Quick and easy, Cafe Rocks has a loyal following of hungry office workers queuing out the door, although that might just be down to the fact there’s not a lot of choice nearby.

The Venue
Cafe Rocks is tiny. A simple canopy hangs over the entrance with one small table and two chairs outside. Stepping inside, you’ll find a small venue with high ceilings. Covering the entire left-hand wall are blackboards displaying the menus whilst the right wall has some attractive black and white prints of the Rat Pack and the Godfather. A refrigeration unit offers a handful of drinks whilst the rest of the venue is made up of the main counter displaying the sandwich fillings on offer leading to an open kitchen and preparation area behind. A couple of high stools are perched beside the front window and a few more tables reside down a twisting staircase. It’s simple. It’s easy. It does the job.

The Atmosphere
This is definitely more of a grab and go lunchtime venue with a queue that snakes out of the door between 1pm and 2pm. It’s not a great place to sit during the peak rush hour and is certainly not a relaxing cafe. The service, however, is quick and the staff have an easy rhythm of buttering bread and throwing in sandwich fillings at an almost frantic rate, punctuated by one-word questions: Pepper? Butter? Salad? Service is with a smile though.

The Food
Cafe Rocks does cheap food and it’s not bad quality, although the sandwiches outshine the salads. Jacket potatoes, sandwiches and salads are mostly priced at less than £3 and you have a choice of bread. The egg mayonnaise sandwich (£2.50) is best enjoyed in a huge, fresh brown bap to make the most of the creamy, generous filling with lashings of mayo. Also good - and equally unhealthy - is the pre-mixed chicken, avocado and bacon mayonnaise mix with generous chunks of fresh avocado, salty pieces of bacon and tender chicken again in a large serving of mayo.

Unfortunately, the salad doesn’t live up to the sandwiches. A mozzarella and avocado salad borders on inedible. Served in a plastic container, the limp, wet lettuce causes water to collect at the bottom, making everything soggy. The mozzarella is the cheap, best melted version of the cheese rather than wet Buffalo mozzarella and is chewy and tastes bland. The avocado, however, is generous, fresh and fleshy but doesn’t save the salad. Stick with the sandwiches, instead. If you want more than just a sandwich they also serve a selection of flapjacks and Walkers crisps.

The Drink
A selection of coffee, including the usual cappuccinos and lattes, are cheap with all coffee coming in at less than £2. A small selection of soft drinks are offered alongside a choice of bottled smoothies and water.

The Last Word
If you’re stuck on the Vauxhall Bridge Road or work nearby then Cafe Rocks isn’t a bad lunchtime option for an easy, well-priced lunch. Just avoid the salad.

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