Regulars and first-time guests on the things that bring them back to Lantern Row: an unhurried breakfast, a lunch plate described properly, a soup worth arriving early for, a full pastry counter, a well-made cup and a birthday at the long table.
Worth the walk down Lantern Row
“
The soup was gone by two, and I was told so at the counter before I ordered rather than after. I was steered to the lunch plate instead and handed a slice of that morning’s sourdough while I waited. The following Saturday I came back earlier, the soup was there, and the price on the board was exactly what I paid. That honesty is why I walk down Lantern Row instead of eating somewhere closer to home.
I walked in at nine on a Saturday without a booking and was seated within a minute. Jonah talked me through that week’s plate before I chose, including what had changed since the board went up. The toast arrived warm with the house preserve, nothing was upsold and nobody hurried me. I have eaten plenty of rushed breakfasts in this city, and this was the opposite.
Lunch here leaves you nourished rather than sleepy. One plate, chalked up that morning and described in a proper sentence instead of three words on a board. When I asked what was in the dressing, the answer came straight back from the kitchen. The price beside the plate was the price on my receipt, with no service charge added at the end.
I wrote to ask about the long table for ten for my mother’s birthday and had a written reply from Eleanor the same afternoon, with the cost spelled out and exactly what it covered. She said plainly that nothing was held until I confirmed, which I appreciated. On the day, the table at the back was far quieter than I expected for a room this size, and nobody rushed us.
The pastry counter really is at its fullest first thing. By half past two only three things were left, and Nadia told me what had sold out rather than steering me towards whatever remained. I asked about a box of croissants and cardamom knots for an office meeting and had a written quote that evening. The order was ready to collect on time, and no deposit was asked for at the counter.
I drink filter coffee and I ask fussy questions about it. Here I got real answers: which roaster, when the beans arrived and how long they had rested. The cup came at the right temperature, the price was on the board before I ordered, and when I asked for my second cup to be brewed differently, it simply was, with no lecture. A short list, done beautifully.
Breakfast and lunch are walk-in, Tuesday to Sunday. For the long table or a pastry order like the ones above, send us a message and the kitchen replies with the details and the price.
The price includes 5 hours of extra work to change the colours, the font family and the font size, add or remove pictures and paragraphs, and add visual effects and other tweaks. The design is 100% finished before anything is paid. Guaranteed.
