Café international

I had inadvertently been given the evening menu at lunchtime. There was lobster roll on it and I love this king of sandwiches.

The waitress shrugged her apologies: no, I couldn't have it, it wasn't prepped, the kitchen couldn't come up with the goods. I had a mild sulk and ordered something else.

Then our food arrived: "Surprise," smiled the waitress - there was my lobster roll.

So basically I now love The Roundhouse Café. Oh, it isn't great or groundbreaking. But it's an asset to a Camden scene over-populated with duffers and a boon to visitors to the newly-fabulous Roundhouse itself.

With its saffron fish stew, Welsh beef, sourdough baguette and jerk-chicken studded menu, it's a lot more interesting than many "entertainment venue" (as the Roundhouse styles itself) gaffs. The well-executed food, described as "international London", is sourced with the help of Jenny Linford, author of Food Lovers' London.

So we get cholla (for that rather lovely lobster roll) from Roni's Bagel Bakery in West Hampstead, moutabal from Green Valley Deli and chorizo from Garcia.

Before and after shows, the place is humming; but with its jars of gin-steeped cranberries and (largeish) bonsai trees, The Roundhouse Café is attractive enough to be considered as a destination in its own right.

The Roundhouse Cafe
Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH