I so wanted to love this place. It is dead opposite Richmond Station, so it is very conveniently located, and it is a joy to see an actual independent cafe appear in the centre of town, especially with outdoor seating. We have plenty of chains, but independents really struggle, so it’s good to be able to include an independent Richmond Cafe in a review.

Let me start by saying this place almost got a 5 star review. I have mentioned elsewhere that we rarely order the same dish as I always manage to order the duff one, but we had both chosen the sweetcorn fritters, which sounded yummy. It is great to see a cafe that is being adventurous with its food, and that is to be applauded. My criticism is that almost everything nice has some element of avocado to it. Not only are avocados an appallingly environmentally unfriendly fruit, they make my tummy hurt. Either way, bad news.

Anyhow, I was about to order the Sweetcorn Fritters (one sans avocado), when I was told there was only one helping left. Being the person on the spot at the till, I took one for the team, and quickly ordered one of the few non-avocado items on the menu, the usually safe option of a Tuna Melt.

Apologies for the lack of a picture of the Sweetcorn Fritters (although you can see a slice in the top right hand corner there). My phone rang when the food arrived, and the call was unusually important, so I took it and turned away for a second to deal with it. In that brief window the tower of Sweetcorn Fritters was reduced to rubble, and I could not subject my poor readership to a picture of that. Let it be said that the small, avocado-free, piece I was allowed was delicious.

Sadly, the same can’t be said for the Tuna Melt. I’d rather have a couple of nice pieces of seedy bread for a toasted sandwich rather than the pasty, ultra-processed paninis that you often get (check out my review of Lallapolosa in East Twickenham to see bread when it is done well)

It didn’t help that the (somewhat underseasoned) filling didn’t reach beyond the middle of the sandwich, so the edges of the bread were actually biscuity. It’s a shame, as the filling was a bit more interesting than is often the case, with some chopped cornichons added.

I looked around at the other food, and a lot of it looked very good. I really wish I had been in the mood for a Full English as it looked great, but as it wasn’t my birthday, I had to pass. I think if I had more time to explore the menu, I would find it is more than just “good in parts”, which is what the contrast between the fritters and the tuna melt suggested.

If you are standing outside Pret, Itsu, Leon or one of the many other chains that Richmond now has, please walk a couple of hundred metres down to B&B for a better lunch for no more money. Until Farmer J’s reaches this far down the river, B&B will be high on my lunch list, so long as I order with care.

Conclusion

Rating: 4.5/5 (the fritters were a 5.5/5)

Brunch and Brew: https://www.brunchandbrew.co.uk/