Cafe Lemon

An interesting place, Cafe Lemon: a caff with ideas above its station; a greasy spoon with aspirations. Until recently this was a traditional caff/burger bar modelled on the 1960s Wimpy Bar model (all formica tables and ketchup dispensers shaped like tomatoes). Then in late 2006 it was smartened up with murals & old photographs of Harringay on the walls, a new name, a bright new sign out front, friendly young staff and a slightly more varied menu.

All your greasy spoon favourites are still to be found here:

• Breakfasts-by-numbers (Sets 1 to 4 for £3.10 or £3.20), or the Full Lemon (Egg, Bacon, Sausage, Black Pudding, Tomatoes, Beans, Tea/Coffee, Toast/Bread for a great value £4.20), or those going off piste can perm any 7 items from an extensive list plus tea/coffee and bread/toast for £6.80;
• A wide range of got and cold sandwiches/panini etc. from £1.70 to £3.25;
• Various grills, pastas, omelettes, curries, burgers, jackets, fish & chips up to about £6.00.

This stuff is generally pretty good fare, if not outstanding. Portions are decent, but slightly ropey sausages and other features such as tea served with the bag still floating in it betray Cafe Lemon's burger bar origins.

But from these basics the newspaper-style menu (Cafe Lemon news, also featurung coffee/breakfast related stories & jokes) then strays into avante garde territory:

• In addition to the standard veggie breakfast there's also a mediterranean breakfast of omelette, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber & parsley;


• Other fancy breakfast options including pastries, pancakes, and a (delicious) Eggs Benedict with Bacon, Ham, Spinach or Smoked Salmon for £4.20-£4.50;


• A good selection of speciality teas and coffees, mixed juices, smoothies.

Most intriguingly, they've recently started to dim the lights of an evening and light the candles when they offer a set menu for dinner. The "Cafe Lemon Plus" menu features a variety of turkish favourites for starters - halloumi, sucuk (salami), cacik (tsatsiki), humus etc. (all at £2.45 each) with just two main courses on offer: pan-fried salmon (£6.95) or chicken cordon bleu (£5.95). Or, for £13.95 or £11.95 you can have three of the starters, salmon or chicken, coffee/tea and a dessert, which can't be bad. I haven't tried this yes, but at those prices it has to be worth a go soon.

Cafe Lemon
28 Green Lanes
London
N4 1LG
020 8800 2396
info@cafelemon.co.uk

LINKS
London Review of Breakfasts