That Place On The Corner

I’ve known of this place for ages as I work in the area as a nanny, I’d dropped in for some of the baby groups they hold each morning and had the odd coffee here and there (all great) However, last week, I finally got round to eating dinner here. With a three year old en tow, eating out is always a little pain in the hole… two minutes in and their drinks all over the table, they’ve pulled out all of the sugar sachets and you’re beginning to wish you hadn’t bothered. But in here, the table clothes are wipe-​downs, the cups are plastic and there’s a fancy dress playing area for the kids to go nuts in whilst you wait for food to arrive. There’s no child-​haters giving you the side eye over their mac book pro’s anywhere to be see. So, three year old. you can climb all over your chair to your hearts content.
This is very much a children’s restaurant. polka dot tables, beautiful bright paintings on the walls, half sized knives and forks etc but the food is fantastic. The children’s dishes are simple and child friendly but are nicely put together with fresh home made ingredients. great pesto. I had a salad which was lovely, very generous portions. neither of us could finish them. The three year olds meal was free with mine, too. So it was a total bargain.
I’ll definitely return, it was nice to relax over a meal out with a child and for them to be able to get up and wander about without annoying people.

That Place on The Cornerreally recommend this bright, lively children’s café, run by two friendly, fun, long term pals (and mums) who’ve turned this memorable location into into a buzzing local resource. Pretty much purpose built for children, with unusual touchesmassive doll’s house and dressing up box, lovely murals, enormous pink sofa and a busy rota of kid’s classes, including singing, dance, craft, cookery and a regular disco. Also in great demand for events such as birthday parties. Children tend to love the long, airy interior and dive headlong into the generous selection of books and toys there are also special kid’s meal promotions and the menu is varied and delicious with ethically sourced ingredients and fairtrade coffee. They do a great line of ice cream (always a bonus) and act as a kind of magnet for groups of mums, dads and nannies who like to have somewhere to to drink coffee and chat after doing a fun activity (which the adults seem to enjoy as much as the children). The proprietors are lovely and take the time to get to know their customers and help the tutors to promote and build their classes here. A great local business with a thriving community feel also reflected in their sister café, ‘That Place on the Green’ less than a minute away, in the centre of Newington Green.

SOMETHING JUST NOT QUITE RIGHT
This formula should work… but somehow doesnt quite.
The staff are always surley and unaccomodating…
Everytime I’ve been there, there’s some element of dissatisfaction on my behalf with some slight element of rip-​off.
One time there was a lot of sighing about finding someone to open the till to give me my change. Another time they tried to charge me for a dance class we had arrived 10 minutes before the end of and my daughter had been cajoled by the teacher to join the end of. Another time we were told kids eat free on a Friday with an adult meal, but then it transpired to be only certain meals and only one child etc etc. And so on and so on…
Shame…in principle, it should be a great place to go…

To be honest, as a place there could be so much more going on, but the ladies that run it seem to spoil it, they are rude and the service is very bad. The food that my little one was with added sugar, not sure why they added this to the dish. The ships that I had must have been sitting there for ages and on my order re-​heated in a microwave, I mean I even heard it.
Not a place to take my children to eat, for play yes this seems to be the place to have fun, as along as the ladies are not around.

You may ask why would a childless, late twenties woman have any interest in rubbing shoulders with the buggy brigade and hang out in a children’s café? Because this childless, late twenties woman at times, has the observational skills of a gnat so had no idea what I was walking into. First foot through the door revealed the child-​centric environment and feeling in need of fuelling, I decided to stay. Plenty space, big tables (and little ones!) with big spaces in between (for those four seater, all singing all, dancing pushchairs) and a menu to satisfy all sizes of stomachs and appetites. Secretly I was in heaven. I chose from the grown-​up menu of course big, delicious salad nicoise laden with seared tuna and anchovy fillets, dripping in just the right amount of French vinaigrette and a steaming cup of coffee Does it really take me sitting at a big table amongst children, reading the paper to feel grown up? And then there’s a kids menu with plenty a delicious option– shepherd’s pie for one, chicken goujons another and for even smaller mouths a ‘baby blend of the day’- (not blended baby as the name may suggest –shudder– but blended seasonal veg). All this and a play area at the far end of the café to keep the little tots entertained post feeding.

That Place on the Corner is so much more than a corner café. This is a great place to go if you have kids or are babysitting. I meet a friend and her little girl at the café and at first I had an inner groan as I entered and say the space filled with children. I love kids, but since I don’t have any an afternoon of screaming kids is not very appealing. But I was immediately impressed by the number of activities they have for kids, it gave the grown-​ups a bit of a break in a space that feels very safe and kid friendly.
This is a café for kids. There was face painting, dress up, stories and all sorts of treats that kids love. Even though the noise level got a bit high from time to time, it was just fun to sit and watch kids have a good time. We sipped tea and were able to talk without constantly hovering over our little charge all afternoon. It was a nice break for Mom.

I’m not really qualified to review this place, not having been in. But on many occasions I’ve passed by and been drawn by the atmosphere. And, having noticed it has no reviews at present, I did a little research and felt it deserves some attention for it’s concept.
It’s billed as a children’s café. And judging by coverage on the web, it succeeds well, having a play area, childrens’ and adults’ menus and regular events and classes.
I’d usually give a place I’ve not been myself but had heard good things of a 4 star. In this case though I am tempted to downgrade it to 3. The reason being that menu Why on earth do so many people persist in the idea that kids can’t eat the same food as adults? Yes, they do need a slightly higher ratio of calories. But that’s easily taken care off with a few treats or a larger pud in proportion to the main. (And the average British kid’s diet is, of course, way too high in calories these days anyway). I have no problem with the kids having smaller portions (and the fact that it’s further divided here into big and little kids is great), but why not have big and little versions of all the items on the menu if this is meant as a café for children and their adults? Why is the salad nicoise and the goats cheese only available for adults? And the chicken goujons for kids? These would be easy enough to scale surely?
Somehow I doubt the ice age family headed out for something soft and pappy for the kids when they were having giant cave bear. The toddlers might have got it pre-​chewed by mum, but that’s as far as it went. And where’s the evidence that kids will go on from kid’s food to adult food in some miraculous way when they reach 18? Quite the opposite it seems to me. It seems many of my generation and younger who lived on kids menus have never progressed and still think a meal means something bland, well pulped and without vegetables, especially raw ones. Happily I mostly rejected the kids menu and went for something off the adults’. I’m a fussy eater, but happy to try new things.
I guess this still gets 4 for reputation, quality ingredients, and, to be fair, the fact that many items are available in 3 sizes. But I still don’t like the menu divisions