Route

Route is our favourite breakfast place! The guys that run it are awesome and despite the fact that its always busy the service is great! True story: when we first went there, 5 – 6 months ago, there was a girl that was first day in the job /​didn’t like her job (or both) and we were unlucky enough to be served by her. The experience was horrific (will not get into the details) but the food was so good that we had to mention it to the manager as we thought it is a shame to have such poor service with such great food! It’s just not right. We were gonna go back anyway as the breakfast we had was so good but the way he handled it was so much appreciated (on top of the awesome food). We even got a glass of Prosecco on the house in the end! After that first time the service and everything really have been absolutely AMAZING!

When my friend suggested lunch at Café Route, I assumed that uneducated philistine needed to jump into the sea/​be killed with fire. However, it was a mistake on my part — ROUTE was not a spelling error and indication of a bland, soulless French chain but instead, a cool little place in Dalston, just a stone’s throw from Dalston Junction and not much further from Kingsland.
The rain was battering down as we walked toward the venue. I spotted outdoor seating and joked we pulled up a pugh. The tables of course were deserted but in hindsight, I know that on a summer’s day, there would surely be a Game of Thrones style battle to bag a seat.
Upon entering, we spotted a handwritten sign encouraging patrons to drop their umbrellas into a bucket by the door. Already, I was impressed with this consideration. There was no chance of being impaled by spokes during my lunch. It’s the little things that count.
Route isn’t huge but despite it being early lunch time on a rainy Wednesday, it was relatively busy. Nevertheless we were promptly seated on a table in the middle of the room. A waiter was straight over to take our drinks order and although I had my eye on the wine of the month from Turkey, my friends insisted on perusing the menu so I pretended that I too did not yet know what to order. Stupid friends.
Despite a strong array of tasty sounding options, I spotted the sandwich of the day on display and the avocado made up my mind. When my dithering friends finally were ready to order, we all went for the chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich on artisan bread with a side of sweet potato and chickpea tahini salsa.
I expected the food to be served immediately but Route has a nice feeling somewhere between café and restaurant and we had a small and reasonable wait before all the food was served.
First came my wine — a white, summery Turkish number, just light enough to pass as an acceptable early afternoon drink. Then arrived the main. The sandwich was huge — extremely generous for £5.50; not much more money than a pre packed offering from wherever on the high street. The bread was delicious. I’m not a bread fanatic by any means but the artisan bread was satisfyingly chewy and crusty. The side of sweet potato was also delicious — a small side packed with taste and just the right amount of kick from the chilli to complement the meal overall.
The rogue veggie in our group opted for the salmon dish. Again, it was a generous portion, fresh and colourful. I was racked with jealousy but safe in the knowledge that she was missing out on the bacony goodness.
We were all a little surprised by the size of our lunch but despite polishing off almost everything (the Route staff duly obliged in boxing up the final bite of my friend Sophie’s sandwich), it was essential to have a gander at the cake display. I played it safe, opting for the gluten free brownie which was utterly delicious. My only complaint is that I may have preferred to eat it in bed, clothed in my pyjamas.
Normally, I don’t get too excited about heading to Dalston where everything is too hip, too random and too expensive for my prematurely Middle Aged self. But I’m sure I will be back soon for another trip to Route. Not only was the food delicious and excellent value (£21 including service charge for a main, side, glass of wine and dessert!) but the ambiance was relaxed and welcoming. No onslaught of Dalston douches here — groups of chatty friends, mums with animal onesie wearing toddlers, solo diners and lap toppers — there was a full representation. And the staff were efficient, attentive and polite to a fault.
Don’t listen to Razorlight. DO go back to Dalston!

I accompanied some friends who knew the place already and allured me by promising fresh and healthy Mediterranean flavours.
I was immediately impressed by the very tasteful interior and the tempting delicacies on display. The breakfasts are modern takes on traditional English breakfast. I liked my veggie version but lusted after the sumpuous salads that were being prepared for lunch and carried from the kitchen to the counter. I’m definitely going again to take advantage of their 3 salads for 8.50£ or maybe better the 4 salads for 9.50£ offer ;)
See you there!

Great food, coffee and the perfect rustic vibe. Highly recommend!

My friend and I visited this place for the first time for a pre-​theatre munch and catch-​up in the last of the evening’s fleeting summer sun.
Feeling neither rich or starving we settled for their «3 salads for £8» of which we (both) chose: bulgar stuffed Aubergine with an aoili and pomegranate; chargrilled courgette and sweet potato; and a vibrant tabouleh. With a crisp white wine for accompaniment and a later regretted pining for a brownie, this was truly lacking of nothing.

Went today for the first time and thought it was a nigh on perfect relaxed café.
I had the chicken leg and selection of 3 salads — aubergine, squash and tabbouleh. All really good and fresh. It reminded me of a cheaper, less up itself and not quite as exciting ottelenghi.
It was very busy and staff were really friendly and on the ball. In fact I thought the service and atmosphere were a real plus. Def didn’t experience the problems other’s have mentioned.
Wholeheartedly recommend this place.

I have to say people are right-​the service is slow but the quality and people are so nice you forget. You do not get this kind of quality in Dalston Junction. The food is lovely and the staff is really nice. The coffee is great. I hope people support it because I want to go again and again.

I totally lost my shit at the waiter in this place.
Why? Because I’m crazy. But also because they are soooooo slow. It had been a hungover Saturday and we had already had appalling service at a café in Stoke Newington. All I wanted was a freaking drink. Despite 6 serving staff milling around the counter looking hip, I just couldn’t get a glass of water. We waited for 10 minutes to even get our drinks, despite the aforementioned 6 serving staff ambling about. Our initial waitress looked like she was looking for something to do — how about you walk over to that bar and bring my drink? Is that so hard to do? Apparently there are all sorts of restaurant politics here and only 1 of the 6 can bring anything to the table.
So then when the waiter went to another table with our cake, I shrieked ‘no’ at him. Poor guy. Poor me. I then had to wait longer for the glass of water. FFS.
Café Route is gorgeous, by the way. The huge food counter is incredibly inviting when you walk in. Giant bowls of beautiful, fresh and healthy salads including peach with mint and feta, aubergine parcels with yoghurt and butternut squash. It’s like a Moroccan dreamland and all the dishes are interesting and inventive. This is salad on crack. I want to go back and try everything.
But the service, Jesus.

Met a friend here for mid morning coffee the other day, had fresh fruit juice — apple lime and ginger and a chocolate brownie — both delicious and although not cheap at £3 each, it wasn’t expensive either. Staff v friendly, table service — also provided with jug of tapwater with no fuss which is always nice. Menu looked good and it had a nice chilled out atmosphere, will be coming again for lunch!

The food was OK, but the menu poorly laid out appeared to indicate that the main courses included salad. They don’t. Lunch for 2 in Dalston on a weekday at just under £30 is a bit steep. Although staff agreed with my complaint, the management refused to compromise on the bill.

Café Route is one of those interesting spots that feels like a chain, but only because it’s so good at combining the feel of a deli and café into a chic, beautiful space with dark wood everywhere that actual chains throughout London have copied them trying to recreate the feeling.
It also doesn’t help that they’re open in Dalton Square which is only chains besides them.
This spot though is exactly what you want for lunch. As you walk in, there’s rows and rows of fresh olives and cheeses and meats that you can get to go. And of course, the items of meals, like sandwiches and salads. Fresh and delicious. I got a halloumi cheese which came on fresh bread with hummus and cooked aubergines and a side salad and it was delicious.
My issues come from service, which is a little hit or miss. As you walk in, it seems like everyone is standing at the counter to order before brining the food to the table. Nope, turns out there is table service, but I only found this out after standing in line, ordering and then they asked, «wait, are you eating here?» I am.
So I sat, waiting for my food. A waiter five minutes later brought over a menu. I told him I didn’t need it but did he think I was just sitting there forever? If I was waiting, that would be bad. And it was bad when the person I was meeting with ordered a juice (not even a smoothie or something they had to create but a juice) and the spot forgot about it and we had to come back and ask again. Bad news Café Route.
Still, overall, a wonderful spot with great food. I would absolutely come back.

It’s about time SOMETHING other than starbucks opened up on Dalston Square. And Route really is something the area was crying out for. A café/​restaurant serving tasty food in a relaxed environment.
Apparently the brunch is very good, dinner was great, the cakes are nothing to write home about (one was still frozen so I couldn’t have it, when I was told that I didn’t want it).
Stick to the freshly cooked stuff or the salads on display (ottolenghi style) around the counter and you’ll be glad you stopped by.

Café Route is a great addition to Dalston. Run by a local husband and wife team, their concept is broadly Turkish/​Kurdish with a modern British twist. But I don’t feel this category does the place justice — it makes it sound like yet another Mediterranean café, but Café Route is anything but; you can actually sense the passion the owners have for their culinary heritage and their business.
Their ingredients are all hand picked and sourced from the best possible suppliers, the salads on their deli counter are freshly prepared on site to owner Melek’s own recipes and the chiller and shelves are full of yummy treats and high quality essentials. Finally a place to satisfy odd cravings like coconut milk yoghurt or kefir without having to leave Dalston (and open until 11 every day). Oh, and don’t forget really, really nice bread. As a German in London, I have often struggled to find bread I like; now I have it on my doorstep! I don’t go anywhere else for bread anymore.
Their breakfasts are absolutely amazing. I love the Mediterranean, but the full English is pretty yummy too. To me, a plate of Mediterranean treats, a glass of fresh orange juice and a Monmouth macchiato, are the perfect start to a perfect Sunday. If I could I would start every Sunday there.
The lunch menu includes a selection of sandwiches and a soup of the day as well as two tasty burgers, a classic one and one with chorizo, peccadillo peppers and rocket.
At dinner time, the café turns into a bistro serving grilled meat and fish and a good selection of wines. They also have a good selection of their cakes and tarts — including a Bienenstich, a Geman cake that took me right back to my childhood — and Monmouth coffee to go.
I realise I’m starting to sound like a marketing person, but I simply cannot praise this place enough. I absolutely love it!