Cottage Cafe

This could be, like, a once a year occurance for me, as the volume of food is both artery-clogging and substantial.

But this is one of the best kept hidden gems of affordable London eats. If only they were open on Sundays (guess some people still think it is a rest day)...

No-nonsense is certainly the word to describe this place. No dilly-dallying about, the man wants your order, and wants it straight. More they type of guy you normally find in the kitchen rather than at the front of the house, but I do think his bruskness somehow adds to Cottage Cafe's charm. There ain't nothing quaint about it.

If you are on a budget, hungry, and want a classic 'greasy spoon' (as we say in America) English breakfast experience, this is your place. This place is real, local, and incredibly inexpensive.

It is always preferable to have a restaurant such as Cottage Cafe near enough to one's home that it makes perfect sense when hungover/angry/despondent/tired/crabby/bored/lazy to simply pop over and have a hot meal in front if you within minutes.

Cottage Cafe is this place for us!

We finally made it over on a weekend late morning, and indulged in two big breakfast plates. I had the Bubble Breakfast (my first experience!) and it came out within about 5 minutes. Toast, mushrooms, sausage, eggs, bubbles! A huge plate for a fiver, no joke. I could barely finish it. But I did, of course. Ha! My husband got a huge breakfast plate as well and was quite satisifed, even commenting "better than I could make and about 2 hours faster." Indeed, indeed.

The coffee/tea option with the breakfast is free -- and you get what you pay for. This isn't high class coffee/tea, but it gets the job done. And it's free. So, there you have it.

Nitsa -- is that you? Bubbly it says in the About the Owner? The gal that waited on me was a bit sullen, but nice enough. Maybe it was not the owner. Either way I'll definitely be back as I like the vibe, its close to my place, its cheap and it solves all your problems for a few moments in time.

"Excuse me, erm, do we get a refill on the coffee?" asked the German guy.

"Sorry mate, this isn't the States."

An English breakfast spot isn't quite the same without the no-nonsense service, it hasn't to be said. Kind of adds to the whole charm of the place. Or something.
I will say that I'm not huge on fried, greasy breakfasts. Whilst it may be universally acknowledged as a great hangover cure, I rarely will use them as such and I really have to be in the right mood to enjoy a full English. Controversial statements from a native.

Cottage Cafe offers all-day breakfasts, baguettes, cakes and the like. £5 will net you the "Big" Breakfast - two fried eggs, 3-4 rashers of bacon, sausage, mushrooms or black pudding, beans, chips, and toast. They're pretty flexible on items - I went for mushrooms+black pudding and no beans. The portions (as the photo attests to) are generous, and overall, I was pretty pleased with the breakfast - the mushrooms had a decent amount of flavour (which isn't always easy with the standard white button ones), the sausage didn't have that cheap-and-homogenous texture that makes me shudder, and generally my plate wasn't too greasy. The free coffee kind of reminded me of airline coffee, but hey, I wasn't expecting Monmouth.

Filed under "cheap and good", I'm sure I'll be back here soon. Note that it doesn't open on Sundays...they're probably missing out on good business, but tradition is tradition...

Friendly staff! Great prices and clean and warm atmosphere. Chicken wrap was great and my tuna salad sandwich hit the spot.

Nothing fancy here. Just good, well priced eats!

great little cafe outstanding food,there home made pies a treat,on my last trip there arrived late but food was great cabbage not over cooked and enjoyed all my meal,would recomend this placeto anyone and not expensive i am editing this review,because im pleased to say i recommended this place to several people, and everyone of thanked am and said they agree the food was great ,

Looks like a greasy spoon but isn't really. All food is homemade including the pies. I had a shepherds pie with chips and gravy which was delicious. Great prices too. Items vary from sarnies all under £2, baguettes, all-day breakfasts and wholesome cooked food. Probably good visit for a hangover too. And they do take away. Great.

All day breakfast, does just that, lasts you all day excellent plateful, really generous helpings nicely cooked. Choose the elements no quibbles if you don't like beans, like me. Friendly service, quick. All sorts go in here, be prepared to queue at peak periods and don't let the frontage put you off (as the other reviewers have said), this is good quality at very reasonable prices. Recommended.