Mike's Cafe — Restaurant in London

Racism and Overcompensation

We are an Asian Australian family of four and dined at Mike’s for lunch. When it came time to order I ordered on behalf of my family as two of us were using the restroom. Whilst taking orders, the woman serving us—who appeared to be a part-owner of the cafe—asked me in a flippant tone: “I take it you are the spokesperson for the family? Do the rest of them not speak English?” I assured her we all hold a native command of English. Thence, the woman leaned over to my sister to take an order from her to test if she could indeed speak English. After completing the order, I handed the menus back to her and with a smile said again: “English is our mother tongue.” This is when the comedy started.

The next 30 minutes was textbook overcompensation. Every five minutes (!) we were asked if everything was alright, and if we needed anything. This was not observed of any other table around us. “Would you like balsamic vinegar with your chips?” “Would you like olive oil for the chips? “Hot sauce for the chips?” My answer was no to all the above; as an aside—I am not aware of any place, proximate or antipodean, where chips are dipped in balsamic vinegar or olive oil! I was thus most bemused when the balsamic and olive oil were brought over a few minutes later anyway. At the end of the meal we were also given four lollipops with the bill tab, again something I did not observe of any other table.

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Mike’s not because of the food but rather because how entertaining I found the whole experience once I made hinted to the woman that her line of questioning was inappropriate. For presumably experienced professionals in the business, I would expect that they understand that such behaviour would not be palatable to most diners. So just as we left behind the bottles of balsamic and olive oil and the lollipops, I leave here the following words to the owners: I cannot aggregate your hospitable (but ultimately unnecessary) overcompensation with your preceding decorum, and you will be held to account in...

Warning, If you don’t look “European” it will be a very cold experience. I waited to order for 20 mins, while the wait staff simply looked at me and said multiple times that it would be “just a minute” while they continued to take orders from 2 other tables who arrived before me. After ordering, Mike, the owner continued to walk back and forth while eyeing me and my partner as if we were going to steal the cutlery. Meanwhile he continued greeting and chatting with other customers who were not of Asian descent, coincidentally, even those arriving later. Other customers who sat down after us were also greeted by Mike and had a nice chat, my partner and I, as well as the other Asian people seated nearby were simply tolerated unless it was required for them to collect plates and pay.

My partner and I both ordered a full English, standard, the price was decent but if you want a better service, I HIGHLY suggest going elsewhere unless you enjoy being “tolerated”, side-eyed, ignored and served basic food. Near the end, I voluntarily left the table to pay at the desk as they were having signal difficulties with their card reader, I left my cardigan there. Other wait staff, appeared out of nowhere and suddenly swept in to eagerly clean up WITHOUT even asking if I was finished. I was not finished. We had left our coffee on our table to enjoy for a bit after paying however it was all gone and the waiter had even taken my cardigan away. I tried to enjoy it, but the experience was horrible. Never going back there again. I don’t recommend this place at all, unless you enjoy that...

Visited Mikes for a lunch. Very cosy place. Friendly staff and very good service! I had Mike’s bagel and my friend Homemade pancake. The bagel was warm and toasted, massive portion of cream cheese, salmon, avocado, rocket salad and poached eggs, the meal comes with fresh orange juice. I was hungry when ordering but was not able to finish the meal. Everything was tasty, but there was too much cheese. It overpowered everything else and by the end of the meal became a bit too heavy and sicky. As well there was just so massive portion of salmon, it was just too much. Meal became too fishy and oily. Heavy… with this amount of cheese and salmon, only half portion would be enough.

Pancake was beautiful, again huge. One pancake, 1cm thick and over the whole plate! So tasty. Covered with fresh strawberries and blueberries. Definitely go to for sweet lovers!

Coffee was lovely and freshly squeezed orange juice as well.

I will definitely come back. Only will choose...