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2013-01-07
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As I was strolling through the quiet streets of Soho looking for a place to enjoy some happy hour drinks with friends, I noticed an assortment of cakes in a little cafe across the street. I moved closer and was enthralled by the vast selection before me. It was decided, drinks were out, and it was time to sample cake and sip coffee.Stepping inside this fine little establishment, I was transported to everyday tea time in London. The decor gave the place a warm, rustic feel that is so common of mo
Stepping inside this fine little establishment, I was transported to everyday tea time in London. The decor gave the place a warm, rustic feel that is so common of most pubs in England. Simple British emblazoned pillows lined the couches within the cafe. The quaint size also added a local atmosphere and it gave you a feeling that you really found somewhere special; somewhere to relax and have light hearted conversation undisturbed by the trouble of the world. We placed our orders for two Portobello Specials (a choice of any cake plus a regular tea/coffee) and waited patiently.
Carrot cake is a classic, it is either loved or hated. My friends and I all sided on the side of love, but even a classic can go terribly wrong. I used my fork to stab off a thin slice of cake. The frosting was extremely hard like a brick and required a lot of pressure to crack through to the "spongy" interior. Usually, carrot cake is soft,moist and fluffy, but not this one. It was soggy and dense, and a childhood memory of playing with play dough creeped into my mind. It might as well have just been called a cake, as it was lacking in carrot flavour completely. Lets just say I was beyond disappointed.
Having experienced the quality of the first cake, I was skeptical about even trying the second one. However, I have always been one who believed in second chances and forming judgment before a thorough examination. This next cake was nothing but short of perfection. A beautiful, perfectly cooked, golden brown crust provided the foundation to this masterpiece. A very generous portion of toffee that was not excessively sweet was placed on top. It was sheer genius to incorporate the banana into this cake too; a perfect little combination. This is an absolute must have.
What goes really good with cake, is a really good cup of coffee. This was a good cup of coffee. The coffee was rich, and full of flavour. The union of the coffee and the toffee cake was harmonious and perfect. My only complaint was that it could have been hotter and the cup that it was served in was very small.
The service:
Slow and inattentive does not even begin to describe the service. We were only given one menu, and when we requested another one, there was an unacceptable rolling of the eyes. It took more than 20 minutes for two slices of cake and three cups of coffee to be made and brought to our table. Again, when we asked for three glasses of water, we had to ask two more times before something as simple as tap water was provided. The place was not particularly busy either, so I was very surprised and disappointed.
The Portobello Special is great value, and the place does have quite a rustic charm that is captivating to the soul. However the decorations and sense of being back in London is not enough to bring me back again for more.
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