Bars & Pubs

Grammar pedants, look away: the singular possessive apostrophe is missing on both the sign and the awning. Tom’s fans appear not to mind a jot, and come here in droves. The place is enormously popular with beautifully coiffed locals, who use it as a weekend brunch spot and do not have to worry about the generally high prices. They step carefully over Nelly the black cat and make for the rear courtyard, or grab a prized table on the small balcony. Weather’s not smiling? There are numerous booths inside, under the framed vintage grocery packaging. The cake display and cute jars of old-school sweets greet customers as they enter. All-day breakfasts stream out of the kitchen at weekends (until midday) and include healthier choices such as muesli (assembled in-house) alongside the full english. The rest of the menu features rather pricey pizzas and salads. An antipasti platter (ingredients from the well-stocked basement deli) was generous and heaven-sent: feta-stuffed green peppers, pickled onions, chunky houmous, sweet garlic, and pungent capers. Service was friendly yet efficient, aiding the happy illusion that you’ve just spent the afternoon in Tom’s (sorry, Toms) boho west London pad.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009