Sally White – Coffee in Kennington:
When you first move to a new part of town, how do you settle in? For me, apart from the usual decorating, re-furnishing and unpacking, finding new places to eat is all part of the process. Working from home, while in many ways wonderful, makes me even more dependent than my neighbours on finding local bolt-holes.
In Earls Court, it was the Atlas Pub. When I first moved there I think I must have visited at least four times a week. Here in Walworth and Kennington I’ve found cafes and coffee shops more convivial so far. I lurk in Kennington Park Cafe, where a cup of tea and a toasted sandwich costs around £5 and where I can watch the world go by. And for a special treat (because the home made cakes are far too tempting), I go to Sally White.
Something in between a local deli and a cafe, Sally White has a few tables, a thriving takeaway business and a selection of goodies from places like Brindisi that you can buy to stock up your own stores.
It will have to remain a treat. There ARE healthy salads, but there are also amazing savoury pastries, tortilla, quiche and sausage rolls. Today’s lunch was a mixture of the healthy – a potato chorizo and broccoli salad with the indulgent, in the form of a deliciously melting flaky pastry roll stuffed with ricotta and spinach.
The only redeeming factor, that I was too full to attempt to eat a home made brownie or muffin.
Sally and her partner Mark met when they were both working at Konditor & Cook and with experience working with Brindisi and Justin de Blank in addition to running the Design Museum Cafe the pair had a great background to set up what seems to be a local institution. The aim, apparently, was to create a food shop and cafe for friends, neighbours and local businesses and certainly every time I’ve visited the place has been thriving, with a constant stream of customers. They’ll also provide catering for events.
With salads from £3.50 to £8.00 and savoury pastries, filled brioche, sausage rolls and sandwiches between £4.00 and £6.00, lunch at Sally White is an affordable treat. Home made cakes and biscuits are around £2.00 to £3.00 and coffees are between £2.00 and £3.00.
If they can all be like Sally White, then long live the independent coffee shop.
Sally White
353 Kennington Road,
London SE11 4QE
I did not realise you had moved to my neck of the woods 🙂 I love Kennington road but haven’t been yet to Sally White so one to try.
Ohh, where are you Fede? I’m loving it here – a much nicer atmosphere than West Brompton;)
This is a great place to have near home. The prepared food is just my style, fresh and full of flavor. The fancy pantry is a plus for later. Very cool.
I love the concept. We have a place in my town called Olives and while they stock olives they have deli cases full of food and even will make you a sandwich to order on the spot. plus soups, salads along with dishes in pre-cut portions like mac & cheese, meat loaf , and pasta..
I love these stores/delis.. It’s much more fun than cooking!
The food here looks lovely, thanks for making this little gem of a place aware to us.
It’s good to have a good local isn’t it!
It’s great to have somewhere like this on the doorstep