Kalendar

Time Out says

Thu Mar 31 2011

Café society on Swains Lane is ruled by Kalendar, the friendliest of the street’s nosh shops and also the most popular: punters will hover expectantly if you’re lucky enough to grab a sunny terrace table in the warmer months. Breakfast here is big with the locals, on the weekend the café is buzzing with young families and people reading the Sunday papers.

On our most recent visit service was a bit sloppy. The eggs of our eggs florentine were poached too long, so that instead of being greeted by a runny yolk, our fork got stuck in a crumbly centre. Staff offered to replace the dish immediately, but returned with eggs florentine on toasted muffins that were burnt ten minutes later. 'Kalendar breakfast', a traditional English brekkie, was more pleasing. The deli counter also serves a reliably delicious range of delights, from artisanal cheeses to tempting stacks of cakes bought in from Konditor and Cook.

Coffee, made with beans from the Monmouth Coffee Company, was not very skillfully made on our last visit, resulting in a watery coffee that was too frothy. The freshly squeezed juices are therefore a safer bet - which you can also order as mixed combos.