Cafe Cecilia - (Near Hackney, london)

Oliver Yung Ever so often, one craves that hearty, honest meal and for me, that’s Chaconia, a Trinidadian restaurant at the heart of Deptford. The simple and clean store front veils the rich and exciting flavours that belie. I ordered the chicken curry and rice and was persuasively nudged by a fellow diner to try the goat curry instead; fortunately, the most generous proprietress indulged my gustatory fancies and offered me a small side of that. It was a plate of absolute joy - both curries had distinct flavours and the meats were perfectly stewed, retaining their structure while being succulent to the bite. The rice was well flavoured and was the perfect accompaniment to those rich curries. At £5, this was an absolute steal. I’ll be back.

Eve Overton 10/10 experience and lovely service ❤️ The food was so lovely and really flavourful. Especially the okra fries. Definitely will come back when I have the chance ☺️

Emily Carlson We went for the soft launch, and everything was delicious! We really liked the interiors and how they had done up the railway arch. It all felt very HK, reminded me a lot of places like Ho Lee Fook but minimalist. The wontons and prawn toast were my favourites. The drinks also looked interesting, so would come back for cocktails! The staff were definitely the highlight though - everyone was so friendly and helpful and it made the whole night feel extra lovely.

Britney Dossett The perfect cafe. Delicious food, great coffee and matcha, cozy seating. Im gluten free, and they were so accommodating. They ran out of gluten free bread and ran to get some. It was so sweet. After that, they prepared a beautiful French toast with fruit, nuts and honey for me. You are in good hands here.

Tim S The steak and chips box was great - steak was cooked perfectly and full of flavour and the salsa verde was fresh and delicious. Coleslaw was fresh and not swimming in synthetic mayonnaise like the usual industrially produced stuff from a bucket. Ill be back to try a burger soon!

Jan Hlavička A friend recommended Mess Cafe to me, and I can say with certainty that our friendship has been elevated as a result. There is not a single aspect of this establishment I could criticise. The interior is intimate and elegantly cosy, the staff are unfailingly attentive and gracious, and the food is of such quality that it feels almost transportive. The menu is so enticing that we spent a considerable amount of time simply debating our choices, as every dish appeared worthy of selection. With only around twenty five tables in total, advance booking is highly advisable. I fully intend to return and explore more of what this exceptional kitchen has to offer.