by matching chairs. Beyond this is a large glass service counter with deli meats, desserts, pastries, and soft drinks. At the back is a small restaurant area, seating a further 16 people at tables ready-set with wine glasses. A patio at the front has a few plastic chairs and tables.

Kake visited on a Friday lunchtime in January 2017. There was just one other customer when I arrived around 12:15pm, but a couple more turned up while I was there. No music was playing, but a flatscreen in the cafe area was showing a Portuguese chat show with the sound on.

I ordered from the Portuguese menu, choosing peixe frito com arroz de tomate/Malandro (fried fish with tomato rice; £8) photo. It was pretty good; the batter was crisp and there wasn't too much of it, and the fish inside was very well-judged. My only reservation was that the batter was a little too salty for my taste. The rice was tasty, too, with plenty of tomato flavour, some well-cooked onions, and fresh herbs. A salad on the side was very fresh, and clear care had been taken over its preparation, with decoratively partially peeled cucumber.

Service was friendly and welcoming despite a slight language barrier (I know enough Portuguese to recognise dishes on a menu, but not enough to order them in complete sentences).

Kake's verdict: I'd like to come back and try more of the Portuguese dishes, and would also be interested to see what the atmosphere's like in the evenings.

Accessibility: A small but very steep portable ramp to get in. Space inside is very tight. Step to the ladies' (gents' not checked).

See also:

• Photos of the menu as of January 2017: Portuguese specials, drinks, sandwiches, and cooked breakfasts

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