Stop walking past this awesome café thinking it’s some kind of organic vegan-only enterprise and sample the excellent airy splendour.

The Venue
Located, surprisingly, on a corner on Mare Street, the Corner Deli is the place for solid organic tastiness in Hackney. There may be others that look slightly less like the Rainforest Cafes on the outside and perhaps some of them even pack their space with art work, radio stations and more MacBook Pros than people (somehow they do...) but, simplicity is clearly often underrated. Tables are spaced generously so conversations don’t necessarily need to overlap so you can feel free to spill your gossip without a friend of a friend of a friend overhearing. The large windows let in the light to keep the place feeling like you're almost on the outside within, and to top it off there’s a level of relaxation (lunchtime rushes apart) that you don’t often get in this area.

The Atmosphere
It seems strange to say that the Corner Deli appears widely respected but it seems to be the case. There are business meetings taking places on the larger tables, individuals in the solace of their laptops, as well as families, and all of them seem to share the space with ease. It’s hard to find a bad word to say about it, something that's definitely helped by the sheer pleasantness of the staff and their service. It’s close to Broadway Market and can feel like a bit of breathing space from the incessant frenzy just round the corner.

The Food
Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner complete the clean sweep of meal times for the Corner Deli. Ingredients are almost entirely organic and the proof is in the taste. The poached eggs beam with yellow yoke that outclass the duller offerings from most cafes, and the sourdough bread beneath them is a local delicacy. Simple lunches like grilled salmon salads and home-cooked lasagnas keep the prices cheap and the condensed menu is appealing for lunchtimes or evenings. Lights are lowered later in the day and the spacious venue adds a little intimacy to itself.

The Drink
There’s a short wine list to accompany the food and prices are inexpensive. All manner of organic smoothies and freshly squeezed juices keep Hackney in vitamins, and the quality coffee is certainly no afterthought.

The Last Word
Solid, just like the thick beams that hang across the façade, you can’t really go wrong with the Corner Deli, a café that's yet to cease being a pleasure to visit.

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