Abasto

Stopped in for lunch. Casual, sophisticated, clean décor. The staff seemed happy and were accommodating. They take Apple Pay.
The largest part of the restaurant’s seating is located in the front of the shop. A smaller area is in the wine section. It is in this room only that you can drink wine and beer. If you dine in the larger front section of the restaurant, sorry, no wine or beer. Strange.
They have lunch-​type food displayed on a counter in the front part of the restaurant. Freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, house speciality focaccia and empanadas. This is Argentina food. Dishes usually heavy on the meat, but I ordered vegetarian and they let me create a combination of the salads and I ordered one sweetcorn empanada. They are generous with their servings.
There are also refrigerated displays of packaged food for take away — cheeses, olives, meats, drinks, etc.
I liked the place, the food, the staff’s positive attitude, the neighborhood. I will go back. Just wish I could drink wine or beer in the front part of the restaurant.
Had three different entrees for lunch. Around 7£.

I was lucky enough to secure a spot in one of their monthly? Private wine tastings. For 10£ we were given 4 individual components of a blended wine (unavailable on the market for purchase) and then at the end we tasted the final blend. It was a lesson in discerning the different individual components of the wine. It was run by the owner of the vineyard. It was quite a laid back and relaxing experience.
At the end of the tasting we were able to apply our 10£ fee to a bottle of wine! Awesome! I’ll be back here for sure. Just call the store and you can reserve spots for the next tasting

A relative newcomer to Connaught street this Argentinean butcher and caffe is very spacious and airy with wooden tables displaying sandwiches cakes and other gourmet local or imported goods.
Not sure if they butcher on site but there is a number of fridges displaying fresh cuts and other types of sausages and meats and accompanying dishes. The cuts are beautiful but they are also pricey. You will find Argentinean wines and there always seem to be wines for public tasting. Recently they had a beautiful Malbec v another argentenian nouveau.
The coffee beans they use are just so good and the lattes and flat whites are very smooth as good as Monmouth. .maybe even better.
Service is friendly and there is free wifi and a selection of periodicals magazines and daily papers to read while sipping your cup of joe and gazing outside the spacious windows.
The staff also seems to speak spanish tho not sure if they are Argentinean, south American or neighbours from Spain… or a combination of above.
Great for new mums as there space to do pirouettes with prams and buggies.
They have the best coffee and service on the strip. It is better than le pain quotidienne across the road and even cocomaya down the street.
It’s my staple Saturday and Sunday coffee joint.