The Cafe on Mitcham Road in Tooting is a bizarre little Thai restaurant that seems a bit like walking into someone else’s dining room. You’d be unlikely to come in off the street unless it was recommended to you but once you’re inside it turns out to be a lovely little find with great service and tasty food.

The Venue
Quite frankly, the decor is bland and somewhat random. The walls are magnolia, with a few pictures dotted around and some potted plants in the window, alongside a pumpkin. Images of food adorn the front windows and from the outside, the decor would most likely put you off entering. However, judging this book by its cover would certainly be a mistake.

The Atmosphere
The lights are bright which somewhat ruins the potential for ambiance, and it almost always seems empty. However, the staff are friendly and the service is very good.

The Food
It’s the food that makes this place worth visiting. Whilst not spectacular, the food is most definitely tasty, very good value and potentially (something rarely found in London) cooked from fresh. Starters are priced at £3.50 each for spring rolls and pork spare ribs and £4 for a platter that includes, amongst other things, chicken satay, spring rolls and Thai fish cakes. Mains are priced at £4.50 or £5.95 for dinner and includes rice or noodles, which also seems somewhat rare. The Thai yellow curry is on just the right side of spicy and is full of flavour, as is the Massaman curry which, if you’ve ever eaten in Thailand, will bring back memories of dining in a Thai beach cafe. The sizable portains ensure that you leave completely satisfied.

The Drink
Although The Cafe is licensed it also operates a bring-your-own-booze policy (with no corkage fee) and with a Somerfield opposite and a Tesco down the road, you don’t have to wander too far to gather together some drinks. If you can’t face heading outside, Singha and Chang beer are available for £3.50 a bottle and red and white wine is priced at £13 a bottle. The choice of house wine changes depending on what the owners have in stock, although you might be pleasantly surprised with a nice bottle of Hardys. Soft drinks are priced at around £1.50 a glass.

The Last Word
The Cafe in Tooting offers good value, good food and good service.

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