This popular, trendy cafe near London Fields impresses with its fresh deli delights.

The Venue
A stone's throw from London Fields, this coffee shop-cum-deli fits perfectly into the Broadway Market scene. With small, round al fresco tables below hanging baskets and window seats inside overlooking the hustle and bustle of the street, this venue is definitely somewhere to be seen. Inside, you'll find the deli counter one side and a small area with communal seating on the other side. These tables are fully equipped with baskets of napkins and jugs of tap water to freely pour as you wish. The areas are divided by a large case serving various natural- food products, such as pickles, sauces, pastas and more. There's quite a lot on sale and it's almost a shop in its own right - there's even a wine rack on one wall selling a selection of fine wines, and another case selling tea cloths, aprons and other homeware items. The counter at the cafe is at the back, below a large blackboard displaying what's on offer. Be prepared for a very non-British style of queuing during busy times – the place can get packed and it can be hard for the staff to know who came in first. And if you need the toilet, brace yourself for a queue, there's only one.

The Atmosphere
While it's hard work getting inside this place and pretty much impossible to get a seat whilst the Saturday market is on, the weekdays aren't rammed at all and can be a lot more relaxed. Here, you'll find trendy twenty-something locals making use of the free wi-fi with a coffee and the staff actually have time to chat. The cool clientele can make the cafe seem really pretentious, but it's worth seeing past the skinny jeans and handle bar moustaches and venturing inside, where you'll find a friendly bunch working behind the counter.

The Food
As well as the meats, cheeses, olives and salads on offer at the deli counter, the cafe offers a wide range of sandwiches and cakes – everything from salads, muesli, falafel and cheese toasties to pastries and specials, all changing weekly. A three-cheese toastie can be made from fresh ciabatta, baguette or brown bread (£4) and is generous considering the price, and a cheese lover's dream. While the sun-dried tomatoes vary the flavour of the toastie, the gorgonzola and goat's cheese are so strong the flavour might be a bit much if you don't like strong cheeses. A vegetarian breakfast sandwich (£4.95) is a popular option (it often sells out early on during the weekend rush). This delicious-tasting combination of rocket, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, egg and a sliver of mayo can be a bit messy to eat, but tastes impressively fresh and is, again, generous. The ciabatta bread is so soft it almost melts in your mouth and the fillings just seem to follow.

The Drink
Coffees and teas are expertly made with patterns swirled into the frothy tops. There's also a large selection of soft drinks in the fridge, which includes refreshing organic apple juices and lemonades. While the prices aren't particularly cheap at around £1.50–£3 for a soft drink, they're pretty average for the area.

The Last Word
Yes, it's very trendy and very popular, but with good food, good service and a great deli counter, it's hard to fault.

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