Hang out with Dulwich's yummiest mummies and rediscover your passion for home-baking.

The Venue
Situated on the uber-trendy North Cross Road, the ever-popular Blue Mountain Cafe sits alongside trendy hairdressers and bespoke sweetie shops. Out front the terrace is a colourful mosaic of smashed plates and upturned china bowls, which on sunnier days sparkle in the shadow of the BMC's big black awning. Inside, the long thin dining room is partially lit by a row of skylights giving an ethereal glow to an otherwise gloomy interior and a welcome boost of natural sunlight. There's a small, enclosed patio garden out the back for those intimate coffee/cigarette moments.

The Atmosphere
The BMC is a happy place. It's where people come to drink coffee, meet friends, feed kids, eat cake and generally hang out. During the week it is the domain of the yummies, complete with sleeping (or screaming) infant, they pop in for a decaff latte and a slice of lemon cake. At the weekend it's filled with gorgeous locals lounging on the patio over smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and the broadsheet supplements. The staff are just lovely; helpful and unfazed by the hordes of babies who frequent the place.

The Food
The BMC is open from 9am everyday apart from Sunday, when the chef gets a lie in until 10. A full range of breakfast goodies are available. For the Full English fanatic try the Original Full Monty, a couple of free-range scrambled eggs, crispy rashers and porky bangers, some fried mushrooms on the side and a griddled tomato, which is all pretty delicious. Serve it up with some healthy wholegrain toast and a frothy cappuccino all for £6.95, not only is it surprisingly good value but it's a great start to the weekend. Other breakfast delights on offer include an array of fresh pastries and some bowling ball-sized muffins which are equally as tasty and filling.

The lunchtime menu is nice and original and will sate any fancy. Choose from fresh soups or home-made fishcakes to jerk chicken and platters of Greek mezze, a large plate of deliciously greasy grilled halloumi, a truffle-like marinated artichoke, olives and smooth garlicky hummus all served with some warm pitta bread. It's a great sharer, unless you want all the lip-smackingly salty halloumi to yourself, then you best order one each. The baguettes are delicious, fresh from the oven with an array of tried and tested fillings, such as warm chicken strips and sweet chilli sauce or smoked salmon with fresh lemon and black pepper. The chicken ocho rios is a heavenly open ciabatta sandwich topped with Caesar-dressed chicken, grilled peppers and a scattering of parmesan.

You have to save some room for at least one slice of cake. The open chiller is tempting disaster with so many kids about, but has a choice of ten to twelve different varieties including a heart-stopping fudgy chocolate cake, a tempting lemony bonanza and the obligatory vanilla-hued carrot cake.

The Drink
The BMC has the usual caffeine-fuelled fancies that we come to expect from urban cafes these days. As well as a fine juice, smoothie and milkshake list, there is also a half decent wine list for days when only a glass of vino will do. For the mini-customers there are the cutesy baby ‘chinos or baby choc's, which is probably the greatest excuse that any mother needs to visit here.

The Last Word
The Blue Mountain Cafe is one of those great hang-outs which feels like you've just nipped round your mates. Its good coffee and decent food alongside the friendly faces and genial chit chat makes it a tempting visit any day of the week.

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