On a sleepy, snow covered day in London, any cafe with the heating on, food ready to go and a place to sit would struggle not to impress. However, The Pantry, Wandsworth would be a bit special on any day of the year with it’s stylish charm, good food and hearty welcome.
It’s tucked away in the beautifully village-like setting of Old York Road in Wandsworth town centre and has a real homely feel. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have a classy edge to it though, which makes a visit a bit of a treat, with a cool combination of rustic village flare with contemporary city design.
The pick of the menu for us was the soup of the day, especially for a wintery lunch, which comes with some really thick chunky bread and tasty butter. It was thick and crammed with vegetables to get us set for a long day in London, so it hit the spot perfectly. The cups of tea were spot on too, along with some great cakes and buns, which are available for desert or just for a snack with your hot drinks. There’s also a packed breakfast menu, sandwiches and ciabatta for warmer days.
If you’re looking for a bigger hit at breakfast, they have The Full Pantry, which is a take on full English and includes poached eggs with sauteed mushrooms, sausage, ham, tomatoes and toasted sour dough bread. It’s a long way away from being a greasy spoon, but it is a pretty big start to the day.
The Pantry is a little on the expensive side for a little cafe (The Full Pantry will set you back £12, for example), which is another reason why it’s a bit of a treat, but if you’re in the Wandsworth area and looking for a nice place to eat, it’s definitely worth calling in. The waitresses are really friendly, and it’s got a really nice feel to the place. The fact that there was a mass snowball fight going on outside while we were there added to the charm, admittedly, but either way The Pantry is class.
The Pantry Wandsworth review: 4.1/5
