Age: A year and a bit – definitely a lockdown baby. But the big news this week is that two more Patch Cafes are opening on Jan 3rd, one in Plashet Park, East Ham E12 and the other on – woop – Capworth Street E10, opposite Leyton Manor Park.
Where exactly is the original? The E11 cafe is nestled in the skate park on Cann Hall Road. It was a slightly off-the-beaten-track location – like all the best places in the area – until the all-conquering weekly Leytonstone Farmers’ Market opened up every Sunday morning in the adjoining Buxton School. The whole stretch is now heaving at weekends – and better for it, as we’re sure the recently refurbed Lord Rookwood pub would agree.
OK. So what goes on there? It boasts a lovely Scandi-style interior, all sharing wooden benches and clean lines, extremely good coffee, pastries, and delicious-looking lunches for a post-stroll feed. There are daily changing salads, home-made sausage rolls and specials on a chalk blackboard, such as a warming curry for around £8.
What should I eat? I opted for a smoked vegetable filo pastry tart with green spinach and roasted sweet potato, plus a smoked tofu, red pepper and cabbage slaw. It was healthy and delicious, the quality of the produce incontestable. Perhaps my appetite was a little too keen, but my only thought afterwards was that it felt slightly too modest for the £10.50 price tag.
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And what do I drink? It’s all about the beans here; go for bottomless filter, or an energy-boosting double espresso. Every week at the farmers’ market, I order the latter, as Patch wisely operates the main (and very popular) coffee stall.
What’s the service like? Pretty good. Helpful, knowledgeable and swift.
The clientele? Three laptop-wielders; one father with small child who succeeded in charming pretty much everybody in the cafe – even the waitress brought him different coffees to try; and gangs of thirtysomething local mums with more tiny tots and buggies. Well, this is deepest E11/E7 borders, after all.
Do say: Thank God for such a pleasant spot a goose’s honk from scenic Jubilee Lake. And if you’re more E10-based, there’ll be an even nearer one for you come 2022.
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