Bonnington Cafe

Bonnington cafe is not dissimilar to guerrilla gourmet or secret supper clubs that are becoming more and more popular. The similarity lies in the rotating rota of 11 chefs and that in order to book a table you have to call them – mobile numbers are on the website. The difference is that the venue doesn’t change, but it is the size and feel of someone’s living room. A former squat, cooking for the community in the 80’s, it has survived as a great vegetarian restaurant. Don’t be put of by the website.

I can’t really remember what we ate when I was last there (see rum reference in next paragraph), but can tell you it was delicious and looked fantastic on  my plate and there was a lot of it. The desert was equally splendid. My dining partner thought the same and mentioned something about the great flavours and the way the grains, pulses, vegetables had expertly infused with exotic spices, flavours and the like. It’s about £12 a head for two courses.

You bring our own booze, however we didn’t take wine, but had bizarrely found a bottle of supermarket Sailor Jerry’s in our bag (as you do) that we cracked open. If our fellow diners were a little less serious, or were enjoying their food a little less we could have shared it round and perhaps cranked out a few sing-alongs on the piano near the kitchen and made a night of it as the restaurant was fully packed and we were up for some serious fun. Perhaps the community spirit of the bygone days had not rubbed of on us.

Bonnington’s is tiny and feels very much like a squat or someone’s living room however, the close proximity of the tables is homely rather than annoying. It has nice big windows on the front façade of the restaurant and in the evenings the atmosphere, my dining partner, thought straight from the Weimar Republic – the black piano, the lamp, the fag stained newspaper masquerading as wallpaper. On the opposite table to us sat a woman in a sea green sequined jacket with heavy mascara eyes – not quite Sally Bowles but she did add to the Berlin cabaret feel of the place…

Come taste the wine, Come hear the band. Come blow your horn, Start celebrating; Right this way. our table's waiting.

5/5

Starter £5
Mains £7
House Wine £BYO

Bonnington Café
11 Vauxhall Grove,
W8 1TD
www.bonningtoncafe.co.uk