Tom's Delicatessen

Stopped here on Saturday for a quick breakfast and noticed signs that this local favourite is resting on its laurels slightly. The restaurant was quite busy and it took several minutes for one of the many waitresses to seat me. Once seated, I spent several more minutes waiting for a menu, despite being almost opposite the coffee and till where most of the staff were preening, exchanging poor jokes and attempting to operate the touch screen system for the till (which took an entire four people). I watched one poor soul come begging for cutlery, whilst a young girl who appeared to be in charge twirled round in the middle of the walkway, trying to figure out who her coffees should go to. It's not a large cafe. Her tone may have been cheerful and professional, but she couldn't hold an order in her head for ten seconds.

I asked for a glass of the delicious looking fresh orange juice, with ice. It came, without ice. Once this was rectified, there was a short palaver where the young head waitress told me that they were short of menus - definitely a new one for me! - and that perhaps people were nicking them! Ha ha! Finally she found me the battered looking weekday menus and specials list, letting me know that the weekend menu was nearly the same. How helpful. I'll just guess at what I'm missing out on then.

I had the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and caviar on a toasted muffin. The muffin was slightly too chewy, one of those breads you have to saw through vigorously once it has absorbed a bit of moisture. The eggs were pleasant tho not earth shattering - not as fresh I had hoped they would be. The salmon was lovely but could have been cut more thinly as it was a little chewy in parts - but it had excellent flavour, light smokiness and not overly salty or luminously orange.

Overall, I'd stick to take-away items from the appetising cake and sandwich selection unless you have some talent-spotting to do. Westbourne Grove is heaving with honey-skinned glamour girls and boys.
Comment on this reader review

Robyn
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 07, 2006

The best place to go when you want to gather with some mates for a good natter, great coffee and very yummy and filling brunch. The locals know it, which is why we are perfectly happy waiting for a table on the weekends.
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Mel
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, November 29, 2005