Situated on the upmarket Northcote Road in Battersea, crumpet serves a variety of delectable soups, snacks and desserts and acts as a fashionable meeting place for mums and toddlers.

The Venue
crumpet is a modest-looking cafe on the outside, occasionally obscured in the week by a fruit stall. Upon entering, it becomes clear that this is practically two spaces in one. The first section contains a row of stools by a bar near one wall and a number of chairs and tables that spill out onto the street on sunny days. Beyond this area is the counter where the waitresses frantically buzz, preparing hot drinks and sandwiches for the clientele, both the walking and toddling kind.

Further back, hidden away like a VIP area, is the space for mums: a clinical white space with natural daylight streaming down from the glass roof above. If you’re a mum, consider this not only a haven but a place where you can reestablish communication with grown-ups.

The Atmosphere
Do not venture into the family area unless you want to disappear into a forest of Maclaren buggies with two-year-olds clinging to your ankles and hitting you with pieces of Lego. There are periods during the day where this room belongs to the little people, usually between breakfast and nap time (before lunch), so don’t even think about claiming a table. Luckily, there are plenty of bairn-free areas for you to enjoy your food, plus its plum spot in Battersea means that the steady flow of customers keeps the place bubbling along merrily, even if at times it appears more crampet than crumpet.

The Food
You may hear the odd moan or cry from the mums’ area but rest assured this has nothing to do with the food. The menu is fantastic, with many of the ingredients used coming directly from local shops and businesses. The soup of the day was a gorgeous country vegetable. The hand-cut sandwiches are very special with creations such as goats’ cheese with sweet onion marmalade and poached salmon with beetroot and horseradish relish.

If you choose to go first thing in the morning, there are other delightful offerings such as porridge with chopped banana and muscovado sugar along with croissants, muffins and, naturally, crumpets. The homemade cakes are also worth savouring with the lemon and the carrot seeming to disappear faster than anything else during the day. Some smaller creations have also been baked for conquering by the little ones.

The Drink
A fine selection of quality coffees and teas act as the perfect accompaniment to lunch. Children will be more than satisfied by the lavishly thick milkshakes on the menu.

The Last Word
crumpet is a brilliant little venue with top range lunchtime options which, despite the occasional mid-morning hijacking by middle class tots, deserves a visit.

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