Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 7 and Version 6 of Cafe Below, EC2V 6AU
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It used to be called The Place Below, and was totally vegetarian for the first two decades of its life, but in autumn 2009 it started serving meat and fish dishes as well, and relaunched as the Cafe Below. It also now opens later in the evenings; it used to close at 3pm, but now stays open until 9pm for post-work drinks and/or dinner. However, like many other establishments in the area, it doesn't open at weekends. As before, the menu changes daily, and there are still a couple of vegetarian and vegan (marked as "dairy free") options. |
It used to be called The Place Below, and was totally vegetarian for the first two decades of its life, but in autumn 2009 it started serving meat and fish dishes as well, and relaunched as the Cafe Below. It also now opens later in the evenings; it used to close at 3pm, but now stays open until 9pm for post-work drinks and/or dinner. (We're not sure if it opens on the weekends now — it used not to.) As before, the menu changes daily, and there are still a couple of vegetarian and vegan (marked as "dairy free") options. |
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hours_text='7:30am-9pm Mon-Fri; closed Sat-Sun' |
hours_text='7:30am-9pm (possibly only Mon-Fri)' |
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opening_hours_text='7:30am-9pm Mon-Fri; closed Sat-Sun' |
opening_hours_text='7:30am-9pm (possibly only Mon-Fri)' |
The Cafe Below is a cafe in the crypt of St Mary Le Bow church on Cheapside in the City.
It used to be called The Place Below, and was totally vegetarian for the first two decades of its life, but in autumn 2009 it started serving meat and fish dishes as well, and relaunched as the Cafe Below. It also now opens later in the evenings; it used to close at 3pm, but now stays open until 9pm for post-work drinks and/or dinner. (We're not sure if it opens on the weekends now — it used not to.) As before, the menu changes daily, and there are still a couple of vegetarian and vegan (marked as "dairy free") options.
Kake last visited around 2004, when I was still vegan and the cafe was still vegetarian. I called in on a Friday morning at about 11am, and it was completely empty, unsurprisingly, although a few besuited types wandered in later for takeaway coffees.
Most of the breakfasty options were pastries and things, and not vegan, so I had the "Healthbowl", a concoction of short-grain brown rice, lentils, and various vegetables, served on a sheet of nori (price as of 2009 is £5.50 eat-in, £4.50 takeaway). I wasn't convinced by the raw mushrooms or almost-raw sugar snap peas in this; but I suppose that's what you get if you order something with "Health" in the name, and I did really like the lentil and rice bit. (Note that the Healthbowl isn't usually available until lunchtime, which begins at 11:30am, but they took pity on a hungry vegan and got the kitchen to do me one a bit early.)
They certainly used to have soya milk available for tea and coffee, and I expect they probably still do.
They also do fresh juices (the apple juice I tried in 2004 was really good, and actually tasted of apples, unlike the stuff you buy in cartons from the supermarket) and what I hear is some very good home-made lemonade — in 2004, these were all £1.70 eat-in and £1.40 takeaway, not sure of current prices. They are now licensed too, and serve wine, Meantime beer, and Dunkerton's cider.
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