Crema Brewery - Central Dr, Hornchurch

I've often strolled by this charming local café-restaurant, taking the time to admire the intriguing decorations on the walls, but I hadn't ventured inside until yesterday. The atmosphere was as cozy and inviting as the decor, providing plenty to look at, and my friend and I felt warmly welcomed from the moment we stepped in. I ordered the vegetarian brunch without eggs, which was good but not outstanding. For £6.95, I received beans, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, and sautéed potatoes (sadly without toast or a hot drink), and since these are relatively mild flavors, I wouldn't judge the café's offerings based solely on this dish. However, the decadent ****** Mary we both enjoyed was absolutely wonderful, with the perfect amount of spice. I would love to return to Café Prov; it's just a short walk from my home, has a great atmosphere, and a good ****** Mary can be hard to find. Although they seem open to accommodating various diets, there aren't many options on the menu that can be adapted for vegans. Still, everyone else should definitely check it out—I'll just keep myself entertained at the bar!

After a while, I finally got my coffee to go – served in a polystyrene cup without a lid. Considering this is Herne Hill, where everything is supposed to be organic, fair trade, or ethical, I was surprised. It still falls under EU regulations, and I honestly didn’t think polystyrene cups were still allowed. I had to tear off part of the cup just to drink from it, and the coffee itself was the worst I can remember. This includes some pretty terrible instant coffee I had while working in rural Uganda and Zambia when I was desperate after long journeys and hadn’t yet opted for tea. I really wanted to like this place before I went in, which is why I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1.

The dinner menu seemed reasonably priced at around £20 to £25 per person for a three-course meal, including drinks. However, upon closer inspection, the exciting options like Moroccan Spices and Thai Fishcakes turned out to be merely a presentation for the more basic offerings, such as burgers and chips or stuffed peppers, dressed up with elaborate garnishes. I decided on the Pan Fried Butterfish Fillet served with Sautéed Butternut Squash and Spinach drizzled with Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Dressing. Unfortunately, I was let down by the dish; the fish was bland and overcooked, and the vegetables were equally unremarkable. Despite an appealing wine menu, La Provencal Café did not meet my expectations, and I almost felt foolish for not ignoring its eye-catching orange sign. However, if you're not too picky about food quality and are more focused on atmosphere and attentive service, this might just be the right spot for you.

Cafe, bar, restaurant, whatever, smack in the centre of Herne Hill. Lovely, lovely atmos chilled as you like, plenty of paintings on the walls, mismatched furniture you know the drill. Then there's toys for kids in the corner (mothers will be pleased), entertainment for adults hidden in the tables. There's a small menu for meals the food is great but rather expensive, and service is lovely but rather slow. It's an awesome place to come for a catchup with your ladyfriends particularly if you can secure one of the sofas but the money factor detracts a bit it seems a touch out of touch with the demographic and the feeling. Or maybe I'm just getting tight in my old age.

Sounds like it's french from its names, but its not, its a modern European cafe style resteraunt with quirky decor great music and good food. there was plenty of choice for me as a veggie and the staff are freindly.