12th September 2008
The best cafe I have ever visited
I lived at the end of Kelly Street (in the grim bit) for years and years and a large part of the reason I stayed in the area for so long was Mario's Cafe. It's run by Mario, his friend Dario (really) and Mario's mum, who does a lot of the Italian cooking. It's a tiny place and you'll most probably end up sitting on a table with some random strangers but Mario will look after you, not in a pushy, over the top way but just by being a genuine and friendly person. I really hate forced jollity and over-friendliness but at Mario's they have the balance just right. There's a huge crowd of devoted regulars who you'll get to know in an instant and Mario attracts regulars from all walks of life, Camden hipsters, local people, builders, arty types and everything in between. If you want to have a good cup of tea in a warm, comfortable place where you feel welcome and included, you can't go better than Mario's.
Food-wise there's your traditional cafe breakfast stuff - all very good but there's also home-cooked Italian stuff of all types which is truly excellent. The chips are big, thick cut jobs and the toast isn't just sliced bread. If you ever happen to visit when asparagus lasagne is on the menu, don't hesitate, order it immediately, grab a newspaper from the pile and join the family.
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Top 10 Cafes, Snack Shops and Tea Rooms in Gospel Oak
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