Poetry Cafe

A wonderful venue, one can partake of a delicious meal, in my case, tasty and unusual choices of Vegetarian! To a great extent, customers can design their meals. Friendly staff only too willing to talk food. The big bonus is The Basement! poetry is heard here, also music. One can relax and take in unusual culture, from modern to way out, full programme available so choose what you like, or listen to something entirely new.
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Lizzie Don
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, May 03, 2008

I am trying to organise a group of creative writiers from my university to come to the cafe next week. I have been a few times and aways had a warm reception. I found it a fantastic experience to hear different poets read and have the opportunity to talk with like minded people afterwards.

I cannot understand why somebody would choose to come to the cafe and sit upstairs, talking loudly when people are reading, it is called the POETRY cafe after all and not a rowdy pub! I was therefore shocked at a review on this page and chose to write my own review. The bar staff have always been more than polite and the coffee is lovely. It's so nice to sit and talk QUIETLY,read, or do some writing in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
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iona davis
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 09, 2008

I have been here twice and both times was rather shocked by the genuine rudeness of the bar-staff. The first time we went we ordered snacks (bread and cheese, salad, soup etc), coffees and drinks. The service was horrendously slow and erratic and the waitress was rather tearful, but the food was wholesome and hearty. However, at one point the waitress barked at us to be quiet because there was a reading on - even though we hadn't been pre-warned or even raised our voices.

Giving the venue the benefit of the doubt we returned. This time there was music playing downstairs so we assumed we could talk and ordered a bottle of wine. It arrived without glasses, they came 10 mins later and when we requested them the waitress became distressed and slightly aggressive. Then she told us we had to be very quiet. If we so much as spoke to each other she glared at us balefully. It was an impossible situation. We felt extremely uncomfortable and inhibited so didn't order food, downed our drinks and left. Surely if people aren't allowed to talk when there is a reading downstairs then the cafe should be closed? Or perhaps a door dividing the upstairs from the basement would be a good idea?

This is not a relaxed venue and the staff have an attitude problem, but if you like being told off for chatting with your friends then go ahead and brave it!
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Hannah Borno
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Thursday, April 06, 2006

The Poetry Cafe is a wonderful hang-out for poetd and non-poets alike. Prepared to be inspired not just by the local bards (or wannabe bards in many cases!) but also by the food. It's all vegetarian; but offers quite a lot of variety. The chefs vary too -but the soups and salads are always consistently good. All the bar staff bring an individual personality and informality that seems rare in London these days. It can get busy - especially if there is a reading on - and the seating is a little cramped and limited. But if you haven't been to this cosy little hideaway in Covent Garden...check it out.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, December 19, 2005