Charlies Cafe keeps the grumbling bellies of hungry office workers happy come lunchtime, but that’s about as far as it goes.

The Venue
Theobald’s Road is filled with lunchtime-focussed eateries – and it’s no wonder with so many big offices located along the street. Charlies Cafe benefits from its location here, and good thing, too. Were it left up to its decor, nobody would ever go inside. The exterior comprises a large front window with a tired white sign above it, and inside, there are a few tables and chairs sat opposite a counter serving area. Very atmospheric.

The Atmosphere
As lunchtime nears, the pace at Charlies Cafe really cranks up a gear as the queue lengthens and officer workers line neatly in a row. The atmosphere has a transient feel of people mainly popping in, grabbing what they can and moving on. If you do decide to eat in, you’re unlikely to enjoy yourself much, unless you wait until about 3pm when it all calms down. Still, the staff are very friendly and seem to have an almost inhuman ability to keep those sandwiches coming. And coming, and coming, and coming…

The Food
Although Charlies Cafe does offer a few proper dinners like pasta and pizza – showing some Italian restaurant aspirations – it is the sandwiches that are by far the most popular. And they actually offer decent value for money, with all of the options coming in at around £3-£3.50. For something a bit different – and hearty on a cold day – the tuna melt is recommended. The gooey mozzarella cheese is pure comfort food and the tuna is fresh and pleasantly salty. And it’s all given some pep by the tang of the onions and heat from some jalepano peppers. Alternatively, a simple brie and cranberry sandwich marries the creaminess of the brie with the tart sweetness of the chutney for an interesting option that veers –thankfully – away from the same-old, same-old egg mayo and BLTs that you find in every other cafe nearby.

The Drink
Overpriced cans of coke (remember the days when a can was 25p? Sigh), better value coffees (at least compared to Starbucks!) and juices or water. It’s the collection of drink that will sate your thirst after stuffing a big sandwich down your gob. That’s all that’s needed, right?

The Last Word
Charlies Cafe is a decent lunchtime option and very convenient for anyone working nearby.

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