Gail's - Various Locations

Cafe chain Gail's is somewhere I've been meaning to try out for ages, I've heard good things about their coffee, bread and atmosphere, and visited the one in Crouch End.

This particular Gail's is small, and the seating set up is a bit weird, with customers mostly facing the barristers or serving hatch.

Vegan Options:

ROASTED VEGETABLES AND TAHINI ON FLATBREAD

with roasted peppers, aubergines, courgettes, red onions and homemade green tahini 

SWEET POTATO AND CAULIFLOWER CAKE

with pickled beetroot and jalapeno aioli on a seeded potato roll

VEGETABLE CAKE BOWL

with raw cauliflower salad and a green tahini dressing

RAW COURGETTE, PISTACHIO AND CORIANDER PESTO SALAD

with rocket, radicchio, mint and celery

I decided on a vegetable cake bowl before arriving and was disappointed to find it prepped already and refrigerated in a plastic container. Staff asked if I was eating in, and in a bizarre move, took it off me, only to bring it to my table on a plate, still in a box, with the lid removed.

The vegetable cakes tasted like homemade vegetable hash, with a subtle nutty flavour, mainly made out of shredded potato and carrot. I would have preferred them to be served warm, and with a crunchy outside, but they were more spongy in texture and really cold from the fridge, I really wasn't a fan.

The cauliflower salad felt healthy and light but it lacked flavour, because it was so plain and there was so much of it, I actually ended up leaving quite a bit of it which is really unusual for me.

The tahini sauce tasted more like a green goddess sauce, with the creamy smooth texture and a strong flavour of parsley, it was such a lovely dip and my favourite thing about the meal. The sourdough bread, which was also lovely, springy and fresh was amazing dipped into it.

The staff were okay, offered a fast and efficient service, but the cost was unbelievable! They charged me £7.20 which I thought was pretty steep for a pre-prepped plain salad. I had a great coffee and would go back to Gail's for that, but probably not a full meal.

Overall Ratings:

Staff: 3/5

Setting: 2/5

Taste: 2/5

Food Presentation: 3/5

Value for Money: 2/5

Best for: Casual coffee

Would return? Yes but just for drinks

Address: 48 The Broadway, Crouch End, N8 9TP

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 0700 – 1500 (Kitchen hours)

As always, these posts are based on places I've visited on www.myveganradar.com - the London Vegan Food Map, based on tube stop, and are my own opinion.