Terry’s Cafe

Found this gem near my hotel — very reminiscent of a spot I know back home called The Wooden Spoon — partly due to the quality of the food for the cost as well as the kind banter from the son of the establishment’s namesake. Another great British restaurant experience that defy’s postwar rationing stereotypes…

Terry’s was great! After finding out the hard way our original plan to go to a nearby café had been demo’ed for a new condo building, Unilocal directed us to Terry’s.
Service was super friendly and prices were incredibly reasonable. I had a delightful cappuccino and my friend had the hot chocolate latte. We both ordered omelettes — mine with ham, cheese and mushrooms and hers with tomatoes, mushrooms and onion.
My food was marvellous, however my friend found her omelette quite bland with her lack of cheese. We’ve both had delicious cheese-​free omelettes in the past, so this was the one downfall to our experience.
By the time we were done the tiny dining area had filled up! If I was in the area again, I’d definitely return and try one of their famous sandwiches.

Terry’s Café has been fantastic. My wife and I were in London for a week and this is the only place we visited twice. The Buck Rarebit is particular good but I am a sucker for melted cheese. I also tried the standard breakfast and the sausage, bacon, and egg are spot on.
The service is prompt, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the prices are reasonable. What more can you ask for?

Are you in the mood for a legit Full English Breakfast? Well, look no further than Terry’s. This place is the real deal as far as a fry up goes in London. I love the old school décor with pictures all over the wall down to the red and white checkered table cloths. I am a bread monger and I have never had toast as delicious as the toast served with my breakfast. A definite must for anyone looking for a yummy breakfast!
Nailed it!

I hated British food the first time I landed in London, but I’ve since come to appreciate the simple heartiness of the food that sustained the Brits through the Blitz: ploughman’s lunch, fish and chips, bubble and squeak, toad in the hole. I’m a pushover for things reminiscent of the 1940s (I missed my era) and Terry’s is a step back in time, an out of the way neighborhood English café with a bit of an east end feel. Not a place to go if you’re watching your cholesterol but, hey, cholesterol is what makes food taste good. Try the full English breakfast, even if the beans take a little getting used to.

This review is based on the coffee and the barista operating from the front of the café and it pains me to say because the place is an institution, but i’m feeling pretty negative about the place now. The coffee is OK but the service from the barista is not good. Pretty rude and surly. It’s not a good way to start the day being made to feel like a burden for her to even look at you yet alone serve you coffee. Basically I won’t go back because of her.

The most charming café in all of London run by the most wonderful owner– Austin. You could not possibly ask for a better experience. Friendly service, delicious food, lovely atmosphere. This is a locals café, and you feel so lucky to be able to experience such a gem. If you are in London and can get yourself over to Terry’s Café, I cannot recommend it enough!

Looking at the outside and then inside I expected it to be posh. Thankfully it wasn’t. This is a real café (not greasy spoon) with a sensibly limited menu. Not everything is amazing (all day breakfast yes, sausage and mash no) but it feels like a retreat from the hassle. Nice old music in the background, with lenty to look at on the walls — you could rest all day. Prices are above standard for the quality (and portion sizes) of the food but nonetheless I go back…

A wonderful place to start your day. I love sitting outside with a nice large cup of coffee and just watching all the people going to work. It’s a good thing I start at 9 :) Anyway, great food and coffee.

Would you believe it? Last week I saw Michel Roux junior begging for the recipe for Terry’s Mince Stew so expect it on the menu at Le Gavroche any time soon. This is surely the best café in London.

When ever I go to BSO in Southwark, It is a must do to go to Terry’s Café.
Don’t ask me how anyone can make a ham salad sandwich so excellent but there’s the place to go if you want a mouth watering experience. I can honestly say; there the BEST and you can get a truly good cup of rosy lee.
Gammon Ham & Eggs YUM and as for Toad in the hole it’s the only Café it’s the standard that can’t be beaten.
Steve.

As far as I know, Terry’s is one of only a few authentic family-​run English cafes still around in Central London and stands out as one of the best breakfasts in and around Borough.
Tucked away on a side street about a 10 minute walk away from the tourist areas along the South Bank, Terry’s tends to be frequented mainly by locals in the know who live in the neighborhood and gets packed up quickly on Saturdays for the breakfast rush. Unlike most cafes, which tend to serve the cheapest of ingredients, Terry’s serves proper large plates of good sausage, bacon, home made bubble & squeak and eggs. The price is a little higher (in the 5 – 10 pound range), but its well worth it!
If you’re looking for a good old fashioned British café experience with one of the best homestyle English breakfasts in London, this is your place to go!

RIP Terry who was an absolute legend and in my experience one of the top 3 chefs in London, (along with Gordon Ramsay and a Gujarati vegetarian cook named Mrs Rak). Although I doubt the reclusive Mrs Rak will ever attend Terry’s Café, I took Ramsay there for his birthday brunch in November 2000 and it was fabulous to see these 2 greats warmly insulting each other.
I have been a Terry’s regular since 1996 and the food is absolutely incredible, my favourites being Mince Stew, served in a big soup bowl with dumplings and a generous wedge of white) and ‘Toad’ (in the hole) with runners, peas and roasts. Without ever crowing about it or being pretentious, the Café obviously sources the very very best ingredients — especially the meats — and cooks them expertly. As a result, I believe it is truly ‘organic’.
My deepest condolences to Austin and the rest of Terry’s family.
Tim

Excellent, freshly prepared food, great atmosphere and great value. All you could ask from a café.
If coffee /​snack chains are more your thing fair enough, that’s not what Terry’s is, nor what it pretends to be.
I travel a lot with work and a good British ‘caff’ is becoming a rarity. Excellent ones, like Terry’s, are very few and far between. When you find one it’s a real treat. I go back a couple of times a month.
Alan