new cafe in Balham Post Reply

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi Everyone
I just popped in to buy a coffee from the Chestnut cafe next to Balham station and discovered that it's now called Brother Marcus.

In the day its a lovely cafe, trendy and industrial but in the evening it'll host a succession of pop-ups.

They seem like lovely (very young) people and I want to wish them the best of luck, fingers crossed we can get Rob our roving foodie down soon!

http://brothermarcus.co.uk/

[Goldhawk]

They are offering 50% off brunch this weekend so worth checking out

[dencng57]

Went in with a friend for late brunch and a carafe of decent house white on Sunday. Its been set up by a friendly, young team who met at school. Sun trap garden out back and evening guest chef spots planned.

[balhambloke]

I know this is an old thread but just been in there this morning and was shocked at how rude a greeting I got. I'd never been before so wasn't too sure if there were tables past the counter or if you ordered at the counter. When I asked if you ordered at your table, I got a delightful response of 'well that's what normally happens isn't it?'. Sat down feeling it was a bit odd and thought I didn't feel the slightest bit welcome. So got up and left and wondered down to Hildreth St which by the way, is absolutely buzzing - I'm so impressed with how much it's come along over recent months. I took my business to Milk which was great but there's also another place at the other end (not Brickwood) which I was in on Sunday and is great.

[Jen66]

I was in H Street Deli this week. Good food but ridiculously chaotic. Nobody is going to wait 20 minutes for a takeaway coffee

[delsh]

@balhambloke - I've been in twice and also felt they were rude/stand-offish. I thought it might be a one-off the first time I went in so tried again to give them another chance and got the same treatment. And I agree that it's confusing as to whether to sit down and wait for them to come over or order at the counter.

I ordered avo on toast the second time I went in, and it wasn't very good (how you can get avocado on toast wrong, I don't know!), so that plus the frosty reception means I've decided to take my business elsewhere from now on - even if it does mean a long wait on Hildreth Market..

[balhambloke]

I'm glad I'm not the only one delsh . I was actually in Brickwood on Saturday, were seated immediately and we ordered a drinks and cake. The drinks came in 5-10 mins. We were waiting an additional 15 mins for our cakes to arrive and I just had enough at this point as was meant to be a quick stop so paid at the counter and asked them to take the cakes off the bill (which after all, they just needed to pick from the display). It wasn't even busy. I was bizarrely asked if I'd like the cakes taking off the bill to which I couldn't help laughing at but proceeded to say 'that would be nice as they never came'.

Perhaps this attitude is part of the hipster barista-too-cool-for-school thing. Perhaps I should grow a beard, wear skinny jeans and a stupid hat and I
might get better service

Makes me appreciate just how good Flotsam and Jetsam is and probably won't venture away now. I love that place.

[MatSnow]

Not exactly a fashionable recommendation, but I have found that in Balham the Moon Under Water Wetherspoon's caters to all my foddering and watering needs with quality, efficiency, courtesy and at extremely good value for money.

[mumbelievable]

When I went to BM the service was extremely slow as well - painful!

[foodeditorjo]

Cafes vary so much! I absolutely love H Street Deli as their latte is the best by miles! (They use a very niche type of coffee). I reckon it's the most chilled of all of them, although I haven't yet tried BM (not sure I will now). On another note, shame to see that the Nightingale Cafe is now a Japanese restaurant...