Asked by In The Square to review a café breakfast in Belsize Park, I headed over to Roni’s Bakery in Belsize Village. As I arrived early on a Wednesday morning, there were already people sitting at the tables outdoors, which is characteristic of Roni’s. No matter how busy the café gets – and on a fine weather day it can get very busy – somehow there’s always a place to sit!
I was on my own, enjoying a perfectly hot and frothy cappuccino under Roni’s new awning and beneath the freshly painted signage. (It was sad to see that the chestnut tree in the corner of the Village Square, about fifty years old, and so resplendent from November to March with winter lights weaved through its branches, has been felled as it was dying. According to Angela King at Heywoods Estate Agents, who for many years has been organizing the village’s community flower baskets and the tree’s winter lights, locals are hoping for a mature tree replacement.)
There’s nothing showy or pretentious about Roni’s which is visited by all kinds of locals. The interior is modern and comfortable and since last year’s refurbishment, much more spacious.
The staff are, as testament to the café’s success, always busy but they don’t make you feel that you need to hurry with your ordering. I find them helpful if I want to ask about something on the menu which features hot breakfasts, about ten varieties of bagel roll sandwiches, salad choices, and ‘Comfort’ dishes – such as traditional chicken soup or jacket potato.
One of Roni’s unique meals is The Sabich which comes as a wrap, in pitta or sometimes, in a Chollah bread roll. The combination of boiled egg, aubergine, red onion, parsley, pickles, tahini and amba – makes this a mighty sandwich, able to set your day right! And nowadays Roni’s moreish chicken schnitzel wrap is sometimes available in a baguette.
Roni’s Serves breakfast all day. I love the shakshuka. The eggs slowly cooked in a homemade tomato stew recipe, come in a pan and are served with homemade Chollah bread, a side of tahini and optional feta cheese or sausages. The other egg breakfasts, which include AvoToast and Roni’s English, all come with a portion of three eggs.
Shakshuka meal at Roni’s.
Aside from their meals and snacks (lovely puff pastry hand pies and samosas at the counter!) I’ve come to rely on Roni’s prepared foods. There are tubs of readymade tuna salad and egg mayonnaise, taramasalata, anchovies and other homemade deli items. There’s a good selection of popular Middle Eastern imported foods and packets of smoked salmon; although I prefer to buy one of their fresh cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels.
As for the juices, my favourite ‘Squeezed to Order’ is the Super Green. It’s full of fresh veggies including cucumber and fennel, and levels a hearty kick of lemon and spicy ginger. For something with high protein, the Nutty with almond milk, cocoa, banana, date honey and peanut butter, delivers. There are two kinds of shots – one for healing, the other for immunity.
I’m probably not alone in being tempted by the range of patisserie-grade pastries, Danishes, fruit tarts, cheesecakes, eclairs and more. And the freshly baked biscuits in tubs for takeaway include Florentines, cinnamon balls, dates and walnut rolls, and homemade Jammie Dodgers.
At the counter there are always he cookies and sweet treats for children are often linked to different cultural celebrations. Right now, at the start of autumn, gorgeous toffee apples on sticks and the ever-popular gingerbread men. As for me, rarely have I left Roni’s without a mini chocolate rugelach or a mini sweet cream cheese Danish. Chef’s kiss!
Roni’s Bakery is at 37-39 Belsize Lane, Belsize Village. It is open all week from 7am to 6pm and until 6.30pm at the weekends.
