SOME of the best food spots are in the places you’d least suspect, which is what I found when I went to Tripadvisor’s top-rated restaurant in London.
It’s number one out of over 20,000 restaurants in the city, and yet is dubbed as London’s ‘best kept secret’.
I popped into De Vine and was welcomed by its lovely owner, Sid[/caption]
There are lots of lunch options and an all-day breakfast too[/caption]
With over a thousand five star reviews and a solid top score on Tripadvisor, I had to check out the London caff.
The first challenge is finding it as De Vine Restaurant Coffee Bar is tucked underneath the Fenchurch Street railway bridge.
As first impressions go, my very first thought was ‘this is something straight out of EastEnders‘.
Heading inside made me feel more like I was in a classic East London caff.
It had just 12 tables and there was the atmospheric sound of clinking mugs and the smell of cooking bacon.
Entering De Vine felt like I had left central London completely.
Walking in, I was immediately greeted by the lovely owner Sid who runs the cafe alongside his wife.
It quickly became clear that the cafe was a spot frequented by regulars as Sid called over to one man who came in behind us and asked if he wanted his ‘usual’.
Taking a seat I had a peek at the double-sided menu and although the cafe might be small, there’s a lot to choose from.
At the very front of the cafe is the hot food counter where there are huge jacket potatoes with a choice of toppings and enormous freshly-made paninis.
It felt like I was in a small East London caff[/caption]
You might miss it as De Vine is tucked away under a railway bridge[/caption]
Chatting with another customer, she told me that she was a regular and never strayed from the De Vine’s breakfast sandwich.
She even went as far as to say it was the “best she’d ever had”.
The breakfast sandwich comes with options for one, two or three fillings ranging from £4.70 to £6.30.
You can choose from egg, sausage, bacon, cheese, mushrooms, hash brown, black pudding and avocado.
One of Devine Restaurant’s most popular meals is the all-day breakfast, in particular, the ‘Full Monty’.
With this you get two fried eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato, baked beans, chips, toast and either a tea or coffee for £14 – and the generous portions won’t disappoint either.
Other options include the ‘Full English’ which you can get for £10, as is the vegetarian option.
There’s also a choice of omelette which comes with chips or salad and baked beans from £9.
The amount of returning customers says a lot about the cafe[/caption]
What I went for, at Sid’s suggestion, was a toasted panini with breaded chicken, melted brie and sweet chilli sauce with a side of chips.
But there were lots of other choices too from tuna and mozzarella to Parma ham, sundried tomatoes and basil.
When I asked for a cappuccino alongside it, Sid excitedly told me it would be the best I’ve ever tasted.
Just minutes later he brought me back a frothy coffee with a dusting of chocolate in a white mug.
It was up there with the best, warm, rich and not too sweet – drinks are very reasonably priced, a cappuccino or latte will set you back just £3.
When my lunch order came, I’ll admit it was nothing to shout about presentation wise, but the proof is in the taste.
The panini was lovely and warm with crispy chicken, a generous amounts of brie and the sweet tang of the chilli sauce – but nothing overpowered the other.
Check out the hot food counter too which serves jacket potatoes[/caption]
As for the chips, they were just as I like them – crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Sid came over a few times to check everything was to my liking, which of course it was, and just a general chat – again something you’re more likely to find in a smaller community.
It’s something Sid’s known for too as plenty of other visitors praised the caff for its customer service.
In fact, that’s what it’s most highly-rated for on Tripadvisor – a friendly vibe goes a long way, especially in the city and that’s where this delightful tiny caff shines.
Along with an affordable, simple but tasty menu, you can’t go wrong – I’d say number one spot at this family-run spot is well-deserved.
For more great foodie spots, here are the three restaurants on a train, boat and treehouse named among the best in the world by TripAdvisor.
And to get tasty food abroad, here’s how Cyann Fielding finds the cheapest place to eat in every city she visits.
