London is stuffed full of hidden gems, from cute coffee shops to secret beer gardens, but it would be impossible to find them all on your lonesome. Friends, co-workers, random people on the internet that, okay, maybe you've never actually met but, hey... All can be helpful in the quest for uncovering a new favourite haunt.
Hence, when one MyLondon reader wrote in recommending a visit to a new café that specialises in 'fresh scones with a twist', of course, my ears pricked. A scone-only eatery one of Notting Hill's cutest, brightest streets? Just a few minutes' walk from Notting Hill Gate station? Consider me on my way to Cheeky Scone.
This was achieved with a surprising lack of sweat courtesy of Citymapper's new air conditioning-only Tube route feature. Then I was turning onto Pembridge Road, admiring the collection of brownstone buildings and colourful licks of paint, and very ready for a scone.
And here it was: Cheeky Scone. As I closed in on the sunflower yellow and Bora Bora seawater-painted storefront, I could already see the truth in there being 'no other coffee shop like it'. Even just looking at it made me feel more optimistic.
But I was beginning to get some wafts from inside. Bready, sweet, scone-y, definitely - but with other flavours mixed in, too. A handwritten list of 'SCONES' and 'FILLINGS' hinted at what these might be: pesto cheese, cinnamon bun, PB&J alongside the more classic plain and sultana. And not just raspberry jam and clotted cream for those all-important toppings but also lemon curd, mango chutney, and onion relish?!
My rumbling stomach pushed me inside to see these goods first-hand. They didn't disappoint: plump, rough and golden brown, each with slight nuances. I eyed the sultana's sugar-dusted top, the pesto cheese's orangey-brown nodules. I'd arrived only a few minutes after the 10am opening and today's quirkier sweet options - apple crumble, lemon poppy seed, maple & pecan - weren't out of the oven yet.
One of the two women behind the counter reassured me that the first of these would be out in a few minutes, cementing my conviction that I'd be needing to sample one savoury, one sweet. I allowed another set of customers to go in front of me while I waited eagerly to see what the oven came up with next, nodding at their choice (one plain, two pesto cheese, under the 3 for £10 deal).
A tray of mountainous lemon poppy seed scones was thrust in the left-hand glass window and drizzled with a sticky, gooey liquid in front of my eyes. Naturally, I resumed my place in front of the counter, trying not to get any drool on it, and began the salad bar-esque process of selecting my scones then, a little along, toppings, paying for them and an iced latte at the western edge.
My crowded plate of baked goods (pesto cheese, lemon poppy seed) plus accompanying fillings (cream cheese, clotted cream) and I went in search of a table, the coffee to follow. I contemplated the scattering of remaining tables in the back portion of the room, lit naturally by a roof window, and unnaturally by a series of neon signs and sunshine trims of paint that continued the yellow and blue colour story.
Downstairs was plenty more seating, including massive wooden benches with enough space for (I estimated) at least groups of 10. Painted animal print details on the walls (also blue) and more glowing navy signs making puns about scones that I didn't totally get but were fun nonetheless gave this space a more a night-time vibe than I'd expected.
Currently, it was unpeopled, though. Then, through a set of glass doors out the back: a tiny but adorable garden area. Fairy lights. Dangling plants. One medium table with ample cushioned bench space surrounding it, one cutesy wooden table for two, half-secluded from view. Scone time.
Indoor corner seat chosen, I wasted little time on pleasantries with the scones. I'm afraid to say they were promptly sliced into imperfect halves, the only recently out the oven sweet option warm and crumbly, the baked slightly earlier in the day savoury, spongy and firm but still fluffy. Each was a spread with a blanket of appropriate filling - cream cheese for the pesto, clotted cream for the poppy seed, the delectable-sounding lemon clotted cream sadly not having been on today's menu in-store.
I bit into the sweet: soft and cake-y in flavour, like a lemon drizzle but without the heaviness or slickness and the more acceptable to eat in public as breakfast. Yes, I decided, as I chewed, swallowed, gulped down more: it still had that distinctive, ideal scone texture. Characterised by light, fluffy crumbs but still holding its shape when handled and nibbled. Also, made all the better by the unexpected joys of teeny tiny pops in my mouth from the poppy seeds.
Pesto and cream cheese now. I was made nervous by the memory of another savoury cheese scone a few months ago, that had tasted like a boiled broccoli-flavoured lump of dough. Thankfully, Cheeky Scone's version was far superior. Herby hits of pesto, yes, giving me Sacla vibes. But also a crumbly, bouncy centre. And crispy knobs of cheese dotting its surface. Mm.
My iced coffee was delivered and gratefully sipped as a welcome accompaniment to the water I'd acquired from a thoughtful side table, though nothing to write home about compared to the scones. I ate until I felt sufficiently sick, then headed back up the surface. On the way past the counter again, I saw that a tray of apple crumble scones was the hot new addition to the display. Hm. I'd be needing to come back to try that one too. Just to be safe.
Is there a story you think we should be covering? If so, please email whatson@mylondon.news or at tilly.alexander@reachplc.com
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