Classic Cafes: Cafe Centrale
Apropos of something or other I have been researching Formica.
Came across this. Quite apart from its inherent interest and beauty, I was drawn in by the fact that I expected an old London haunt, that I know has gone, to be included. It is albeit in 'RIP' form. As a student in the late seventies / early 80s I used to go to the cafe with Mark and Geggs. Then with Ann and our work mates.
It was an amazing and tiny place with six tables (I think) with fixed bench seats. Classic simple Formica and wood tables. Kitchen was at the back. Very simple menu with a few specials. No license (obviously) but you could take your own vin. There was no loo which always infuriated Ann and she always threatened to report them. Not sure who to though. The loo police maybe.
Classic dishes that I, we, all had there were Rigatoni Alfredo, and Gnochi al Forno. Tried to reproduce these many times at home and always failed.
Once, with Mark, we ordered somethign that looked inteersting, and that had a lot of garlic in it. The waitress (she was always grumpy) said no, that's just for Italian people - you won't like it. So we said Great, that's what we'll have then. It was utterly fabulous.
The cafe was, BTW, on (just off if you like) Cambridge Circus, half-way down Charing Cross Road.
I reckon if I look hard enough I will find that I have pics, 35mm, from the cafe. Of the cafe. In the cafe. Yikes, i'd have to connect the scanner to the Mac.
From the Classic Cafes website...
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Centrale, Moor Street W1. RIP-ish
Closing Dec 2004... (Tiny but with a good big window frontage and battered old brown vinyl seats. Functional and lovely, this is where Malcolm McClaren used to dragoon his 1980s band, Burundi pirateers, Bow Wow Wow.) "The area is to be 'developed' to make away for a block of apartment-hotels, apparently on the basis that they will deter undesirables... The properties on that side of Moor Street (excluding Ed's Easy Diner and the pub) are being demolished, as are some of the properties at the rear in Old Compton St...18th century buildings that should have been listed." (Patrick Turland). Re-opens in Archer St, W1 Feb 2005
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Came across this. Quite apart from its inherent interest and beauty, I was drawn in by the fact that I expected an old London haunt, that I know has gone, to be included. It is albeit in 'RIP' form. As a student in the late seventies / early 80s I used to go to the cafe with Mark and Geggs. Then with Ann and our work mates.
It was an amazing and tiny place with six tables (I think) with fixed bench seats. Classic simple Formica and wood tables. Kitchen was at the back. Very simple menu with a few specials. No license (obviously) but you could take your own vin. There was no loo which always infuriated Ann and she always threatened to report them. Not sure who to though. The loo police maybe.
Classic dishes that I, we, all had there were Rigatoni Alfredo, and Gnochi al Forno. Tried to reproduce these many times at home and always failed.
Once, with Mark, we ordered somethign that looked inteersting, and that had a lot of garlic in it. The waitress (she was always grumpy) said no, that's just for Italian people - you won't like it. So we said Great, that's what we'll have then. It was utterly fabulous.
The cafe was, BTW, on (just off if you like) Cambridge Circus, half-way down Charing Cross Road.
I reckon if I look hard enough I will find that I have pics, 35mm, from the cafe. Of the cafe. In the cafe. Yikes, i'd have to connect the scanner to the Mac.
From the Classic Cafes website...
--
Centrale, Moor Street W1. RIP-ish
Closing Dec 2004... (Tiny but with a good big window frontage and battered old brown vinyl seats. Functional and lovely, this is where Malcolm McClaren used to dragoon his 1980s band, Burundi pirateers, Bow Wow Wow.) "The area is to be 'developed' to make away for a block of apartment-hotels, apparently on the basis that they will deter undesirables... The properties on that side of Moor Street (excluding Ed's Easy Diner and the pub) are being demolished, as are some of the properties at the rear in Old Compton St...18th century buildings that should have been listed." (Patrick Turland). Re-opens in Archer St, W1 Feb 2005
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