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Sunday. The day that assholes the world over partake in the tragically middle class ritual that is brunch. Being one such asshole, and never one to be left out, I too frequently partake in the custom.
This week's brunch took me to Market Cafe. Generally, I like the place. It's full of gorgeous natural light and offers Prosecco on tap. I appreciate this because I enjoy hiding my alcoholism behind socially acceptable lunch beverages, such as mimosas. It's also a fantastic spot to check out all the hot local hipster dads.
There, my friend and I talked about all the usual brunch classics: life, love, and our respective opinions on whether or not we should stay in the EU. (Fuck you, Boris Johnson. I hope you cycle off your shitting garden bridge. We're not leaving.)
Everything was going great until it was time to order. As a vegan - I know, I'm the worst kind of human being - my options were somewhat limited. So I ended up settling on the Ratatouille. Approximately five mimosas later, my lunch arrived: a bowl of what appeared to be a handful of sad courgettes in some gnarly tomato sauce.
Being a disgusting pig-person, I was somewhat dismayed. This would not be enough to satisfy my ravenous appetite. So, to remedy the situation, I ordered some sourdough bread. And when that was not enough, I ordered some more. (In total, I think I ordered something like four slices. But who can really be sure, because at this point I'm borderline blackout drunk.)
Desperately needing something more substantial, we decided to pay our bill and go somewhere else in search of sustenance. Imagine my surprise when I found I was charged close to six pounds for my bread. Now call me old fashioned, but I don't think I should have to remortgage my flat just to be able to afford a meal in Hackney.
Now, this situation was troubling for me as it filled my heart and soul cognitive dissonance. Was I an idiot for paying close to six quid for what was less than a quarter of a loaf of bread? Or was this the best fucking bread in the universe and worth every penny? Since I'm a pathological narcissist, I was unable to accept the former as a reality. And instead, had to concede to the following: Market Cafe sells the BEST FUCKING BREAD in the entire universe.
5/5 stars
Happy staff and a menu with a well prepared mix of healthy and hearty food. I almost always eat out so I'm quite critical (never post neg comments, don't believe in it), but when it's good, the world should know.
Just had an amazing breakfast at this lovely cafe. Definitely worth a visit !
Great atmosphere and excellent choice of music! The food was very tasty and the staff friendly and helpful! Had the most delicious Malbec I've had in ages!!! :)
As the sun set and the fairy lights came out to play (I know they’re just streetlamps, but a boy can dream…), we sought refuge from the blistering cold of winter – and we had a dog. Market Cafe was perfectly positioned to offer just that.
Love this place! Its my one place to go on the weekends! For a tea or coffee ( or even wine) if you want a more cosy winter day or for a cocktail and beers if you re feeling sunny :) is always full but not packed. Has good music, good looking people wandering ( always nice! )
Tip: if you re feeling hungry ask for the burguer really fullfilling and comes with amazing chips!
Beatriz Gonçalves Pereira
+4
By Broadway Market
Perfect to spend the afternoon alone working or for a talk with some friends
To beer or to have the 5 o'clock tea
It's also a good choice for brunch or to lunch on a sunday . The best options are the burguers. The rest, I think its to expensive for what it really is.
notes .
best cheese caje i ever had
free wifi
realy good environment
Really good fun night!. We had a great time at Market Cafe. These guys have done a great job, delicious food served with a smile and great value too. Its a lively, buzzy place which i will be going back to time and time again.
Getting better. I have been to Market Cafe several times since it opened and its fair to say that they had a few issues to begin with. Food is getting better and better though, as is the service. It can be a bit crazy there on Saturday when the Market is on but the evenings are lovely.
The menu is very simple Anglo Italian, and works really well, with well sourced ingredients. I didn't find it pandering to the latest food fads, so no ribs or burgers on the menu, just good, honest cooking.
Feel lucky that we have this neighbour hood bar and restaurant on our doorstep.
Good Breakfast, Slow Service. The breakfast was quite good, especially the mushrooms on toast. However the service was especially slow, and I had to go through 5 different wait staff before someone was finally willing to take my order. Also they left our coffee on the bar counter for a good 10 minutes before bringing it to the table.
Tweet The press release for Market Cafe read like a dream to me; a London-Italian cafe, bar and restaurant inspired by the Italian Formica cafes of the 50′s but brought to life back here in East London. What really caught my attention was the 'no airs or graces' policy along with the sound of the simple, seasonal menu; TRUFFLED RAREBIT. DOUGHNUTS. This, backed up with a drinks list that boasts locally roasted coffee (gotta be Climpson & Sons), craft beers, punches, cups, fizzes and a good value wine list; er hello! I skipped along happily to their 'hard hat' preview with keen anticipation, held just a few days ahead of the official opening, it offered a chance to have a nose around and a taste of some of the food. Located at the very beginning of Broadway Market, the restaurant was still very much in it's conception; actual unintended raw lights, white washed windows, building equipment and dust sheets adorned dusty corners almost as modern art installations, and *whisper* I actually
Market Cafe opened at the beginning of March and, if the bustling tables are anything to go by, has been a bit of a hit with the Hackney hipsters. For, while Broadway has many eating options, there is nothing to fill the market between cheap and cheerful (Solche Cilician etc) at one end and Buen Ayre (an Argentinian steak house) at the other. The Market Cafe does just that.
Does Market Cafe set itself apart from other,similar joints? The concept of attempting to ”recreate the spirit of the classic Italian “formica” café of the 1950’s”is certainly something novel and I liked the atmosphere and the prices. In the end,the food is perfectly fine,but undistinguished. If I had Market Cafe in my neighbourhood,I might very well be a regular. Travelling through London for it though? I don’t think so.
I never thought that I would get to taste a zong-zi (rice dumpling) in London's Hackney. Granted that Market Cafe's offering wasn't made of glutinous rice like the ones that we have back home but it did taste uncannily similar. For one, instead of pork chunks, mushrooms and the occasional roasted chestnut, Market Cafe's had steak and kidney. Instead of being wrapped in glutinous rice, it was a flour pudding. LO took a look at it and started prodding it with her fork. That amused her for the next ten seconds and she decided that Daddy might have better luck at getting to what was in the inverted bowl shaped pudding. Market Cafe's steak and kidney pudding (£26) wouldn't look a bit out of place at St John's . In fact, its entire menu that bears the likes of deviled kidneys on toasts (£7),
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Market Cafe, Hackney – Market Cafe serves modern British food. I am still unsure what modern British entails but the wine and cocktail menu definitely is upmarket.
The restaurant overlooks Regent's Canal, though when you are seated inside you can hardly see the view. The menu consists of a handful of items; brunch, lunch and dinner. Full English breakfast, buttered Kipper, lemon posset are few definite British classics with a few interesting dishes pork loin marinated with pineapple, mango and papaya. Modern here, I guess, means taking on more exotic ingredients. Certain dishes are permanently on the menu. Market Cafe takes pride in sourcing their ingredients locally and therefore, depending on the availability in Broadway Market the menu follows accordingly. The food presentation is that of neat, clean and trendy pub food /cafe style.
Inside the Market Cafe are three separate dining rooms where a slightly poshier feel - known as the restaurant, an intimate cozy corner of five tables, larger dining room and limited outdoor seating. Mismatched furniture in the cafe area is quite charming. Toilets are a little grubby.
Market Cafe seems very quiet on a weekday lunch despite a fabulous lunch offer known as the worker's lunch which includes a main course + a drink + coffee all for £9.95.
Service was very casual but they were very polite and friendly.
I would definitely not hesitate to return for an evening meal. Ok, perhaps it does depends on what sort of live music that is on that evening. Does anyone know?
The food:
1. market cafe fry up £9.75 is the full english breakfast includes eggs (the way you like it), toast, bacon, baked beans, black pudding, mushroom and sausage.
2. handcut pasta and meatballs £11.50
3. toulouse sausage with mash and onion gravy £11.50 – the sausage is delicious, close my eyes and there I am on the banks of the canal du midi, open them, and it’s the Regents canal again :-). It is served with some creamy mash and a tasty gravy. A decent plateful but I did want a dessert afterwards.
4. salmon fish cake with pomodoro sauce (the main dish of the day for the worker's lunch deal) £9.95 – the fish cakes are giant sized. With three of them it makes a decent plate. Unfortunately, there was not enough of the pomodoro sauce. There is quite a lot of salmon meat in those fish cakes.
5. sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream £5.00 – the toffee sauce was a little too sweet for me (but toffee is supposed to be sweet!) and the pudding is nice and moist. Hot cake with cold ice-cream, exceedingly yum! IF, if only the cake portion was slightly bigger to mop up all that leftover toffee sauce.
6. eggs florentine £8.00 - a huge amount of butter in that hollandaise sauce topped over overcooked poached eggs, spinach and muffins. Tummy upset after this unfortunately. Otherwise, not a bad brunch dish.
7. ratatouille with poached eggs £6.50 - the poached egg were overcooked too but the ratatoullie, oily in its nature, was delicious
Situated on Broadway Market this is a nice breakfast or brunch location. The menu ranges from egg dishes to the odd few main, lunch dishes. I had the house fry up and it was really nice, great eggs, toast, beans, crispy bacon and sausage. The only downside is its a bit pricey, but the house lager is well worth the visit.
Market Cafe is located at the very beginning of Broadway market. I am not sure whether the food is good or not as I only had drinks. However, very good bloody mary and cocktails. Good tea as well, good coffee. Very friendly waiters and waitresses and general good vibe inside. Loyal to the cool vibes of Broadway market.
Cafe on the corner of the market. Staff with a sense of humor (we weren't allowed a table if we only drank coffee). Good local beer (the Five Points brewery is around the corner), and decent food. Nice place to watch people in a Sunday afternoon.
Haven’t tried the food, but me and my boyfriend come here whenever we’re at Broadway Market for an evening drink and a nice view of the canal. Staff are always friendly and the drinks on offer are delicious. Also not too loud inside so perfect after a long day to chill and chat. We’ll keep coming back!
A delicious breakfast with friends! I came here post run for a nice fry up and I was not left disappointed!
The sausage and egg cooked to perfection and whatever was added to those mushrooms I imagine to be a family secret as old as time!
I cannot wait for my next visit.
Have had a few good meals here over the years. Most recently had lunch here around midday on a Saturday. The service was prompt and friendly. The food was pretty decent overall we had a fry up, hot dog and watermelon/mint/cucumber salad. Prices are about average. The food probably isn’t exciting enough to bring me back frequently, but it’s a nice place to eat now and then given the great location on Broadway Market.
On a sunny day, the seats outside are all full and there's a nice buzz in the street. The seating indoors wasn't as appealing, however, we did find a spot.
Servers were all very nice. We had a drink and a bowl of (rather overpriced) fries. Loos weren't very clean. But everything was fine. Dog friendly
Love this café, recommend coming here either for brunch (they have all the delicious classics and some new things to discover) or for a beer in sunset (cafe gets a beautiful light)
Super friendly staff and very cosy relaxed atmosphere. My favourite café in the area
Really cute cafe with a beautiful interior, filled with plants, very calming atmosphere. Stopped by for a drink and snack and the staff were lovely, recommend.
We've been here quite a few times! Food is always good. We like to seat down outsider when sunny although inside is also really nice.
Last time we visited with friends and our children and some of the staff sadly came across a bit rude.
Food is in an general quite good, although bloody maries better to go somewhere else. We have tried twice and they were never nice and last time we order two and they were both completely different from each other! Both missing ingredients.
The staff they even saw that the glasses were full by the time we paid and they never either bother to ask how they were.
A large group of us book a table for a Christmas get-together every year, and we absolutely love the Market Cafe! The staff are fantastic - really friendly and accommodating, and they have good beer on tap.
My favourite thing about this place is that hasn't fallen into the trap most of East London has, in that it isn't trying desperately to be 'cool' and it just has a lovely laid-back vibe. The food is great and I'm a big fan of the Rigatoni here, it's just a really tasty, fairly priced dish and sets you up nicely for an evening of drinking.
The toilets could do with a bit of work, and strangely it does remind me of the outside latrine at my Grandparents' house when I'm in there. Spending a few quid to tart these up a bit would make this a 5 star review, no doubt.
All in all, a lovely spot to have a drink and a good meal at decent prices, and the main thing I'd say about this place is that I should definitely go more than once a year. Lovely!
The place is pretty and nice atmosphere. Quick service, they forget you after bringing the food, but is a nice place to have a brunch. Nothing out of this world
Amazing food and very nice staff:)
Decent brunch place with outdoor seating. Pretty hipster joint with good coffee and a varied brunch menu. We had the ham hock hash and the Shashuka, both were nice but not out of the ordinary. Good space to drop in if passing by!
This is one of my fave East London eateries. Very good service and attention to customers with a relaxing laidback charm. Lovely menu choices and I really enjoyed my dish the chilli hotdog. Also great drinks and cocktails, try the Hackney Cup its lit! 👌🏾
This place was so cool I came out 25 years younger with a full beard wearing a Kaftan! Loads to look at and great coffee too. A real surprise find.
David Glot jean Marie Christophe
+5
The best croque madame I had ever had in London the toast was croustillant it was like in Paris
Blast from the past
My mate did take avocado on toast with poached eggs
Very pleased
The coffee was good we will be back soon
A cosy place with a relaxed vibe. We just dropped in for drinks, but the food on other tables seemed nice. Non-dairy milk options available.
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