Gallery Cafe — Restaurant in London

This impressive set of Bethnal Green buildings have been around since 1889 and sit handsomely next to the vintage beauty that is York Hall. Collectively known as St. Margaret's House and home to local NGOs, charities and social entrepreneurs, not to mention the intriguing charity shop and The Create Place down the road, St Margaret’s House rears its mighty shoulders across a fair chunk of Old Ford Road, and rightly so with all the honest goodness that they are pumping back into the community. Nestled into its side is the charm offensive going by the name of The Gallery Café.

Warning: we're going to say the v word; all the food in The Gallery Cafe is vegetarian or vegan, and it’s blooming tasty too. The string of lights which stretch out to adorn the cafe's front, sets the scene for a very friendly and comforting welcome that entices you in. We are not talking Cath Kitson sickly sweet comfort, more heart of the home, lived-in kitchen comfort with its parquet floor, mix of sturdy benches, sofas and cafe tables. On the menu you’ll find some solid staples with veggie curries, halloumi and falafel wraps, pizzas and daily specials which we are told are in much demand, plus most menu options can come in vegan versions too, you just need to ask. The night GLP popped in for a nosey, we opted for the veggie burger with cheese and gherkin extras. The extra we didn’t expect were the size of the chips - think fish finger girth. Couple this up with the doughy buns from the local E5 Bakehouse (also a GLP) and salad hitting the fresh mark, this food was packing a serious veggie goodness punch.

In keeping with the community feel there's a real focus on sustainable and local suppliers. Along with E5 expect beverages from Tea Pigs, London Fields Brewery and Belvoir juices, and here’s the best bit - all profits go back into the café. This isn't hipster and it ain't hippy, the night we visited there was a mix of after work eaters, quick-drink before homers, locals, coffee slurpers, surfer types, and a few students (there's free wifi). The staff seemed like your mates and they were more than happy to recommend a non veggie the best route through the menu. If this wasn’t enough to take you over to Bethnal Green, the café hosts a roster of intriguing events from the brilliantly named Litmus Test science open mic night, comedy and curry evenings to film screenings in the chapel out the back (yes really) and folk nights. Arriving early is always recommended and a night like no other guaranteed. If you fancy some no fuss honest food, with heart and community soul, this is worth the wander down...

This is a review from a regular customer.

The location is great and the layout of the cafe nice; natural light and a little yard to sit outside. The food is OK, sometimes overcooked, which is not healthy, taste is just above average.

Very low hygiene - dirty cups, coffee delays due to short of glasses/cups (!), dirty cutlery, dirty toilets.

If you are looking for the worst service ever, you need to go to this place. I have been going to this cafe for over 13+ years now. Why? Because sadly it is very convenient. Though, every time I visit say "I will never go back". And then I give it another chance. SO wrong! The staff is not just rude, it is something beyond that, which makes me wonder how they manage to recruit such nasty and sad people all those years. Maybe it is the charity's mission to support mental people, and if this is the case then I wouldn't be so negative in this review. This is something I say not based on 1 visit but based on tens of visits throughout the years. And it is not just one member of staff, it is ALL of them.

One day a couple of years ago I picked an empty glass from the counter and it exploded in my hand. My boyfriend was shocked because it was such a weird thing to happen and because I was bleeding. The waitress said "Oh, these glasses do that sometimes because of the temperature change" (!!!) Seriously?? No empathy, zero apology, she didn't even give me a napkin to dry the blood. My boyfriend asked for plasters. Plasters provided, thank God. Needless to say that my boyfriend refuses to even walk by this cafe since that experience.

Another time, that was early February 2019, I had a meeting with 4 other colleagues in there and there was no heating while 3 Celsius outside.

Last Wednesday I went with my friend for lunch. We ordered separately. I had to go 10 mins later to remind them about my juice (2 waitresses behind the counter, one serving the other one just looking around), juice came, no apology. We had to remind them 3 times about my friend's food and we almost exhausted our lunch break time just waiting. Food arrived 30 mins later, it was the wrong order and again no apology.

Closing this epic review, I want to apologise myself for being a customer all these years. It seems that coming back again and again, spending money on food and drinks, bringing new people in etc, is something that annoys Gallery Cafe so, I promise, last Wednesday was...

The food was very delicious and the portion size was good, probably slightly over priced but obviously being a vegan in London you'd expect that. The service though was absolutely horrendous, rude and incredibly pretentious and I really can't stress that enough. There is an air of genuine hostility and a very stuck up attitude from all the staff. I had never been here before and they acted like I should already know how everything is done. For Example:

I asked for soya milk in the tea - "Uhh we use mostly oat milk, would you like that?" No, I asked for soya.

"Can I have a jug of water?" Scoffs "Uhh we don't do that here, you take a glass and get it from the pre-filtered tap over there." The glasses provided are literally shot glasses, so if you're thirsty you will have to get up many times to refill your own water.

The woman gave me attitude because after placing my order I didn't pick up a table number from the counter and take it to my own table . Not that I have an issue with doing this but if you don't inform the customer, how are we to know?

I asked for vinegar and other condiments such as salt and the server returned with a solitary bottle of ketchup.

Returning to the poor service; after the meal I requested the remaining food to be bagged for taking away and after ten minutes we are still waiting. I take the food to the till and again ask for it to be bagged, the woman who appears to be the supervisor admits to forgetting but will not take the plate from me, despite being free, instead insisting I put it down on the counter away from her and someone else will get it.

Whilst leaving, despite walking past two staff we didn't get so much as a thank you or goodbye. Everything was too much trouble for these people.

A few tourists came in who had appeared to misplace or loose something whilst at the restaurant earlier in the day, the supervisor (sic?) could not be less helpful and when they turned their backs I caught her rolling her eyes hard and shaking her head at the audacity.

Being really pretentious and pedantic myself I could mention that they took my plate back even though my cutlery was not positioned to indicate that I had finished, though I don't really care about this.

I've walked into other vegan restaurants wearing leather and had better & friendlier service.

Good food, worst...