Restaurants

La Cafeteria
Budget choice
Bag a table at the back of La Cafeteria and you won't believe you're yards from the A503 in a down-at-heel swathe of east London. There's a bright, welcoming and civilised feel to this place, which turns out fine breakfasts and light, Mediterranean-inspired lunches for which you may need to book, as seats are eagerly seized upon by workers from the nearby council offices. It's very family-friendly, non-smoking throughout, with a rack of newspapers and upmarket magazines encouraging you to linger. Quick to arrive and prepared with a keen eye for colour, the daily-changing menu may include roast vegetables with couscous or penne with bacon, spinach, olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Alternatively, baguettes and toasties are served with salad and fruit. There's a clamour for the owners to open in the evenings, but they've resisted so far.
Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007

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Posted by Marian Goodman on 02 Mar 2009 17:02
Delicious home cooked meals. Pasta cooked to perfection. Healthier touches like fruit with sandwiches. Could do with a bit of innovation on the dessert front – current choices are good but the menu needs to vary more especially when you’re simply after a coffee and a cake. Very welcoming staff and great with little babies but the restaurant can get a bit cramped at lunch time for buggies – only because it’s so popular and on the small side. The best place to eat in Walthamstow – a hidden treasure. Amazing breakfasts too.

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Posted by Sally Richardson on 07 Oct 2008 10:31
I go here all the time as i work down the road and i have never had a bad meal here, and im very fussy...
The staff are fabulous and all the toasted paninis sandwiches are delicious and very filling- and are extremely good value!
Go eat and enjoy!

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Posted by Carlos Lopez-Real on 12 Aug 2008 02:37
This place is our favourite place to eat in Walthamstow, consistently great food and very friendly service and the food, especially the amazing apple pannetone, is great.
The menu is modern mediterranean, with a strong Italian influence. All ingredients are extremely fresh and cooked to perfection.
Prices are extremely modest for such good food - you'd pay easily double this in the centre of town.
Service is very friendly, attentive (but not overly so), and courteous. The decor is simple and fresh.
It's open Mon-Sat daytimes, as well as evenings Thurs-Sat, and not open on Sundays. A hidden gem!

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Posted by Aidan Adair on 26 Jun 2008 13:26
It is now open in the evenings

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Posted by Andrea Encinas (registered user) on 09 Mar 2008 17:10
La Cafeteria is the best thing that could have happened to E17.... we may not have a cinema or an arts centre, but we have one of the best restaurants in London (and trust me I eat out across London a lot!).
Thankfully it now opens in the evenings Thurs to Sat!
The service by staff who ask you and remember your name (I am a regular) is excellent.
The ambience is warm and friendly, the decor is vibrant with paintings of local artists, quality magazines and daily newspapers for the lonely diner (which I often am).
The food not only looks but tastes exquisite, with ample portions, with some meals accompanied by a complementary salad. After a hearty soup, you can have a king prawn tagine serves with couscous and if you have room left, try the apple pancakes for desert with a cup of black coffee...... or the brownies... or the apple pannetone.... oh yes and the cheesecake...
Great value for money and with all the other pluses, we keep going back for more.... Thanks La Cafeteria

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Posted by Lucy Serpell (registered user) on 07 Aug 2007 14:16
This place is a godsend. Excellent balanced and nicely presented food from snacks to full meals, served by incredibly friendly and helpful staff. e.g. the manager lent me his umbrella once cos I had a small baby and it was raining!
Very child friendly and has changing facilities.
And yes, they ARE going to open in the evenings soon

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