Restaurants

As we went to press, Café Wanda was closed for refurbishment, which is welcome news as there was more than a whiff of the 1970s at this highly individual café and restaurant. An incongruous small wooden bar tucked away in a back corner offered B52s, sea breezes, and a dozen types of mostly Polish vodka (served as double measures in a frosted glass). On our last visit, the soundtrack of gooey love songs was, thankfully, turned down from pop-concert level to just loud as we were seated. Toulousian cassoulet was off the menu, said our waitress, as the chef couldn’t source the right sort of beans. Still, with three menus to choose from, there was no shortage of options. Traditional bistro fare (schnitzels, sirloin steaks, beef stroganoff) are balanced by Polish dishes like golonka (pork knuckle) and savoury dumplings. Blinis come with pork goulash and are as authentic as you’ll find in London. We followed them with a stack of waffle-thick pancakes – propped on the plate with cream, chocolate sauce, sliced banana and a handful of strawberries – which defeated us.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009