New Gallery London

I live right around the corner from this place and work from home, so was excited about a potential new place to have lunch or potentially sit with a laptop when I need to get away from my desk for a think. As such I've tried it three times... and won't go back.

The first time I went the noise of construction was loud enough that it wasn't pleasant enough to stay, so had a beer and left. Didn't hold that against them - they clearly opened unfinished and I figured things would change.

The second time I came in, weeks later, a new exhibit was being put up. The music was blasting for the benefit of the arts students putting up the art. I got ignored for quite a while trying to order some soup and wine, and when the wine got to me it tasted like it had come from a many days open bottle.

So, fair play. It's a cafe/gallery. Sometimes it will be loud.

Back today, ordered a full English, there is AGAIN a new exhibit being put up. So not great. Guy with laptop in corner looking annoyed that you can't really work there. The owner is present and contributing to the general un-niceness of the place by planning something with a colleague at full volume three inches away from me in an empty cafe, stamping on boxes, etc. So fine. Atmosphere isn't great, but I'm here for food.

But when the food arrives it's just kind of awful... super low grade sausages that leave slime on your teeth and I left on the plate, a piece of bacon that was all fat and no bacon (seriously, I don't eat low fat, I'm not being picky... there just weren't no bacon), an egg that tasted re-cooked, and a burnt recooked hashbrown that hadn't actually been warmed up. The beans were fine... as beans tend to be.

I guess the place is banking on the pizza and beer evening crowd, and it might be a great place for that esp with the arts school nearby. But unfortunately it's not worth going during the daytime and it's a shame they're cutting that segment of the local business out. Hard pressed to figure out a reason to ever go back when you have Cafe 57 (awesome food, slightly but not much higher pricing, great staff, great atmosphere, and a REAL gallery attached and free!) and a couple of local caffs (cheaper, no worse in atmosphere, and better food) nearby.

Good luck guys. I'd love to have something successful in that spot as it's good for Camberwell, even if you've lost my business!