Monday 27 August 2012

Nordic Bakery

After 5 + City Pig’s Summary

Snapshot

Cuisine:
Café/coffee shop
Price:
Average spend £5 per person (coffee and bun);
Healthy:
Relatively healthy in comparison to other cafes.
Tasty:
2.5/5 – Coffee
3/5 – Cinnamon buns
Address:       
Nordic Bakery – Golden Square
14a Golden Square, London W1F 9JG
Tel. +44 (0)20 3230 1077 (For other branches see website.)
Opening times
Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm
Sat 9am – 7pm
Sun & Bank Holidays 10am – 7pm
Eat in/Takeaway:
Eat-in and take-away
Recommended dishes & drinks
Cinnamon bun – sticky and chewy texture.
Vegetarian dishes
Yes
Loyalty card
 No
Website

Notes
A refreshing change from chain coffee shops and a unique experience into Scandinavian style cafés.


After 5 + City Pig’s analysis

I came here recently, as I wanted to experience a different coffee shop that was not Italian or Australian.
Nordic Bakery is a Scandinavian style café and when I peered into the Golden Square branch it looked very simple inside. Simple is good, as long as the focus is on making high quality food and drinks.
As much as I wanted to try the sandwiches such as the Gravadlax, I was too full from lunch and so I opted for the cinnamon bun and cappuccino.
The cinnamon bun was sticky, and moist and bursting with cinnamon. It was delicious but also very different. I welcome the new Scandinavian style café – it certainly is a refreshing change to existing coffee shops and chain cafes. Most of the customers were either cool media types or students and was very busy.
Although, the cappuccino appeared to be flavourless, the bun itself was distinct and gives it a strong unique selling point.
I hadn’t tried the other cakes on offer but they surely looked tasty. It isn’t the strongest contender on the coffee scene but it does do delicious cinnamon buns.


Sunday 12 August 2012

Konditor and Cook

City Pig’s Summary

Snapshot

Cuisine:
Café/bakery/deli
Price:
Meal deals from £4.50 but hot meals average around £5-8 with a drink.
Healthy:
Yes lots of fresh salad selections but can be unhealthy as there are lots of sweet cakes available too.
Tasty:
3/5
Address:       
30 St Mary Axe
London EC3A 8BF
Opening times
Monday to Friday 7:30-6:00
Eat in/Takeaway:
Eat-in and take-away – fair number of seats.
Recommended dishes & drinks
Buffet salads and a bit of everything – chicken and pasta.
Cakes and coffee.
Vegetarian dishes
Yes
Loyalty card
No
Website



City Pig’s analysis

Konditor & Cook for those that do not know is a well-known respected brand for its cakes, brownies and biscuits. Nicely located by the Gherkin on the ground floor, it also serves for breakfast and lunch savoury dishes.

At lunchtime, it is very popular and I went out to check out what was on offer. There are the usual cold chiller cabinet sandwiches all wrapped up or there are the salad selections, with pasta salad, quiches, chicken thighs, pizzas and baked potatoes with toppings.

Having been here more than three times now recently, I have tried most of the hot food here along with the deli buffet and have to conclude it is really good. This is a great place to even just have coffee or tea.

The selection is reasonably priced at £2.60 per slice. Salads are £3.25 for takeaway. It has an incredible buzz to the café and is a nice option to get away from the desk.

For those, that are ultra-busy, take-away is available. The cakes are credibly large and really tasty!
I have trouble not having the cake each time I go so those watching their weight – be warned.





Thursday 2 August 2012

Coco di mama - Italian

City Pig’s Summary

Snapshot

Cuisine:
Italian – mainly pastas
Price:
Approximately £6 per person – main meal.
Healthy:
Yes
Tasty:
3/5
Address:       
115 London Wall, London, EC2M 5QA. Nearest station is Moorgate tube station.
Opening times

Monday to Friday 6:30am to 5pm
Eat in/Takeaway:
Eat-in and take-away – minimal seating.
Recommended dishes & drinks
Pasta and coffee
Vegetarian dishes
Yes
Loyalty card
Yes on coffees.
Website




City Pig’s analysis

Coco di mama is an Italian eatery that offers new contemporary take on Italian quick eats. It is like a posh Pret a Manager but without the “chain feel” although it does have two branches one in Fleet street and this one in – London Wall.

It offers small and large pots of cooked pasta in a variety of sauces and two special sauces changes every day.

Personally, the coffee is extremely good quality and is one of the reasons I come here. Although, its pastas are tasty, fresh and not the usual stodgy pasta – it still is not the tastiest pasta I expect it to be. The packaging and the whole contemporary design of the Coco di mama products have been cleverly designed and is attractive enough to lure city workers in.

I have been here a few times and enjoy the simple food. I urge those with big appetites to choose the bigger size pasta tubs as the small is very small. Its pastas are well cooked al la dente and sauces are not too over empowering.

It certainly is not cheap but is comparable to other eateries I have reviewed.

The croissants are worth trying here if you want to try the breakfast range. I thoroughly recommend the cappuccinos and Americano here. There were tubs of free chocolates for diners which was a nice treat as well.

At London wall, it is a very small shop, but there are a few seats for those who like to eat in. A definite must try for those wanting more than Pret and Eat but not wanting to over eat days.