Albion Caff

Address: 2-4 Boundary Street Shoreditch London E2 7DD
Tel: 020 7729 1051
Web: http://www.albioncaff.co.uk/
Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 8am-12am

Our rating

Where crackling and apple sauce is an actual dish

Average price for meal for two, with drinks: £40

Shoreditch hides its snobbery behind pink lipstick, penny farthings and shutter shades. It’s OK to head eastwards if you know where to find Jewish delis and Bangladeshi curries, but if you don’t, you won’t see change from a tenner for a few tarted-up cupcakes and some mineral water.

Unless, that is, you ready your tum for a trip to Terence Conran’s Albion: Gobbler’s favourite posh caff.

When a bigwig goes basic, scepticism is a must. Especially when said bigwig plonks his greasy spoon on top of his proper venture (the Boundary restaurant downstairs is way proper). In reality, this layout has the rewarding effect of making you feel sorry for the rich folk tucked in the cellar because the food on top is heavenly.

You get to share their loos, anyway.

Stop by and dawdle over big satisfying pots of tea and coffee at only £2 - no need to nurse your latte while you wait out a downpour. For chewing, you can kick things off with egg and cress bridge rolls and bacon, sausage and egg sandwiches, but the baker’s oven is the main attraction. Out of it comes bouncy cupcakes, flapjacks, scones, gingerbread and millionaire squares from 50p a go. These properly-priced baked bits get eaten so quickly that the caff set up a Twitter account for its oven – The Baker Tweet Box (twitter.com/albionsoven) – that tweets the arrival of each tray. Not that handy unless you happen to be the proud owner of a pink lipstick, a penny farthing, or a pair of shutter shades, but fun for a frivolous follow.

So there’s tea. But the proper food is on the money as well; exactly what we all want to be eating, without meaningless potato puree or red wine jus. Top up pies, sausages and kedgeree with sides of pork crackling and apple sauce, mushy peas and beef dripping chips. House wine is available by the carafe, which always feels thrifty, even when it isn’t.

No standing on ceremony for pudding either, which is good, as by this point you’re likely to be so full of Great British stodge, that just sitting will pose a problem. Don’t fancy lemon meringue pie, fruit crumble or bread and butter pudding? (whatsamatterwivyou?) Have a bowl of egg custard instead.

And that’s the best thing about the Albion - if you just want to nibble crackling while you drink your fourth cup of tea, you can.

Average member rating

Comments

Janet - 16th September 2009, 8:42am

After reading this review curiosity got the better of me so I took a trip to the Albion with a friend. We shared a Welsh Rabbit, (not rarebit here, who knows why) which was delicious and splashed out on steak and chips which was also near perfect. We were too stuffed to get pudding but i did buy a slice of lemon drizzle to go. This lemon drizzle was only ok and probably the one thing that stopped me giving a 5 rating. I cant wait to go again, both the service and atmosphere were great and i have unfinished business with the dessert menu!

Laura - 16th September 2009, 1:46pm

I hear you. I have since had an only OK, slightly dry, butterfly cake. BUT THOSE MILLIONAIRE SQUARES - OH BOY. they more than make up for it.

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Where crackling and apple sauce is an actual dish Shoreditch hides its snobbery behind pink lipstick, penny farthings and shutter shades. It’s OK to head eastwards if you know where to find Jewish delis and Bangladeshi curries, but if you don’t, you won’t see change from a tenner for a few tarted-up cupcakes and some mineral water. Unless, that is, you ready your tum for a trip to Terence Conran’s Albion: Gobbler’s favourite posh caff. When a bigwig goes basic, scepticism is a must. Especially when said bigwig plonks his greasy spoon on top of his proper venture (the Boundary restaurant downstairs is way proper). In reality, this layout has the rewarding effect of making you feel sorry for the rich folk tucked in the cellar because the food on top is heavenly. You get to share their loos, anyway. Stop by and dawdle over big satisfying pots of tea and coffee at only £2 - no need to nurse your latte while you wait out a downpour. For chewing, you can kick things off with egg and cress bridge rolls and bacon, sausage and egg sandwiches, but the baker’s oven is the main attraction. Out of it comes bouncy cupcakes, flapjacks, scones, gingerbread and millionaire squares from 50p a go. These properly-priced baked bits get eaten so quickly that the caff set up a Twitter account for its oven – The Baker Tweet Box (twitter.com/albionsoven) – that tweets the arrival of each tray. Not that handy unless you happen to be the proud owner of a pink lipstick, a penny farthing, or a pair of shutter shades, but fun for a frivolous follow. So there’s tea. But the proper food is on the money as well; exactly what we all want to be eating, without meaningless potato puree or red wine jus. Top up pies, sausages and kedgeree with sides of pork crackling and apple sauce, mushy peas and beef dripping chips. House wine is available by the carafe, which always feels thrifty, even when it isn’t. No standing on ceremony for pudding either, which is good, as by this point you’re likely to be so full of Great British stodge, that just sitting will pose a problem. Don’t fancy lemon meringue pie, fruit crumble or bread and butter pudding? (whatsamatterwivyou?) Have a bowl of egg custard instead. And that’s the best thing about the Albion - if you just want to nibble crackling while you drink your fourth cup of tea, you can. - http://www.thriftygobbler.com/20/

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